veterinary medicine personal statement uk

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Successful Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine At Cambridge

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rohan Agarwal

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Veterinary Medicine applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Veterinary Medicine Course at Cambridge offers a world-class opportunity to study the scientific basis of veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary science.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to secure an offer from a world-class department.  

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

LONDON VET SCHOOL

INTERVIEW + REJECTED

Enrolling on our Cambridge Veterinary Science comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our Cambridge Veterinary Medicine  Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Premium Programmes today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Witnessing the birth of a calf was a wonderful experience and has helped to confirm my long-term ambition to be a vet. This desire has been a motivating force in all my decisions at school. Veterinary medicine is a challenging and worthwhile career that encapsulates my profound interest in animal welfare, scientific enquiry and problem solving.  It will satisfy my passion to work with people and animals as well as my love of science. It requires academic rigour, is scientifically-based and provides opportunities for further research either in laboratory or clinical settings. It involves considerable practical skills and the potential for great job satisfaction with the possibility of running my own practice.

My work experience has been thoroughly enjoyable and included working with a country vet, a farrier, at a private stables, a commercial reptile centre, a dairy farm and a small animal clinic. With the country vet I observed two successful treatments on cows to correct displacement of the abomasum by external manipulation and surgery. I helped with TB testing, learning the process, its importance and the wider context. Working with the farrier opened my mind to other people who interact with the veterinary profession. Whilst involved in cleaning and feeding at the private stables I developed a great respect for horses including an awareness of the danger they can pose for humans and other animals. At the reptile centre I handled a bearded dragon, monitor lizard and snakes whilst assisting in an educational talk and at Beaver World learnt to care for guinea pigs, rabbits, beavers, pheasants and fish. During my nine-day stay on a dairy farm I took part in the daily routine of milking, and as well as observing the birth of a calf, I saw the deterioration of a cow and the eventual decision to put her down. It was apparent that working in a small animal clinic involves many routine operations like the castration and spaying of cats and dogs. I learnt that diagnosis involves history-taking, examination and investigations such as blood tests and diagnostic imaging. To gain more experience I plan to work at a city farm, participate in the delivery of lambs and carry out placements at London Zoo and the London Aquarium.

I attended VetMedlink at Nottingham University, thirty six lectures on all aspects of veterinary care. As part of this course I voluntarily undertook my own research into potential new uses of stem cells and submitted a paper which was marked and for which I received a distinction. This is due to be published on-line sometime this year. My focus was how stem cells inserted into the brain could be used in the future to improve intelligence and treat neural problems such as Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, I will be attending a course in November to enable me to administer aid to stranded or injured marine mammals.

As well as good examination grades, my other school achievements include prize certificates in mathematics and biology; I was especially pleased to win Gold Certificates in the UK Maths Challenge. This year I was commended for the quality of my answers in the Chemistry Challenge set by my school which required logical reasoning skills. I have a special aptitude for mathematics and attended six maths lectures at Greenwich University on themes which included matrices and types of mathematical proof.

I aim to involve myself whole-heartedly in university life, using my musical skills by playing the keyboard and perhaps playing in or starting a sports team.

I truly believe I have the ability to work effectively with people and animals. I am excited about the veterinary course since it offers the opportunity to undertake research projects, understand the scientific basis of medicine, gain in-depth knowledge of veterinary practice and develop key practical skills. I am determined to become a vet and eager to begin the formal course of training in what I know will prove to be a fascinating field of study.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

A well written and well-structured statement that provides a good insight into the student’s character and development, both academically as well as personally. The student demonstrates a good scientific foundation, achieving various degrees of academic excellence and also demonstrates a wide range of different work-experience attachments giving insight into different specialities of veterinary medicine. This is particularly important due to the wide range of differences between different animal species. The broader the experience before starting the degree, the better. Furthermore, the work-experience placements will provide valuable contacts for when the student will be required to conduct care attachments during his/her studies at university.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

One of the central points of veterinary medicine not related to the academic side is the funding structure. Recognising the challenges that come in regard to the treatment of patients, as well as in regard to the interaction with owners, is an important component. Since the student experienced care in different practice settings, it is likely that he/she has come across this issue.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

Good statement giving good detail about the student and his/her motivation as well as his/her individual development. It could be improved by additional reflection on the challenges of veterinary practice, for example, the existing funding structures.

This Personal Statement for Vet Med is a good example of demonstrating motivation and development which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Cambridge Veterinary application.

With our  Cambridge Veterinary Science Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , score highly on the NSAA and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our Cambridge Veterinary Science Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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• Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Get advice on how to start writing your personal statement for Veterinary Medicine and stand out from other applicants.

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If you would like to apply to study Veterinary Medicine , you’ll be required to make an application via UCAS . The application will have to include a Veterinary Medicine personal statement – which could make a big difference for vet schools looking to screen applicants prior to interviews!

How to Write a Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Aspiring veterinarians will all have to meet specific grade requirements and provide suitable references. This means that one of the few chances to really stand out from the crowd is your personal statement.

It is your opportunity to showcase your interest and motivations in the field, as well as experiences, skills and attributes.

Personal statements need to be submitted before the UCAS deadline, which is typically in October for Veterinary Medicine.

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Structuring Your Personal Statement

The structure of a veterinary medicine personal statement consists of three key elements: the introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section serves a specific purpose in conveying your motivation, experiences, and goals.

Introduction

The first section is your introduction. This is your opening pitch, which should grab the reader’s attention. It is your opportunity to make a strong first impression. 

Avoid clichés like “I have always wanted to be a veterinarian” and instead focus on stating your motivation for pursuing veterinary medicine. Highlight any personal experiences or events that sparked your interest in the field. This section should demonstrate your genuine passion and commitment to veterinary medicine.

The next element is the body of your personal statement. Discuss any work experience, volunteering, or extracurricular activities that have contributed to your understanding of veterinary medicine. 

Showcase transferable skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and empathy. Provide specific examples to illustrate how these experiences have shaped your desire to become a veterinarian. 

This section should highlight your dedication, knowledge, and readiness for the challenges of veterinary medicine

The third and final element is your conclusion. The conclusion is your opportunity to summarize the main points of your personal statement and leave a lasting impression on the reader. 

Reinforce your passion, commitment, and future goals in veterinary medicine. Emphasize how your experiences have solidified your decision to pursue this career path. End with a strong and memorable statement that reflects your enthusiasm and readiness for the challenges and rewards of being a veterinarian. 

This section should leave the reader with a sense of your determination and excitement for your future career.

Personal Statement Help

Focus on one-to-one help with an admissions tutor for your Veterinary School application

Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Tips

Use our tips for writing your Veterinary Medicine personal statement!

Showcase Your Passion and Motivation

You should demonstrate your genuine passion for animal welfare and explain how your motivation aligns with Veterinary Medicine’s values.

You might be motivated by family members or friends who are in the Veterinary Medicine field. Or you might have developed a passion for animal welfare from a work experience placement at your local veterinarian’s. Whatever your motivation is, you should write about it in your personal statement and explain why it is relevant.

Highlight Relevant Experiences

Veterinary schools are looking for breadth and depth of experience, which typically needs to include:

• At least one veterinary practice
• Working with large domestic animals on a livestock farm, especially dairy or lambing
• Other animal experience, such as in stables, kennels, catteries, zoos, wildlife, or rescue centres, pig or poultry farms, or something more unusual
• At least one veterinary practice, working with large domestic animals on a livestock farm, especially dairy or lambing and other animal experience like stables, kennels, catteries, zoos, wildlife, or rescue centres, pig or poultry farms or something more unusual.

You should reflect on any lessons learnt, as well as how these experiences helped you to grow. Don’t forget to specify how many weeks of experience you have obtained!

Demonstrate Suitability for Veterinary Medicine

You should demonstrate that you understand the challenges and responsibilities of the Veterinary Medicine profession and highlight your ability to work in a team, handle stress and make ethical decisions.

You should also demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning throughout your Veterinary Medicine career and staying up-to-date with veterinary science developments.

However, you should not just consider experiences. You should also discuss key skills and attributes and provide examples of how you have demonstrated these in academic and personal settings.

Other writing tips

After writing your personal statement, you should review it carefully to ensure it is clear and coherent. You should also review it for any spelling or grammatical errors.

You should tailor your personal statement to each veterinary school you apply to. Veterinary schools have unique curricula, research opportunities, and values, and they want to admit students who align with their mission and can contribute to their community.

