Postgraduate courses Veterinary Medicine

A postgraduate course in Veterinary Medicine might be the course you’re looking for if you have a natural love for animals and want to help with their health care. 

Below is all the information you will need in order to start your research into adding to your undergraduate degree. 

What is veterinary medicine?

Veterinary Medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders and injuries of animals. 

What does a vet do?

The usual activities of a vet may differ from day to day but some of the roles carried out are:

• Examining animals to diagnose medical conditions 
• Creating treatment plans
• Testing for diseases
• Teaching pet owners how to mind their animals
• Treating and dressing wounds
• Performing surgeries
• Performing dental procedures
• Prescribing medication
• Using medical equipment

Courses

Postgraduate courses in Veterinary Medicine allow students to focus on a particular area of interest. There are many different courses available across the UK. Some courses offer the opportunity to study either full time or part time. Examples of courses available are: 

Veterinary Epidemiology

Courses in Veterinary Epidemiology equip students with all the necessary knowledge and training in methodological skills for design, conduct, analysis, interpretation and communication of epidemiology studies, surveillance and disease control in humans and animals.

Animal Behaviour and Welfare

A course in this area helps students to gain knowledge in welfare assessment, animal management, evolutionary biology and animal cognition. 

Veterinary Physiotherapy

Courses in Veterinary Physiotherapy is suited to chartered physiotherapists who want to specialise in animals. Core focuses of these courses include veterinary diagnostics, physiotherapy assessment, clinical practice, physiology and biomechanics. 

There are a number of other courses also available such as Equestrian Performance and Rehabilitation, Bioveterinary Science, Livestock Health and Production and more. 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for different courses will differ however, a large majority of courses require an first or second class honours degree in veterinary medicine or a related field such as biological sciences, veterinary science, human medicine. 

Each course will have its own specific requirements so research into your particular course is important. Information can be found on course overviews and university websites. 

Career Development 

Vets can advance in their careers in many ways. Aside from working in a veterinary practice, you can also specialize in a particular area of veterinary medicine, teach at colleges/universities, or move into the research field. 

Salary Expectation

Veterinary Medicine is recognized as a high paying career path. On average, a Vet with less than two year’s experience can earn approximately £51,300 a year in the UK. Salary often increases with experience, and so, a vet with two to five year’s experience may earn up to £68,800 annually. 

Skills and requirements

• A love for animals
• A caring nature
• Empathetic, patient and sensitive
• Communication skills
• Scientific ability
• Problem solver
• Remain calm under pressure and in emotional situations
• A thorough, medical approach