University of Nottingham Vet School (UK)

Sara Cavalieri
Jun 13
3 min read

The vet school at the University of Nottingham has historically been the most applied to veterinary medicine program in the UK with about 2,000 applications each year, and it's easy to see why.

Ranked in the top 50 worldwide, the vet program has its own dedicated campus at Sutton Bonington along with the School of Biosciences, which is about 25 minutes from Nottingham city centre.

There is also an innovation centre, farm, beekeeping facilities and a fleet of 20-25 vehicles that students can rent when they go out on placements.

It also has a brand new mock-vet practice that opened in 2024, which even has a live X-ray machine and pharmacy.

Here are more of the highlights from my visit!

Sutton Bonington Campus

The Sutton Bonington campus is a one-stop shop for all veterinary students.

With on-campus housing, a social hub and 40 student societies, gym, labs and more, students have everything they need.

The veterinary program in particular has two cohorts of 150 students each (September to May and April to December).

All international students would enter via the 5-year program, in which the first two years are pre-clinical and the fifth year is lecture-free.

When applying, students also have to take a Situational Judgment Test, which is basically a test of common sense related to situations they might face on the program.

It isn't timed, and it's multiple choice.

Vet students are also able to bring their own horses if they have them, as there are 16 stables.

One aspect of the degree that may come as a surprise is the fact that students must work in the abattoir.

In the first year, they view the abattoir in a cleaned state, in the third year they witness the processes and in the final year, they have to do the processes themselves.

Like other UK veterinary courses, students don't specialize until after graduation, as they need to be able to treat all species -- from a mouse to an elephant.

But students can use their required Extramural Studies (EMS) placements to bias their experience.

It's not all work at this campus though; there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.

The campus also hosts a farmer's market on the first Wednesday of every month.

North American students will also be pleased to know that this school has the AVMA accreditation, allowing students to work back home as long as they pass the NAVLE.

Nottingham students will also have access to Vet Prep to help prepare.