By tailoring your personal statement, you can highlight how your experiences, skills, and goals align with the specific strengths and values of each school, showing your genuine interest and dedication. 

You might also want to get feedback on your personal statement! You could ask a relative to read it and give you their thoughts or ask a friend or a teacher to comment on what impression it made on them.

You might also like to get professional help with your personal statement, 

• Get a Personal Statement Review by an Admissions Tutor
• Focus on one-to-one help with Personal Statement Tutoring for your Veterinary School application

Things to avoid

Some common personal statement mistakes include:

• Lack of focus: A common mistake is not having a clear focus or central theme in the personal statement. It is important to have a central idea or message that ties your experiences, skills, and goals together. Without a clear focus, the personal statement may come across as disjointed or lacking direction.
• Generic statements: Using generic statements or clichés, such as “I love animals” or “I have always wanted to be a veterinarian,” can weaken the personal statement. Admissions committees are looking for unique and genuine perspectives, so it is important to provide specific examples and personal anecdotes that demonstrate your passion and commitment to veterinary medicine.
• Lack of self-reflection: A personal statement should not just be a list of experiences or achievements. It should also include self-reflection and insight into how these experiences have shaped your desire to pursue veterinary medicine. Failing to reflect on the impact of your experiences can make the personal statement appear superficial or lacking depth.
• Poor organization and structure: A disorganized or poorly structured personal statement can make it difficult for the reader to follow your narrative. It is important to have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, with each section flowing logically into the next. Use paragraphs and transitions effectively to ensure a smooth and coherent flow of ideas.
• Grammatical and spelling errors: Neglecting to proofread your personal statement can lead to grammatical and spelling errors, which can detract from the overall quality of your writing. It is important to carefully review your personal statement for any mistakes and consider seeking feedback from others to ensure it is error-free.
• Overemphasis on grades and test scores: While academic achievements are important, focusing solely on grades and test scores can give the impression that you are only interested in the academic aspect of veterinary medicine. It is important to showcase a well-rounded profile that includes experiences, skills, and qualities beyond academic performance.

A well-written, persuasive and stand-out personal statement is your key to a potential veterinary school interview . 

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Personal Statement Veterinary Medicine Tips

What you write in your Cambridge personal statement can set you apart from other Cambridge Veterinary Medicine applicants. It gives you the opportunity to highlight your strengths, talk about your accomplishments and show the Cambridge admissions tutors your potential. Additionally, it offers the interviewer a focal point to base discussions about an understanding of and engagement with Veterinary Medicine, including personal research outside of your A level curriculum. To help guide you through the process, our Cambridge application experts have compiled a list of dos and don’ts for your Cambridge Veterinary Medicine personal statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

At Cambridge, you study the basic veterinary sciences first before learning to apply that knowledge to veterinary practice as a clinical student.

During your pre-clinical studies (Years 1-3), you are taught through lectures and practical classes (including 120 hours of dissection across the three years) in the central science departments, and College supervisions – you can typically expect 20-25 timetabled teaching hours each week. The clinical studies teaching is a mixture of lectures (in Years 4 and 5), practicals, group work in directed learning sessions, seminars, discussions and tutorials and a substantial element of practical clinical classes, together with a lecture-free final year. Students must undertake the Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment.

Your Cambridge Veterinary Medicine personal statement must clearly demonstrate the link between Veterinary Medicine and your own interests. Moreover, when planning out your personal statement, make sure you demonstrate an understanding of Cambridge’s research and work in Veterinary Medicine.

5 Things to DO in Your Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

1. tell your story ..

Outlining why you want to study Veterinary Medicine, along with anecdotes indicative of your personality and hunger for the subject, will be how you get the admissions team to notice your university application. Some ways to do this include brainstorming what your plans are with this degree for the future, why it has interested you for so many years, and any experience or extra-curricular work you have done in relation to it.

2. What makes you suitable .

What qualities or passion do you have that will allow you to convince the Cambridge admissions tutors that you will excel in the Veterinary Medicine field at Cambridge? Any skills or experience from previous placements will be relevant to mention here. Additionally, think about what qualities Cambridge would admire- examples include practical skills, as well as problem-solving skills.

3. Read around the subject you’re applying for .

Podcasts, magazine articles, documentaries or research papers relating to the field of Veterinary Medicine are all great ways to engage with new content. Examples include the free international journal Frontiers, and the podcast by the Royal Veterinary College . A good way to incorporate this extra reading into your life would be to replace music with podcasts, and select topics that interest you and further your reading on them, beyond the A-Level curriculum.

4. Proof read & read aloud your work .

Once you’re happy with the content of your draft, check it, check it and check it again! Certain people would be best for proofreading such as a teacher in the subject, a Cambridge student, or a student on the Cambridge Veterinary Medicine course who has written a personal statement before.

5. Why Veterinary Medicine .

Why have YOU applied to Veterinary Medicine? What careers will this enable you to reach? Examples include, conservation work, RSPCA worker, veterinary surgeon and more. Consider your ambitions, and how you will benefit society in the future. For example, informing animal policy changes, maintaining animal rights, and lifelong learning.

5 Things to AVOID in Your Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

1. writing a list of achievements.

Avoid listing things for the sake of it. Make sure each point is relevant and backed up by evidence. Expanding on a few key points is always better than listing your achievements with no relation or link to Veterinary Medicine.

2. Write anything that isn’t true

Don’t exaggerate. You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements. Regarding your personal statement veterinary medicine admissions tutors will ask you questions, and they may be able to tell if you have exaggerated certain points or experiences, which, if true, will reflect poorly on you.

3. Copying other people’s personal statements

Don’t plagiarise. You can look at other veterinary personal statement examples. However, looking at these veterinary medicine personal statement examples could sway you into writing information that is not personal to you. Do not copy someone else’s UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. If you copy personal statement examples veterinary medicine tutors will probably be able to tell. UCAS also uses software to check every personal statement for plagiarism. Not only will this reflect badly on you, but it won’t sell your personal statement as being authentic.

4. Not reflecting on or justifying your point

Avoid using up valuable words with obvious statements. Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself. Don’t tell the admissions tutor what they already know – instead, expand on how you’ve acquired certain skills and why they’re important.

5. Sounding unprofessional

Steer clear of slang, clichés and quotes. It will sound repetitive to Admissions Tutors to hear about how students are “passionate” about their subject or that they have a “thirst for knowledge”. Write about your personal experience with your Cambridge Veterinary Medicine journey, and allow the Admissions Tutor to do the rest.

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Veterinary Personal Statement

Learn how to write a bespoke and polished Veterinary Personal Statement today and make your application truly stand out. Reviewed by vets – every word counts.

Writing the personal statement is a daunting task and let’s face it – we’re not all J.K. Rowling. Where do you start? Does it sound too cheesy? Are there enough buzzwords? Luckily, we’ve got some amazing support options to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement.

What does a reviewer look for?

There are two overarching themes that our reviewers look for in all personal statements – qualities and role.

Do you understand the qualities a successful veterinary surgeon needs and fundamentally, how have you demonstrated these attributes? Your understanding of this is drawn out from how you tackle personal and professional obstacles, teamwork, leadership, and communication in both academic and non-academic settings.

Do you understand the role of a veterinary surgeon and how they work in a multidisciplinary team? Your understanding of this can be explored through your personal involvement with animals, work experience and volunteering.

How can we improve your Personal Statement?

Motivation And Commitment

Our tutors assess why you want to study veterinary medicine. We evaluate your vocational and extracurricular experiences alongside personal development. Our team look for a broad range of examples from your work experience that highlights your understanding of the role of the vet, the veterinary profession and the sciences underpinning this vocation.

Attitude To Study

Our tutors assess your personal statement for academic interest but also for traits that demonstrate important skills such as resilience, work-life balance, teamwork, and communication. Our skilled reviewers will ensure you avoid listing experiences and assist you in prioritising which experiences to reflect on – quality is more important than quantity.

Cambridge Essentials

If you are applying to Cambridge to study Veterinary Medicine, our senior Cambridge tutors will focus closely on the use of scientific terminologies and the technical contents of your personal statement. Our reviewers look to see how well you articulate your interest in the academic aspects of veterinary medicine - above and beyond the EPQ.

