Veterinary Medicine course outline
Pre–Clinical Studies
Year 1 and 2
In the first two years, you concentrate on the biological sciences that underlie the scientific basis of veterinary medicine in the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos (MVST). The main areas of learning in the MVST are covered by courses in:
- Homeostasis – covering the physiological systems which underpin the body’s regulation of its internal environment and its responses to external threats. You also have related practical classes in experimental physiology and histology
- Molecules in Medical Science – looking at the molecular basis of how cells and organisms work
- Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology – functional anatomy of organs and tissues of domestic animals
- Principles of Animal Management – the fundamental concepts of breeding and raising livestock
- Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Medicine – studying epidemiology and how it’s applied in medicine
- Biology of Disease – dealing with the nature and mechanisms of disease processes
- Mechanisms of Drug Action – providing an understanding of the basic mechanisms of drug action at the levels of both drug–receptor interactions and the effects on body systems
- Neurobiology and Animal Behaviour – covering the structure and function of the sense organs and central nervous system, and the effects of drugs on brain function
- Veterinary Reproductive Biology – looking at the physiology of reproduction in domestic animals
- Comparative Vertebrate Biology – an introduction to the study of fish, reptiles, birds, laboratory and exotic mammals
In addition, you follow the Preparing for the Veterinary Profession courses, an introduction to the ethical, social and professional responsibilities of the profession.
Year 3
You choose to specialise in one of a wide range of other subjects offered by the University to qualify for the BA degree (sometimes referred to by other universities as intercalation). Options include:
- Part II Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- a single subject from Part II of Natural Sciences
- a subject less obviously related to veterinary medicine, such as Anthropology, Management Studies or Philosophy
On successful completion of the Pre–Clinical Course you graduate with a BA degree; all veterinary students then take the three–year Clinical Course at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road.
Clinical Studies
Putting science into practice
The emphasis of the Clinical Course is to give you sufficient clinical knowledge and skills ('day one competences') to practise veterinary medicine, and also to provide you with the scientific background you need to respond to future trends and advances in veterinary medicine.
Year 4
You study topics including:
- animal breeding
- nutrition and welfare
- animal pathology
- microbiology and veterinary parasitology
- clinical pharmacology
- radiography gastroenterology
These are examined in Part I of the Final Veterinary Examination in a series of 15 single–subject examinations.
Clinical tuition begins with basic clinical methods and integrated teaching in the husbandry and medicine of horses and farm species. Two mornings each week are given over to practical clinical work including basic clinical examination of the main animal species, radiography and post–mortem investigation.
Year 5
You complete the courses in species medicine started in Year 4, and also follow a course in small animal medicine. Instruction is given in subjects including cardiology, neurology, oncology, clinical pathology, and endocrinology, and in various surgical topics. You learn about veterinary public health, including food hygiene, state veterinary medicine and the medicine of laboratory animals.
Two mornings every week are again set aside for practical clinical work, including visits to external establishments such as the RSPCA clinic, and one morning a week is used for medical demonstrations.
Part II of the Final Veterinary Examination then tests your understanding of principles and concepts of veterinary medicine, as well as your ability to integrate information across the Part I series of subjects.
Year 6
This year is lecture free with tuition centred on small–group clinical teaching in which groups rotate through different disciplines in the hospital with individual clinicians. You’re given the maximum possible responsibility for the management of clinical cases. Finally, you have a period of seven weeks’ elective study in which to explore a special interest.
During the year, marks awarded in continuous assessment count towards Part III of the Final Veterinary Examination, which is examined in May of the final year.