Submitted by J. Hudson on Mon, 20/10/2025 - 10:47
Celebrating 70 Years of the Cambridge Vet School Building
Today marks a special milestone for the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine. It is 70 years since the opening of the Vet School building, which was officially opened on 20 October 1955 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
Veterinary medicine at Cambridge was formally established in 1949, building on the University’s deep foundations in biological and medical sciences. Just six years later, the Department moved into its purpose-built home on the West Cambridge site, bringing together teaching, research, and clinical care under one roof for the first time.
The building’s opening in 1955 represented a new era for veterinary education, one that combined Cambridge’s academic excellence with a growing commitment to animal health and scientific discovery.
Over the decades, the Department has continued to evolve. Early cohorts of students focused mainly on farm animal and equine medicine, reflecting the post-war period when horses were still widely used, and livestock were central to rural life.
From the 1990s onwards, the landscape began to shift, as pet ownership rose dramatically and the demand for small animal care grew. The rise of pet insurance also helped make veterinary care more accessible, reshaping both the profession and the way vets were trained.
Seventy years after the building first opened its doors, the Department of Veterinary Medicine remains a place of excellence, collaboration, and care. Today, the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital provides world-class care across small animal, farm, and equine disciplines, while the Department’s research leads global advances in infectious disease, oncology, neurology, immunology, and animal welfare.
Cambridge is ranked among the best veterinary schools in the world, a recognition made possible by the dedication and hard work of our staff and students. Centred on the same goal that has guided it since 1955 - excellence in care, discovery, and education.