Reducing Word Count

Most students who send us their personal statements are over the word and character limit! The 4,000-word limit can be really hard to adhere to – your style of writing should be focused with argument and direction. This is where a trained eye can prioritise your reflective encounters and remove unnecessary content.

Integration and Flow

Whilst it’s important to have a checklist and a high level of organisation, our tutors ensure your personal statement is engaging. It’s vital for you to have a strong introduction and conclusion. A personal statement should flow logically and excite the reader whilst simultaneously adopting a formal academic writing style.

Spelling and Grammar

Is all of you're spelling & grammar, correct? Just as you noticed our grammatical mistake above - make sure you thoroughly check your statement before the final submission. One of the most common faults we see is the incorrect use of commas – we run all of our personal statements through Grammarly.

How does it work?

1. Let us know what you need

As soon as you place your order, we will match you with a specialist academic tutor who will guide you through your personal statement review. We’ll collect some essential pieces of information such as which vet schools you’re applying to, and whether you are a school leaver, gap year, mature, graduate or international applicant. Whether you’re applying to Cambridge or to H&K, we have veterinary reviewers from across the country to help you.

2. Meet your tutor

We will ask for a copy of your personal statement and establish your key ideas, concerns, and expectations. Our veterinary tutors know exactly where students fall down and make mistakes in their personal statements. We’ve done all the hard work of comparing and creating the best strategies using a wide array of resources so that you don’t have to.

3. Prompt, perfect and polished

Your personal statement will be fully reviewed and polished within three working days. We’ll check it for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and plagiarism as well as adjusting it for style, content and clarity - all without losing sight of your talent and personality. Our tutors provide extensive written feedback alongside line-by-line in-text suggestions.

4. Review and repeat

After reading our feedback, you can consider making the changes we’ve suggested - remember this is *your* personal statement. and you will be talking about it at your interview. Feel free to contact us at any time for further advice; you can request another veterinary personal statement check either by the same tutor or a second reviewer!

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With our simple online ordering process and hundreds of qualified veterinary tutors, we’ll help you to develop a great personal statement.

• 1 Personal Statement review
• Reviewed by a senior veterinary tutor
• Personalised feedback within 72 hours
• Detailed intra-text editing
• Detailed summary of improvements

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Personal statement faqs.

Got some questions about the Personal Statement (PS) Review? You might just find the answer here. If not, you can always reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help

The PS forms an important part of the applicant process – it is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have. In summary – the PS is a short, reflective piece of writing that you submit as part of your UCAS application to universities.

Vet schools generally assess the same unified themes – note that in Cambridge there is a much stronger emphasis on academics and basic sciences. The standard of your written communication and a structured format is important.

Common things to include

• A strong introduction
• Why you want to study veterinary medicine
• Supra-Curricular: e.g., volunteering, research, books, online courses
• Extra-Curricular: e.g., sports, teamwork, leadership
• Ability to reflect on your work experience
• A strong conclusion

Start writing your personal statement early, ideally the summer before Year 13 if you’re a school leaver. The earlier you get started, the more time you allow yourself to write and rewrite the statement until it’s perfect. Unfortunately, leaving things too late tends to lead to a state of panic and stress – get in touch if you need any inspiration!

Absolutely! We run an express service on demand, please contact us so we can guarantee a review of your PS within this timeframe.

Absolutely! We run this service on demand, please contact us so we can organise a PS review with a veterinary surgeon.

We are happy to accommodate a reviewer from a specific vet school, however, all our reviewers are equally talented and received multiple offers.

MediTutor has been running since 2020 when COVID, we started with a small team of 3 tutors and have now rapidly grown to a team of over 100+ tutors. MediTutor ran the UK’s first veterinary MMI course in 2021.

Some say “The hardest part is getting in.” Many of our current vet tutors may have been offered a place at their dream university, but rejected by another one that was on their shortlist – it doesn’t make them any less of a great future vet. There will be some things you can control, and some that you can’t – so try to stand out in those that you can. MediTutor has listed the six crucial elements to a successful application.

We recommend students set 6 A4 pages aside and write the following headings at the top of each page. Set out an action plan of how you will satisfy the requirements.

1. Grades/Exam results – the minimum entry requirements will suffice 2. NSAA (Cambridge)/Pre-interview questionnaire 3. Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience 4. UCAS Reference 5. Personal Statement 6. Interview Performance

Here at MediTutor, our expert tutors are here to support you with these core aspects of your application.

Please don’t use clichés, every single admissions cycle without fail, our reviewers see the same cliché phrases such as “I have always wanted to be a vet” – this is just far too commonly stated (even if it’s true) – creativity and individuality are essential to a successful personal statement.

Most personal statements are reviewed within 3 working days, if not sooner. For Cambridge personal statements, these can take up to 5 working days.

Prior to the review of your personal statement, our reviewers will establish what your main ideas, concerns and expectations are. We will focus on these alongside our 10-point checklist.

We typically recommend two reviews though this does vary from student to student and there is no one answer that fits all! You can purchase more reviews at any time or request a second reviewer should you wish at any time.

Sorry, no! The ‘key’ is that this is personal and if we were to write it for you, it detracts away from your natural flair. Additionally, as current, and future vets, it’s against the ethical code stipulated by the RCVS.

Absolutely – we have a team of veterinary nurses who we work with and can support you with statements, questionnaires and interview preparation.

Sure, we would recommend two reviews of your personal statement at the minimum. Once so we can focus on the veterinary contents, and the second, to ensure it meets the English standard requirements needed by vet schools.

The veterinary personal statement is 47 lines long or 4000 characters – the same for all courses on UCAS.

Yes – we do. We will prioritise a veterinary tutor who is also a graduate student to provide you with bespoke advice including how to reflect on your undergraduate degree. Our tutors can provide ongoing mentorships – more than just a PS review!

The team at MediTutor are very proud of our reviews, check us out on Google Reviews and Trustpilot if you don’t believe us ☺

MediTutor has an impressive success rate. In 2021-22, over 90% of our veterinary applicants have achieved at least one place at vet school.

Yes, we work with Klarna, PayPal and Stripe to support 0% interest instalment plans. Please select this option at the checkout or get in touch for more details.

The short answer – no. The long answer – you have very little to lose, and a lot to gain by having an expert opinion. Our reviewers have been incredibly helpful for a large number of applicants who now even work for us – that’s because we know exactly where people fall down and make mistakes in the personal statement. Importantly, we’ve done all the hard work of comparing and creating the best strategies using a wide array of resources so that you don’t have to. Just so you know, all our content is continuously peer-reviewed by vets and veterinary students – our resources and checklists are updated every year to reflect the most up-to-date university requirements.

We offer a free personal statement review through our widening access programme, please click here for more details. Did you know that 20% of students on the MMI course come through the widening access route!

Yes, we appreciate that we all have individual financial situations, and we do our best to accommodate this by being the most affordable course provider with the most flexible payment options.

We have partnered with Klarna, we accept payments over the course of 3-months, interest free.

We have partnered with Stripe, we accept payments over the course of between 3-months and 12-months, interest free. Please get in touch so we can arrange a package that suits you.

Yes, we accept currencies from across the world and have worked with students in over 10+ countries to date. We have partnered with UnionPay (UPI) and Alipay as our payment gateway for clients across Asia – please contact us for a bespoke invoice.

If you’ve checked through all of our FAQs and you can’t find the answer to your question, you can get in touch with us with any general enquiries about all things via [email protected] or give us a call on 0800 689 0051 .

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Remember, we are here to help you get into vet school. Still not sure which package is for you? Book Your Free 30-minute Consultation Today.

Applying to Veterinary School in 2024: Veterinary Personal Statement Top Tips From Cambridge & RVC Graduates

Applying to vet school can seem intimidating. In this article, we hope to demystify the process for you, discussing top tips for writing your personal statement, exploring the subject prior to interviews and preparing you to follow your veterinary dreams!

Preparing a Veterinary Personal Statement

When writing your personal statement, it is important to ensure breadth and depth, discussing topics in detail and ensuring you can mention a range of different topics/ experience to show a wider knowledge of the subject area. Make sure you mention people as well as animals, and choose topics you would be comfortable discussing further at interview.

Why are you applying?

Before you begin preparing for your veterinary application, it is worth taking a few minutes to think about the reasons why you wish to study veterinary medicine. This will be crucial for personal statement writing and you may be asked about your motivations for applying at interview. Your reasons for application should be well-thought out and specific. When you have some work experience of volunteering done, you can incorporate these experiences in your answers.

