Every year we welcome students from countries other than the UK onto our veterinary course. There are no restrictions on how many non-UK applicants we can admit, and non-UK candidates are assessed according to the same criteria as UK applicants.
We want the unique Cambridge Veterinary Medicine course to be available to applicants from around the world, so we endeavour to attract and welcome students from outside the UK. We have no ‘quotas’ for EU or non-EU applicants – we simply seek candidates with the most veterinary/scientific potential, wherever they come from.
Cambridge has many years of experience in assessing applicants who have taken a wide variety of examination systems. The Vet School is able to draw upon this experience when considering applicants from outside the UK.
You can find out much more about the application process and the financial side of studying Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge at this link.
Candidates from outside the UK can apply to any college which admits vet students.
EU applicants are usually interviewed in Cambridge, and non-EU applicants can also request to do so. The University also conducts interviews for non-EU applicants in a variety of locations around the world, but some of these may require candidates to apply early - see this link.
Applying from an EU country other than the UK
Despite the fact that the UK is leaving the EU, the European veterinary family remains a strong one. Many of our best veterinary students come from EU countries other than the UK, and some intend to stay in the UK when they graduate while others will work elsewhere.
The Cambridge course is fully accredited by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education.
For more information about the qualifications we require, see this link.
Since the 2016 vote for Brexit, Cambridge University has remained committed to its European links. Indeed, central Cambridge was notable for voting more strongly (87.8%) to remain in the EU than anywhere else in the UK. More information on the effects of Brexit on fees and funding for EU students at Cambridge can be found at this link.
Unfortunately, most students from the EU will no longer be eligible for 'home' fee status from 2021 entry onwards. Fee status can be complicated to decide, but to discover your likely fee status, see the 'higher education' tab of this link.
“The Cambridge vet course really differs from the other UK vet courses, and this is why it is the only UK vet school I had applied to as an international vet student. It is the only university that offers the opportunity to sit in small groups of students (around three) and speak informally with teachers about the lectures several times a week. This enables us to ask questions about the lectures so that we really understand the underlying phenomena of the course and not just learn the handouts. As vet students we are mixed with medical students during the first two years and this brings another particularity of the course: we also acquire fascinating background knowledge in human medicine. Moreover, as the group years are really small (60 in my year) we get to know each other very quickly and this creates a great cohesion between all the vets so that international students can fit in very well and quickly! But Cambridge is also a really great place to meet students from wide variety of subjects and this is really important as an overseas student as it generates a really open-minded atmosphere and great conversations! Finally, walking in the steps of Newton or Stephen Hawking and having the opportunity to be taught by some of the cutting-edge researchers in the world is just amazing!” - Cécile
Applying from outside the EU
More than 10% of undergraduate students within the University come from outside the EU, and they represent more than 120 countries.
A Cambridge veterinary degree is an excellent preparation for a successful career in practice, agriculture or biomedicine, and we encourage you to consider choosing Cambridge to start your veterinary journey.
For more information about the qualifications we require, see this link.
“After getting 6A* at GCSE in high school, I applied for the Botswana 'Top Achievers Scheme' and my government awarded me a full scholarship to do A-levels abroad in Cardiff. I then applied for Veterinary Medicine, received a conditional offer and the government continued my sponsorship. Cambridge is a stunning city with a rich history. There's plenty to do for students and everyone is welcoming. Plus it's great to feel like you're receiving the best possible education!” - Lebo
For more information about the scheme under which Lebo came to Cambridge see the relevant page of the Botswana government's website at this link.