VETERINARY MEDICINE & SURGERY BVMS at University of Glasgow

As a vet you can contribute to society through serving the health care needs of animals, advocating for animal welfare, contributing to research, innovation and business and playing a central role in the health of human and animal populations and their environments.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

PURPOSE AND GOALS

The BVMS programme is based on integration of clinical and science subject areas and is delivered using a range of teaching methods. The spiral course structure means that you will revisit topics as you progress through the programme, each time with increasing clinical focus. In conjunction, there is a vertical theme of professional and clinical skills development to help you acquire the personal qualities and skills you will need in professional environments. Through individual, team-working and student-centred active learning approaches, you will develop the skills required for lifelong independent learning.

FOUNDATION PHASE (YEARS 1 AND 2)

In the first two years of the programme you will acquire fundamental knowledge and develop the skills and attitudes on which the following years of your training are based. During this initial phase, you will relate the anatomy and physiology of the body systems to health and disease in domestic animals, as well as looking at the underlying cellular process involved. You will gain an insight into common husbandry practice and animal breeding and how these impact on the animals we care for. Your professional training starts at the beginning of year 1 as you begin classes in fundamental animal- handling techniques, learn skills such as suturing, and develop your communication skills, building a solid foundation in the art of history taking, clinical examination and clinical reasoning.

At the end of the foundation phase you will have a sound working knowledge of healthy domestic animals, with an introduction to the mechanisms of disease. You will be developing independent learning strategies and you will have developed the fundamental personal skills you will require as you move towards learning based more in professional environments.

CLINICAL PHASE (YEARS 3 AND 4)

The aim of the clinical phase is to build on the foundation phase to provide a broad training in key areas of veterinary professional practice, with a focus on common and important problems and presentations encountered in veterinary work. Realistic scenarios and cases form the basis for integrating clinical aspects of veterinary practice with disease investigation and control measures. The approach emphasises the role of clinical reasoning and planning and you will continue to develop the practical skills and attitudes required to work in the clinical environment and take a greater responsibility for your learning.

At the end of the clinical phase, you will have developed independent learning strategies and the necessary skills to become an active participant of the professional phase clinical team.

PROFESSIONAL PHASE (YEAR 5)

In your final year there are no lectures and the primary emphasis is on small-group involvement in clinical activity, covering the common species of domestic animals. During this time you will be involved in all aspects of work in our busy hospitals and you will also gain first-hand experience in practices linked to the veterinary school. Though this year of the programme is structured so that you will receive clinical experience in core clinical areas, there is also the opportunity to focus on personal interests or explore the breadth of opportunities in the veterinary profession by choosing a “selective” experience. Selectives may be used to gain experience in niche veterinary activities (such as wildlife, zoo and exotics) or to gain in-depth clinical experience related to core subjects.

SPECIAL FEATURES

In common with all veterinary students in the UK, you will be required to undertake extra-mural studies (EMS) during your vacation time (total duration determined by the RCVS). This encompasses time wherein you gain experience of the management and handling of domestic animals. Upon completion of this preclinical EMS you have to undertake clinical EMS, during which you gain experience working in veterinary professional environments. Satisfactory completion of the EMS requirements set by the RCVS is a requirement for graduation.

The intercalated degree programme represents an opportunity for BVMS students following their second or third year to take either one or two years out of the BVMS programme and study for an additional degree programme (both at Bachelors: BSc, BSc Vet Sci (Hons); and Masters levels: MSc, MRes); after which you then re-enter the BVMS programme.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. 

OUR INTzzERNATIONAL LINKS

Study abroad opportunities are available in all years through participation in compulsory extra-mural studies (see special features). There are also opportunities to study abroad as an integral part of the BVMS programme in year 5.

We have approved status from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which enables you to have the option of practising in the USA or Canada following graduation, without the need for sitting lengthy and costly clinical proficiency examinations.