Begin by planning how you will structure your response. You could split your answer into three sections: 

1. Why the university?

Extensively research the university, societies you might want to join etc. and know the style of veterinary school. N.B. Most veterinary schools will have a page dedicated to what they want from applicants - take your cue from them!

2. Why veterinary?

Think about what YOU will gain from the degree itself

Think about what the degree will allow you to do once you are done e.g. The different routes you could take: Veterinary surgeon, zoo industry, scientific research, higher education lecturer, conservation work, charity sector (RSPCA) etc.

Ideas: You could think about how veterinary scientists benefit our community, maintaining animal welfare standards, improving food security, informing policy changes, the lifelong learning experience…

What are your ambitions? What interests you about veterinary medicine?

Consider the top 6 qualities you think it will be most important to evidence in your personal statement – consider practical and non practical skills

3. Why are you a suitable candidate?

When answering "Why me?" style questions at interview, or brainstorming when writing your personal statement, you must be able to demonstrate your quality and relate back to veterinary.

What makes YOU suitable for this subject? What relevant skills do you have? What relevant experiences or achievements can evidence these skills?

Which qualities would your chosen university most admire? e.g. practical skills, communication skills, problem solving, empathy and sensitivity

Work experience is great to mention as the stimulus that led you to apply for veterinary medicine, rather than just "helping animals", which is the formulaic answer a surprising number of students give! Work experience placements also make perfect examples for questions on your skills/ attributes and veterinary as a career.

Example skills

How to ensure breadth and depth in your Vet personal statement

Those who are going to review your personal statement for university admissions, or interview you, live the subject. They have decided to dedicate their lives to studying this discipline. Therefore, it is important to show that you are closely involved with the subject, even though it is not a subject studied at school. How to do this?

Background Reading/ Research for Vet Science

Evidence of off-curriculum exploration and outside reading is crucial to success in entry to the top veterinary schools . Research some relevant topics in veterinary medicine such as one health, bovine tB, animal welfare, pet obesity and nutrition (80% of horses are obese!), euthanasia and equine notifiable diseases.

Also think about current "“hot topics” in veterinary e.g. equine herpes virus is a hot topic in the UK after a recent outbreak. Students may also like to mention Covid-19 on their personal statement and the questions/ issues the pandemic has thrown up e.g.

Zoonotic diseases (diseases spread between animals and people): The origins of the pandemic are unclear

Coronavirus in pets e.g. dogs: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html - Concerns over animals/ pets with reported SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in vets being pooled into the research

The effectiveness of tele-consultations/ whether this accelerated the possible digitalisation of some elements of veterinary practice

The importance of non-emergency treatments: Vets encourage dog owners to come for vaccinations each year, but these were classes as non-emergency during the pandemic. Does this mean vaccinations are not essential for dogs?

Are vets key workers? (They were not classes ad key workers originally)

Puppy farming/ ethics of imported rescues

Pet travel/ passports

You could keep a reading chart with a page dedicated to each veterinary related topic. This will be useful for personal statement writing and prospective interviews too. To practise for interview, why not try presenting the topic out loud and pre-empting questions?

New Scientist: Great for articles on current affairs in veterinary science: https://www.newscientist.com/search/?q=veterinary

BBC Radio 4 In Our Time : You’ll find a number of veterinary-related episodes e.g. “The Evolution of Horses” or “Echolocation”

Linking research/ work experience to skills

Mention a range of different topics to show a wider knowledge of the subject area

Pick a topic or experience to discuss in more detail in your personal statement, but use this to show off a quality of yours

Example: Communication skills are central to being a successful vet – you could mention how you used communication skills during work experience or watched a vet demonstrate communication skills in a challenging scenario such as an angry or upset client

Work experience:

Consider which of these placements you have enjoyed the most, and why

Consider a time during your work experience placements when you have learnt something about the practical aspect of working in veterinary science, and also a non-practical aspect

You could also refer to examples of cases seen during work experience

Extracurricular

These may or may not be relevant to veterinary science. If unrelated e.g. a sport, public speaking, music, ensure you link back to why undertaking the extracurricular activity stands you in good stead for a veterinary degree i.e. what skill has it honed? Mention of non-veterinary related extracurriculars should be c.4 lines at the end of the statement.

Example Activities:

Write, write, write! For other subjects, essay competitions are a great way of delving into a topic area in depth and trying your hand at high level academic writing. Whilst veterinary competitions are slightly harder to come by, there are some opportunities for students to get involved in/ mention on their personal statement. Even if the deadline is passed, why not practise brainstorming an answer to, essay planning, or writing a full essay in response to the questions? Questions such as these could also be asked at interview. Even if you don’t mention the competition, you could mention an interest in the field on your personal statement or even turn it into an independent research project

The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics Competition : Example Question - “ Even when animal euthanasia is ethically indicated, many veterinarians and vet staff become stressed because they feel like executioners. What might change their paradigm?”

Lucy Cavendish College Veterinary Competition : Example Question - ”’Brachycephalic dogs spend their entire lives struggling to breathe. Their popularity is regrettable and their breeding should be strictly regulated.’ Discuss.”

Newnham College, Cambridge Biological Sciences Competition : Example Question - “Replace, reduce, refine: Why do we still need to experiment on animals?”

Research Projects

Zooniverse allows you to take part in science research projects from home. For example, the project “Whooping Cranes” involves virtually looking for large white birds (Whooping Cranes) in Northern Canada to monitor the population of the endangered species, or the “Monkey Health Explorer” project allows you to learn more about monkey health by identifying white blood cell types

We also offer specialised research projects through our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™ . The projects are great to mention on personal statements, and make impressive talking points at interview, particularly for top UK universities such as Cambridge, who favour applicants with an interest in scientific research

These are typically taken over a 4-week duration, involving weekly hour-long project tutorials and a final review session. The aim is to combine teaching of high-level subject-specific content with exposure to real-world applications of these concepts, giving you the opportunity to undertake a project that is both useful for a university application and future career

We have a selection of projects available on the website, but further veterinary projects can also be customised around your interests with a mentor who has a specialism in the field

Veterinary Courses/ Masterclasses

We run an online Veterinary Summer School (June - August), with two hosts from the Royal Veterinary College

If you have missed the summer course, we also host all of the masterclasses as 1-1 sessions, price on application. Example masterclasses: https://www.mindsunderground.com/stem/veterinary

Online Veterinary Summer School

12 interactive masterclasses on topics such as “Immune Response and Vaccines”, “Basic Life Support and First Aid in the Emergency Patient” and “Veterinary Case Studies: The Vomiting Dog, The Cat Losing Weight, and the Horse with Colic”

Designed to support content building for personal statements, and prepare for veterinary interviews

Hopefully this article has given you more of an idea as to how you should go about content building, writing and structuring a standout vet personal statement. Be concise (you only have 4000 characters!), be honest and speak in detail about specific interests within the veterinary course, emphasising a few in-depth discussions of experience and topics of interest to convey your passion for the subject.

Looking for a Personal Statement Tutor or Support For Your Wider Veterinary School Application?

Veterinary science personal statement.

U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a veterinary personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidates own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.

Veterinary Mentoring (Cambridge, RVC and More)

U2 offers both ad hoc tuition and wider Medical School / Oxbridge Mentoring programmes ( book a free consultation to discuss options ). We have a great team of Cambridge-educated and RVC Veterinary mentors, with experience supporting students in application to the UK’s top veterinary schools.

The Process:

1) We suggest a Veterinary mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation, test preparation (if applicable) and the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) U2’s approach for regular veterinary application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview. Mentors ensure each student refines their interests within veterinary, and is exposed to a range of key themes and topics. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during interview.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects , Veterinary summer school and mock interview days.

Sessions from £70/h.

Applying for Linguistics at University in 2024: Reading, Personal Statement and Interview Tips From an Oxford Linguistics Graduate

How to approach the ucat test in 2024: tips for the best ucat preparation.

Veterinary Schools Council UK

The representative body for veterinary schools in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands

Personal statement

All applications to UK veterinary schools must be made via UCAS, which includes the requirement to write a personal statement. However, veterinary schools are aware that the amount and quality of advice, and assistance applicants receive when writing their personal statement, varies greatly – and that this could potentially advantage or disadvantage certain applicants. For this reason, personal statements now play a smaller role in selecting candidates for veterinary medicine. This is reflected in the fact that some veterinary schools may have partially or completely replaced the use of the personal statement by introducing their own applicant questionnaires.

However, this does not make the personal statement unimportant. Throughout the selection process, for example at interview, it is likely that you will be asked about things you have discussed in your personal statement. Remember that the personal statement is your opportunity to explain that you possess the enthusiasm, skills and aptitudes which make you suitable for a career in veterinary medicine. Use this opportunity to explain how your academic interests, work experience and relevant hobbies reflect your interest in veterinary medicine. When mentioning these activities, make sure to reflect on how they have developed your skills and prompted your interest in veterinary science.

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Veterinary Science Personal Statement Examples

What is a veterinary medicine personal statement?

Your veterinary medicine personal statement is an opportunity to sell yourself to admissions tutors, and tell them why you would make a great candidate on their course.

Your statement should include how you meet all the entry requirements for a veterinary science degree and demands of the course. For example, your love of animals, patience, empathy, and your academic and practical skills.

How do I write a veterinary medicine personal statement?

Most veterinary medicine candidates open their personal statement with why they want to become a vet. Motivations for wanting to study any course at university are always important.

We recommend you write a series a notes about your skills, experience, hobbies, extracurricular activities, career plans and anything else that is relevant to your application.

When you have put an initial draft together, proofread it and leave yourself plenty of time to amend your statement.

Ask family, friends and tutors to read your veterinary medicine personal statement, and invite them to make suggestions, comments and any other feedback to help you improve it.

What should I include in my veterinary medicine personal statement?

• Your passion for animals should be obvious from the outset. Think about what made you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine in the first place - was it a childhood experience or something you read or encountered? Were you inspired by a family member or friend who is already a qualified vet?
• Talk about any work experience (paid or unpaid) or voluntary roles that have helped you gain experience in the veterinary science field. This will help demonstrate your skills, commitment and ambition to the university admissions tutors.
• If you're applying to Oxbridge, your personal statement will need to be exemplary. Veterinary medicine is a highly competitive course, so you have to show that you are a talented, dedicated and enthusiastic student that meets all the academic and vocational requirements.

For more help and advice on what to write in your veterinary medicine personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What can I do with a veterinary medicine degree?

There are many career options available to those wanting to study veterinary medicine, including:

• Animal nutritionist
• Veterinary surgeon
• Animal physiotherapist

However, there are other job roles where your veterinary science degree could be useful, such as:

• Animal technician
• Veterinary nurse
• Environmental consultant
• Nature conservation officer.

For more information about careers with a veterianary science degree, please see Prospects and The Times .

What are the best UK universities for veterinary medicine?

Currently the best UK universities for veterinary medicine are:

For more information about UK university rankings for veterinary science, please see The Complete University Guide and The Guardian .

Related resources

Find out more

UCAS Personal Statement FAQs

Personal Statement Writing Tips

How To Write A Personal Statement

UCAS Extra: How Does It Work?

How To Apply To University

• Schools & departments

Your personal statement

This provides the opportunity to tell us all about you! While it will not be formally assessed, your personal statement will be essential preparation for you if you are successful in being invited to one of our Assessment Days. We advise you to consider the following factors when writing your statement:

Personal qualities and skills

• interpersonal relationships
• ability to communicate

Evidence of career exploration prior to application

• understanding the realities of a career in Medicine
• work experience and shadowing with health professionals or in health promotion, examples of which may include the following: working in a nursing home and/or volunteering with disabled people
• talking with doctors and medical students
• attending a university open day and medical conferences/lectures
• reading/ watching/ listening to medical themed literature/ digital content/ articles. 

We value quality of experience over quantity. We are looking for clear evidence of reflection on these experiences, showing us what personal lessons you took from them and using these to demonstrate an aptitude for medicine.  We understand that due to the Covid-19 outbreak gaining experience will be extremely difficult.  The Medical Schools Council have provided guidance on how to gain relevant experience during the outbreak.  This can be found by following the first link below.  In addition to this the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have a free interactive video platform providing insights into the role of a GP and the wider primary care team which you can access via the second link below.

MSC Guidance on gaining relevant experience during Covid-19 pandemic

RCGP - Observe GP

Non-academic achievements and interests

Medicine is a demanding subject and can prove stressful. It is important to maintain a healthy study/life balance and we look for evidence of outside interests. Examples of these can include:

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Please do not email us your personal statement for feedback prior to your application.

Your UCAS reference is also important. The way references should be constructed is changing for 2024 entry and you will find information on this below:

UCAS Reference

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES Veterinary personal statements

Discover personal statement examples written by students accepted onto veterinary and related courses. Read through the examples to help shape your own personal statement.

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Inspection Criteria for Veterinary Practice Premises

Legal requirements and good practice guidance for Veterinary Practice Premises Inspections.

The requirements set down in this Inspection Criteria apply equally to over the counter and internet suppliers.

Full details of requirements are list in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (legislation.gov.uk) .

General Administration

The veterinary practice premises (VPPs) and vets supplying veterinary medicines from those premises must be listed on the relevant Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) register (Schedule 3 para 8)

SQPs must be listed on the current register (Schedule 3 para 14(3))

SQPs’ qualifications must be appropriate for the product range they prescribe/supply (Schedule 3, Para 14(3))

• a permanent building with a fixed address
• a mobile unit, if it is used for animal treatment by a vet and operated from a registered VPP
• be secure from unauthorised access
• have measures in place to prevent the entrance and harbouring of pests
• have veterinary medicine storage areas clearly separated from food/drink for human consumption and from toilet and washing areas
• not have veterinary medicines on self-service, except those that have the legal category AVM-GSL, homeopathic remedies and those products marketed under Schedule 6 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (Exemptions for Small Pet Animals)
• A list of other sites, including vehicles, linked to the practice and used to store veterinary medicines should be maintained and available at the premises

Storage of veterinary medicines

• Veterinary medicines must be stored in accordance with the terms of any specific instructions on the label of the product and in accordance with the relevant summary of product characteristics, including during transport (Schedule 3, para 3E)

Records must be kept demonstrating they’ve been stored, including during transport, at the appropriate temperature ranges and these made available to VMD inspectors on request (Schedule 3, para 3E)

• in a clean and tidy location
• in areas that are not accessible to the public
• in areas that are not accessible to domestic pets
• on appropriate and secure shelving
• Effective stock control should be carried out to ensure a continuous supply of all products and removal of out-of-date medicines

Storage and supply of Controlled Drugs (CDs)

Schedule 2 and certain Schedule 3 CDs must be kept in a secure, lockable and immovable receptacle that can only be opened by a vet or a person authorised by a vet

It’s good practice to have a written SOP setting out who is authorised to access the CDs cabinet and for what purposes. The SOP may also cover ordering (requisition), receipt, supply and disposal of CDs

Where CDs that are subject to special storage conditions are transported in a vehicle, they must be kept securely within a locked container in the vehicle (which could be the locked glove compartment) and the vehicle must be locked when not attended

A CD Register of Schedule 2 drugs obtained, supplied and used must be kept in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Where such drugs are supplied against another vet’s prescription, the name of the person collecting the drugs must be noted in the Register

The CD Registers must be kept for two years from the date of the last entry. A separate register must be kept for each location where CDs are stored

The CD Register must:

• be either a bound book (which does not include any form of loose leaf register or card index), or it can be computerised, provided the entries cannot be amended
• be separated into each class of drug
• have a separate page for each strength and form of that drug, with this recorded at the top of each page
• have the entries in chronological order and made on the day of the transaction or if not reasonably practicable, the next day
• have the entries made in ink or in a computerised form in which every entry is capable of being audited
• not have cancellations, obliterations or alterations. Corrections must be made by a signed and dated entry in the margin or at the bottom of the page
• be kept at the premises to which it relates and be available for inspection at any time. A separate register must be kept for each premises
• not be used for any other purpose
• be kept for a minimum of two years after the date of the last entry
• the date on which the controlled drug was received
• the name and address of the supplier, e.g. wholesaler, pharmacy
• the quantity received
• the date on which the supply was made
• name and address of the person or firm supplied
• the quantity supplied
• the identity of the person collecting a Schedule 2 controlled drug and if a healthcare professional their name and address
• was proof of identity requested (Yes/No) – Schedule 2 only
• was proof of identity provided (Yes/No) – Schedule 2 only

It is good practice to keep a running balance of each drug entry in the CD Register and for at least a weekly stock check to be carried out

Where Schedule 2 and 3 drugs are supplied against another vet’s prescription, a copy of the prescription, marked with the date of supply, which must be within 28 days of the date of the prescription, must be retained

If it is stipulated that a controlled drug medicine be used within a specific time period once broached, it should be labelled with the opening date. Alternatively the use by date can be recorded on the label but the practice should be consistent. The usage date must be observed (Regulation 8) and once expired the product must be appropriately disposed of

• CDs may only be ordered from a supplier using a requisition order personally signed by a vet. It is good practice for the vet to keep a copy of the requisition order in case of a query

Disposal Procedures

Procedures should be in place to quarantine, and ultimately dispose of, returned or out of date medicines, including medicines whose broach date have been exceeded. Procedures should also be in place to quarantine, and ultimately dispose of leaking, damaged, illegible or unwanted packaging

Procedures should be in place to deal with spillages and leakages, such as having a spill kit

Schedule 2 CDs must be destroyed in the presence of an authorised witness and the resulting destroyed products and containers appropriately disposed of. Further information can be found in the CD guidance

A separate record should be kept of client returned Schedule 2 CDs and they should not be re-entered in the CD Register. They do not need to be destroyed in the presence of an authorised witness, but it is good practice to do so

Any special handling or disposal requirements for medicines classed as hazardous pharmaceuticals, such as for cytotoxic medicines, must be observed

Supply Procedures

Out of date medicines (all classifications) must not be supplied (Regulation 7(2))

Only the minimum quantity required for treatment may be prescribed and supplied (Schedule 3 para 7(c))

If a medicine is supplied in its authorised packaging with labelling specified in the marketing authorisation (MA), for an authorised use, there is no legal requirement for a dispensing label to be applied. However, it is an RCVS requirement and we would recommend that an appropriate label is applied

• It’s an offence to supply such a container if any information on the outer packaging, or if there is no outer packaging, the immediate packaging, is not clearly visible at the time of supply or has been changed in any way (Schedule 3 para 12)

A vet may break open any package containing a veterinary medicine. Where veterinary medicines are supplied in a container other than that specified in the MA, the vet must ensure that the container is suitably labelled and must supply sufficient written information to enable the product to be used safely, for example a copy of the SPC or package leaflet can be provided, or appropriate information such as usage instructions, warnings and contra-indications can be included on the dispensing label (Schedule 3 para 9 and 12)

There must be no supplies of unauthorised medicines or medicines for use outside their MA, unless supplied under the cascade (see section 6(c)) (Regulation 27)

If it is stipulated that a veterinary medicine be used within a specific time period once broached, it should be labelled with the opening date. Alternatively the use by date can be recorded on the label but the practice should be consistent. The usage date must be observed and once expired the product must be appropriately disposed of (Regulation 8)

Supply of POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines

For POM-V products, animals must be under the care of the vet.  Refer to the RCVS’s Code of Conduct , and a clinical assessment must be carried out by that vet before the product is prescribed and supplied (Schedule 3 para 4). Inspectors will look for evidence that this is being followed, for example, from random samples of clinical records

For POM-V products, a vet must prescribe and supply the product and authorise each transaction individually (Schedule 3 para 9) and may do so in a number of ways, for example:

hand over a medicine personally following a consultation, or instruct a fellow member of staff to supply the medicine

make a note on a client’s records that repeat prescriptions of a specific medicine can be supplied to the client up until a set period of time

a member of staff taking a call from a client may put a medicine aside for the vet to authorise before being supplied

in the case of a client unexpectedly coming into the practice, by a phone call to the vet to authorise the supply

In each case an inspector will expect to see appropriate records demonstrating how the supply was authorised and by who.

POM-VPS medicines must be prescribed and supplied and NFA-VPS supplied by a vet or SQP in relation to products for which the SQP is qualified, and each individual transaction authorised by one of those persons, as follows:

A vet must authorise each transaction in the same way as for POM-V medicines (Schedule 3 para 9)

An SQP must be present when it’s handed over, unless the SQP:

• authorises each transaction individually before it is supplied, and
• is satisfied that the person handing it over is competent to do so

A vet who prescribes a POM-V or POM-VPS medicine, or supplies an NFA-VPS medicine (or an SQP in the case of prescribing POM-VPS and supplying NFA-VPS medicines):

before doing so, must be satisfied that the person using the product is competent to do so safely, and intends to use it for a purpose for which it is authorised

when doing so, must advise on its safe administration and any warnings or contra-indications on the label or package leaflet (Schedule 3 para 7)

In the case of the supply of POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines, the customer does not need to be a registered client of the veterinary practice

When prescribing for food producing animals, SQPs should take into account the advice given by SCOPS , COWS and RUMA

Before a vet can prescribe, administer or dispense any medicine for use in a horse they must:

• ask to be shown the passport for the horse if they do not have prior knowledge of its status. If they have seen the passport recently and are aware of the horse’s current status, they do not have to see it before each treatment
• satisfy themselves that the passport supplied relates to the horse in question
• note whether the horse is declared as ‘intended’ for human consumption in the passport or there is no declaration or the horse is declared as ‘not intended’ for human consumption. If the declaration is not signed, they must consider the horse as being ‘intended’ for human consumption
• satisfy themselves it is a valid passport. If the document does not contain the relevant Section covering this, it is not a valid horse passport

Vets should also be aware of the latest guidance from the Controlling Antiparasitic Resistance in Equines Responsibly (CANTER) group

It is good practice to have a written SOP setting out the procedures for authorisation of each supply of veterinary medicine

There should be evidence of actions taken when no vet/SQP was present to prescribe/supply veterinary medicines

In the case of sheep dips, if not previously supplied to the customer, a laminated notice and two pairs of gloves must be supplied with every product prescribed and supplied (Schedule 3 para 22 (4)). If supplying to a contract dipper refer to the SCOPS Code of Practice .

Supply of medicines under the cascade

For example imports of products authorised in another country, authorised products used off-label, human medicines, and extemporaneous medicines:

There should be evidence that the cascade is being followed correctly, for example where there is an authorised veterinary medicine available clinical notes could explain why this is not being used for a particular animal

Relevant documents, for example, Special Import Certificates (SICs) must be available for all imported non-UK authorised products

Unless the vet who prescribes a veterinary medicine under the cascade both supplies the product and administers it to the animal, the product must be labelled with the following information (Schedule 3 para 13):

• the name and address of the vet practice
• the name (or initials) of the vet who prescribed the product
• the name and address of the animal owner
• the identification, including the species, of the animal or group of animals
• the date of supply
• the expiry date of the product, if applicable
• the name or description of the product, for example, name and quantity of active ingredients
• dosage and administration instruction
• any special storage precautions
• any necessary warnings for the user, target species, administration or disposal
• the withdrawal period, if relevant
• the words either “keep out of the reach of children” and “for animal treatment only”

Records of receipt and/or supply

Records of receipt and/or supply of all prescription medicines must be available and contain the following information (as per Regulation 23 and Schedule 3 paragraph 5):

• the date of receipt/supply (supply includes administration)
• the name of the veterinary medicine
• the pharmaceutical form and strength of the product
• the batch number (except that for non-food animals medicines a record of the date of receipt or start of the batch is acceptable)
• the quantity of the product received or supplied
• the company name and the permanent address or registered place of business of the supplier or recipient
• the expiry date
• if there is a written prescription, the name and address of the person who wrote the prescription and a copy of it

If the prescription is not a written prescription, the person who prescribes the product must make a record of the reason for prescribing the product

If the product is a sheep dip, a record of the sheep dip certificate of competence number must also be made in addition to the above (Schedule 3 para 22). Vets may obtain the number by checking the certificate on each occasion, taking a copy of it or, after checking it on the first occasion, recording its number with the customer’s details

All records must be retained for 5 years (Regulation 23 (4)), except sheep dip certificate of competence numbers which must be kept for 3 years (Schedule 3 para 22(3))

• A means of recording the disposal of veterinary medicines and the transfer of veterinary medicines to another premises, store or vehicle should be implemented, to ensure traceability, enable stock reconciliation and help fulfil the annual audit requirements.

Records of products administered to food-producing animals by a vet (Regulation 18)

A vet who administers prescription medicines to food producing animals as soon as is reasonably practical must personally enter the following information into the livestock keeper’s record book or give written information to the livestock keeper (to enter):

• the name of the vet
• the name of the product and the batch number
• the date of administration of the product
• the amount of product administered
• the identification of the animals treated
• the withdrawal period

Records of products administered to food-producing animals under the cascade (Regulation 24)

A vet administering a veterinary medicine, which includes a human medicine or product imported under an SIC, to food-producing animals under the cascade (or another person under the vet’s permission) must record:

• the date of examination of the animals
• the name and address of the owner of the animals
• the identification and number of animals treated*
• the result of the vet’s clinical assessment
• the trade name of the product, if there is one
• the manufacturer’s batch number shown on the product, if there is one
• the name and quantity of the active substances
• the doses administered or supplied
• the duration of treatment

*when a whole herd/flock is treated with a medicine, it is acceptable to record “whole herd” or “whole flock” not every individual animal’s number.

Written prescriptions

If issued, written prescriptions must include all the information required under the VMR (Schedule 3 para 6(1)):

• the full name, address and contact details of the person prescribing the product, including that person’s professional registration number (if available)
• the full name, address and contact details of the animal owner or keeper
• the identification (including the species) of the animal or group of animals to be treated
• the premises at which the animals are kept if this is different from the address of the owner or keeper
• the issue date
• the signature or electronic signature of the prescriber
• the name and amount of the product prescribed
• as regards veterinary medicinal products that are antibiotics which are prescribed for prophylactic purposes or metaphylactic purposes (as the case may be), a statement to that effect
• the dosage regimen
• any warnings necessary to ensure the proper use, including, where relevant, to ensure prudent use of antimicrobials
• the words “It is an offence under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 for a person to alter a written prescription unless authorised to do so by the person who signed it”
• for food-producing animal species, the withdrawal period or a statement that the withdrawal period is equal to zero days
• if the prescription relates to a product prescribed under the cascade, a statement to that effect.

A written prescription for a CD as specified in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001(a) is valid for 28 days (or shorter if a shorter validity is stated on there). A written prescription for a CD may be hand-written, typed in a computerised form or computer generated, but must be signed by the person issuing it. It is an offence to supply against a faxed or emailed prescription (Schedule 3 para 6(2))

A written prescription for any other drug is valid for six months or such shorter period as may be specified in the prescription (Schedule 3 para 6(3))

If the prescription is repeatable it must specify the number of times the veterinary medicine may be supplied. (Schedule 3 para 6(4)) If the prescription is not repeatable, it is considered good practice for this to be stated

When a POM-V or POM-VPS medicine is dispensed under a written prescription from another vet (or in the case of POM­-VPS, a pharmacist or SQP) a copy of the prescription must be retained by the supplying vet for five years (Regulation 23). It is considered good practice for copies of prescriptions issued by a vet, pharmacist or SQP to be retained in case of query

At least once a year, a retailer of prescription only veterinary medicines must carry out a detailed audit of stock and compare the incoming and outgoing medicines recorded with products currently held and make a record of this audit. (Schedule 3 Para 15 (1))

Where, as a result of the audit mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), the retailer identifies a discrepancy the retailer must make a record of the fact. (Schedule 3 Para 15 (2))

The retailer must keep the records mentioned in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) for a period of five years from the date of the audit and the Secretary of State may require the retailer to provide a copy of it at any time within that period. (Schedule 3 Para 15 (3))

A system linking incoming and outgoing transactions with stock held, for example, may provide an ongoing running total which, with the addition of a periodic physical stock count to verify the stock held, may meet the audit requirement

Where an annual or more frequent stock take, which includes the main features set out above, is carried out for any reason such as, for example, tax purposes, the VMD would consider that the “detailed audit” requirement is being met

In-feed veterinary medicines (medicinal premixes) and feedingstuffs

• Medicinal premixes authorised for incorporation into feedingstuffs may only be supplied to authorised manufacturers. Refer to the Register of SQP Retailers and Feed Businesses (Schedule 3 Para 11).

The above does not apply in the case of medicinal premixes supplied only for domestic use (i.e. for non-food producing animals or food-producing animals whose produce is not commercially sold or supplied); paragraph 30 of Schedule 5 of the VMR provides an exemption for domestic keepers mixing medicated feed and for their SQP suppliers of intermediate feedingstuffs. A Medicated Feedingstuff (MFS) prescription is not required but the product must be prescribed/supplied as if it was a (non-medicinal premix) POM-VPS.

If the manufacturer is the end-user of the feedingstuff, the supply of medicinal premix must be in accordance with a MFS prescription (Schedule 5 Para 16 (4))

Medicinal premixes may not be supplied for top-dressing, unless that method of administration is permitted by the product’s MA or the product is supplied under the cascade. (Schedule 5 Para 9)

An MFS prescription for feedingstuffs containing a veterinary medicine must contain the following:

• the name and address of the person prescribing the product
• the qualifications enabling the person to prescribe the product
• the name and address of the keeper of the animals to be treated
• the species of animal, identification and number of the animals
• the premises at which the animals are kept if this is different from the address of the keeper
• the diagnosed disease to be treated or prevented (in the case of immunological veterinary medicinal products or antiparasitics without antimicrobial effects)
• the date of the prescription
• the signature or other authentication of the person prescribing the product
• the name, the active substance, the amount of the product prescribed and the inclusion rate of the medicinal premix and resulting inclusion rate of the active substance
• the dosage and administration instructions
• any necessary warnings
• a statement that the prescription may not be re-used
• the manufacturer or the distributor of the feedingstuffs (who must be authorised for the purpose), whichever is the supplier to the end user
• if the validity exceeds one month, a statement that not more than 31 days’ supply may be provided at any time
• the name, type and quantity of feedingstuffs to be used
• the overall amount of feedingstuff to be supplied under the prescription
• any special instructions
• the percentage of the prescribed feedingstuffs to be added to the daily ration; and
• if it is prescribed under the cascade, a statement to that effect

A MFS prescription is valid for a maximum of 3 months (the prescriber may set a shorter validity on the prescription) and must only be for one course of treatment.

In the case of a prescription which relates to an antibiotic, the time between a prescription being issued and the course of treatment starting must be no more than five working days

A prescription for a medicated feedingstuff containing a medicinal premix which includes an antibiotic may not be issued for prophylactic purposes

Medicated feedingstuffs containing POM-V medicines may only be prescribed by a vet. A vet or SQP may prescribe a feedingstuff containing a POM-VPS medicine. Additional authorisation as a Distributor is required to supply medicated feedingstuffs. Further information can be found in the guidance on manufacturing and supply (Schedule 5 Para 18 (1))

Wholesale supply

A wholesale dealer’s authorisation (WDA) is required if veterinary medicines are bought on a wholesale basis for the purposes of supply to other retailers or wholesalers (Schedule 3 Para 2(1))

There is an exemption from this requirement, where a retailer supplies another retailer with a small number of wholesale transactions in order to relieve a temporary, emergency supply problem that could be detrimental to animal welfare

The above exemption is intended to enable retailers (vets, pharmacists and SQPs) to supply each other in an emergency or if there are shortages of supply and should not be a regular occurrence

Advertising

The advertising of POM-V and POM-VPS medicines may only be aimed at appropriate persons, which do not include the general public. This includes adverts on websites, brochures and those displayed in retail areas to which the general public have access. POM-V and POM-VPS products may be on display behind the retail counter or similar, secure areas provided none are promoted inappropriately. Price lists are not considered to be advertising, provided that they meet the conditions in the advertising guidance (Regulation 11(5))

• is set out in such a way that it is clear that the message is an advertisement for the purpose of promoting the supply, sale, prescription, distribution or use of the substance
• encourages responsible use of the substance while presenting its characteristics in an objective manner
• contains no information which is misleading, is incompatible with the summary of product characteristics in relation to the substance, or might encourage improper use of the substance
• where the relevant substance is a veterinary medicinal product, it must not suggest that the substance is a feedingstuff or a biocide
• Human medicines cannot be advertised for administration to animals (Regulation 10(2)). This includes human general sales list medicines.

Pharmacovigilance

Vets and SQPs should be aware of the UK’s pharmacovigilance system, whereby reports of suspected adverse reactions or lack of efficacy can be made to the MA holder directly or to the VMD via the online reporting form .

Extemporaneous preparations

A vet is allowed to possess and use unauthorised extemporaneous preparations for use in individual animals under the cascade. These products can be made by the vet or can be made by another vet, pharmacist or the holder of an appropriate manufacturing authorisation in accordance with the prescribing vet’s instruction (Schedule 4 para 1). Further information is available on GOV.UK under Veterinary Medicines Guidance .

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA)

The controls set out in the VMR do not apply to veterinary medicines which are being used in accordance with a Project Licence issued under the ASPA (Regulation 3).

Antimicrobial resistance

The VMD recommends that practices have a protocol to help prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance. Refer to Antimicrobial Resistance clarification of new elements applied from the VMR .

Product information database

All currently authorised veterinary medicines are listed on the VMD’s Product Information Database . Any medicines that have been recently changed will be highlighted in yellow.

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• UCAS Guide >
• Personal Statement >

Veterinary Personal Statement Extra-Curricular Activities

The concept of having a good work-life balance is becoming increasingly important as part of the Veterinary student selection process.  In your Veterinary Personal Statement, it is vital to reference your extra-curricular activities as these can help you to display that you have developed the skills and attributes needed by vets. Hobbies, show that you have a good work-life balance and that you would continue to have a life out of vet school so please don’t forget to include them as they are very important things that universities look for. 

Structuring your Veterinary Personal Statement

You might be wondering where it is best to write about extracurricular activities in your personal statement. Ultimately, the decision is up to you where you choose to include it. We recommend students use the following structure and therefore reference their extracurricular activities in the last few paragraphs:

• An introduction explaining their motivations to study Veterinary medicine.
• A middle paragraph explaining about work experience which could include a young vet experience programme. 
• A paragraph (or two) at the end where you talk about your personal achievements, hobbies, academic achievements etc.

How much of your Veterinary Personal Statement should be dedicated to your extracurricular activities?

Our top tip when writing about your extracurricular activities is to keep it brief. Your personal statement should be academically focused. Most of your characters should describe why you want to study veterinary and why the university should offer you a place at Veterinary school. Work experience and your knowledge and interest in the subject should contribute more to the content of your veterinary personal statement that your extracurriculars paragraph.

What to include in your paragraph about extracurricular activities?

Extra-curricula’s is quite an umbrella term which might have you wondering what you should include as part of this. Broadly speaking, extra-curricular activities include any part time jobs you may have/ volunteering that you do, any particular programmes that you may have participated in (eg PGL or NCS), and any hobbies that you may have. In a nutshell, this is everything that you do that is non-academic and not work experience that you feel has made an impact in making you a good candidate to apply to vet school.

If you have lots of hobbies and extra-curricular activities, then you may struggle to write about all of thee in your application. If this is the case, cherry-pick the most important ones to you or the ones that you can easily relate to making you more skilled to being a vet. 

Below is a comprehensive list of extra-curricular activities that you may want to include in your application:

• Duke of Edinburgh award 
• School clubs e.g., debating clubs/ societies.
• Private tutoring 
• Part time jobs e.g., paper rounds/ retail work/ hospitality etc 
• Volunteering positions e.g., caring for the elderly or volunteering at an animal charity
• PGL trips 
• School prefect 
• National Citizen Service (NCS) summer programmes 
• Camp America etc 
• School trips away e.g., to Kenya wildlife reserves
• Charity events for animal foundations e.g., sponsored runs 
• Hobbies 
• Musical instruments and their grading
• Sports 

How to write about your extracurricular activities in your Veterinary Personal Statement

When writing about your extracurricular activities, it is important not to just list them, but to always relate them back to how they will impact you as a vet/ vet student.

Think about what you have learnt from these activities, or how they have developed you as a person, whether this is through teamwork, improving communication skills, improving your ability to rationalise and prioritise decisions etc. All of these skills are so broad and can be developed from nearly all tasks if you think about it, so do try to say what you’ve learnt from each activity individually. However, in the part where you write about your hobbies, it’s okay if you do not relate these directly to veterinary, but instead you could mention that you have maintained a good work-life balance through doing these hobbies instead and are aware of how important this is to being a vet alongside clinical work. 

Check out the UCAS official guidance on writing about your hobbies in your Personal Statement

Good and Bad examples of extracurricular activity reflections  

Below are some examples of how you can talk about extra-curricular’s and what makes these good/ bad: 

In my free time I like to play netball which has improved my teamwork skills.’ 

Picking apart this sentence an admission tutor would certainly question the students phrasing. Within the first 15 characters the student has already raised alarm bells to the reader by describing how they have ‘free time.’ If possible, avoid this phrase! But why? Time is of the essence in vet school, and even as a student you’re busy a lot of the time. Vet school is difficult to get into and requires a lot of prep… meaning your time is valuable and not free by any means!

Think about how you would re-word this sentence. How about using phrases such as ‘In my spare time,’ or ‘in my downtime from my studies’ etc.

What else could this student do to improve? The student needs to add some meat to the bones of their answer to show enthusiasm and passion. This student has explained the hobby and how it has helped them develop a skill (improved teamwork skills), but they could have expanded on this. Consider why this hobby may potentially help our student when practising and studying veterinary.

‘In my downtime from my studies I play netball for my school team. This has helped me to improve my teamwork skills by enhancing my communication and ability to work well with different individuals, which I can draw many parallels to when working in a veterinary team with nurses and vets.’

We’re starting to see some improvement in this students work they’ve mentioned they still have a life outside of schoolwork, but they’re still not showing how their extracurricular activities have helped them develop attributes needed by those working in a veterinary environment. 

‘My participation in the National citizen service scheme has shown my determination by using my summer holidays to fully immerse myself into unknown challenges, and remain calm, which will benefit me as a vet student when it comes to dealing with cases where I am unsure of what is wrong with the animal.’

By draft three they have cracked it and produced a good paragraph. They’ve listed the extra-curricular, listed the skill they’ve improved and then shown how that can relate to veterinary.

So, what can we learn from our student? We want you to be using the formula used by the student in the third example. This is the kind of formula you should use when talking about all your extra curricula’s. It also leaves the door open for more questions on this at interview as you may be asked how in particular this experience helped you remain calm etc. 

Check out our other Veterinary Personal Statement Guides and feel free to leave any comments or questions below.

Frequently Asked Question

→what are extra-curricular activities for a veterinary personal statement.

Extra-curricular activities for a veterinary personal statement are activities that you have participated in outside of your academic studies. These can include volunteering at an animal shelter or clinic, working on a farm or with animals, participating in animal-related clubs or organizations, or conducting animal-related research.

→What extracurricular activities should I do for personal statement?

Broadly speaking, extra-curricular activities include any part time jobs you may have/ volunteering that you do, any particular programmes that you may have participated in (eg PGL or NCS), and any hobbies that you may have. In a nutshell, this is everything that you do that is non-academic and not work experience that you feel has made an impact in making you a good candidate to apply to vet school.

→What should a vet personal statement include?

An introduction explaining their motivations to study Veterinary medicine. A middle paragraph explaining about work experience. A paragraph (or two) at the end where you talk about your personal achievements, hobbies, academic achievements etc.

→Can I include non-animal related extra-curricular activities in my veterinary personal statement?

While animal-related activities are preferable for a veterinary personal statement, you can also include non-animal related activities that showcase skills relevant to the field of veterinary medicine. These can include leadership roles in clubs or organizations, community service projects, or sports and athletic achievements.

→What hobbies should I write in my personal statement?

If you have lots of hobbies and extra-curricular activities, then you may struggle to write about all of thee in your application. If this is the case, cherry-pick the most important ones to you or the ones that you can easily relate to making you more skilled to being a vet. Below is a comprehensive list of extra-curricular activities that you may want to include in your application: • Duke of Edinburgh award • School clubs e.g., debating clubs/ societies. • Private tutoring • Part time jobs e.g., paper rounds/ retail work/ hospitality etc • Volunteering positions e.g., caring for the elderly or volunteering at an animal charity • PGL trips • School prefect • National Citizen Service (NCS) summer programmes • Camp America etc • School trips away e.g., to Kenya wildlife reserves • Charity events for animal foundations e.g., sponsored runs • Hobbies • Musical instruments and their grading • Sports

→Why are extra-curricular activities important for a veterinary personal statement?

Extra-curricular activities can demonstrate your passion for animals and commitment to the field of veterinary medicine. They can also showcase your leadership and teamwork skills, as well as your ability to take initiative and solve problems.

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• Vet Times Article
• P.S. Tutoring
• UCAS Official Website

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