Veterinary Medicine

This intensive Cambridge course develops the deep scientific knowledge and essential clinical skills to meet the varied and challenging demands of professional practice as a veterinary surgeon. Uniquely in the UK, you study the scientific basis of Veterinary Medicine for the first three years, including a year of research.

Overview

Ucas code

D100

Campus code

X

Typical offers made per year

4

Typical Undergraduate cohort

7

Minimum offer level

A Levels: A*AA

IB: 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level

Other qualifications: check what other international qualifications are accepted at Cambridge

STEP (SIXTH TERM EXAMINATION PAPER)

COURSE DURATION

VetMB 6 years, full-time

Essential subjects

A-level/IB Higher Level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics and Mathematics

Desirable subjects

None

ADMISSIONS ASSESSMENT

Applicants for Veterinary Medicine will need to sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) in mid-October as part of the application to the University. Further information is available here.

Why Choose St John's for Veterinary Medicine?

A tiger having a retina examined by Dr David Williams

St John’s has two Fellows directing studies for Veterinary Medicine. One focuses on pre-clinical studies, with topics run jointly with the Medical Sciences, and the other on the clinical side.

Several more Fellows in the College supervise our undergraduates in the central Medical / Veterinary subjects.

There are usually around 20 vet students in St John’s, making for a great community of peers sharing their interest in the subject and their experience over six years of the course.

Our student-led Veterinary Society meets for a meal with after-dinner speaker once or twice a year, creating the opportunity for pre-clinical and clinical students to meet and discuss veterinary medical matters in an informal setting.

St John’s supports a range of opportunities for research and clinical experiences, and our library is well stocked with the core veterinary textbooks and several veterinary journals.

Watch this video to find out more about studying Veterinary Medicine at St John’s.

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Our academics

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Jean Abraham

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Steve Edgley

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Graham Ladds

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Hugh Matthews

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr David Williams

Fellow

Course structure and information

The Department of Veterinary Medicine is currently reviewing the course to ensure it provides students with the best possible education and experience. Further information will be available in June 2025 from the Cambridge Veterinary School.

Find out more about the course structure and what to expect when studying at St John's College.

Learn more

Supporting your studies

Undergraduate Academic Research Project (UARP) Awards

St John's offers a number of grants to undergraduates who want to pursue academic research projects or Summer School courses related to their subjects at a University (including Cambridge) or other approved academic institution during the Long Vacation.

In addition to a general fund which covers all subjects, several subject-specific funds are also available. The Peter Munn Fund is dedicated to supporting Engineering projects. The Parsons Fund provides grants towards projects with links to Greece (Modern or Ancient) or the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as funding music-related projects. The Robert Tong Bursary offers free accommodation and access to the Library at Queen Mary, University of London during a set period.

All undergraduate students, including finalists, are eligible to apply for these awards.

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Summer Bursaries

Our generous Summer Bursary scheme enables St John's undergraduates to pursue their academic or educational interests or career-development opportunities for a period of up to eight weeks during the Long Vacation.

Any activity which would clearly add value to your career and personal development can be considered, and students have used their Summer Bursaries to fund a wide range of activities including research projects, summer courses at other institutions, intermediate and advanced language courses, unpaid work experience and volunteering work in the UK and overseas.

Every year, applications from students of St John's are invited to apply for Travel Exhibitions and Grants, for the promotion of travel.

Travel Grants

There are currently more than 20 travel grants available to students of St John's, made possible by generous donor funding. These funds are available to help students extend and develop their subject knowledge by, for example, travelling to archaeological sites abroad, further international understanding, undertake adventurous travel and much more.

Discover student life

meet our students

The best vets are exceptional scientists, and Cambridge—one of the world’s leading scientific universities—is the ideal place to study

Archie, Veterinary Medicine, undergraduate

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The best vets are exceptional scientists, and Cambridge—one of the world’s leading scientific universities—is the ideal place to study

Archie, Veterinary Medicine, undergraduate

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I grew up in North Wales with horses, dogs and sheep, I’ve always loved animals and science and being a vet brings my passions together. On any given day, I could start with a biochemistry lecture, move on to a dissection, and end the afternoon with animal handling.

My Director of Studies is a leading animal ophthalmologist. We got on so well at the interview, and now that I’m here, it’s clear that applying to St John’s was the right decision.

At St John’s we’re part of both the veterinary and medical societies. We share lectures, talks, and socials which creates a strong network and the chance to learn from students in the years above. I love the scientific history of St John’s – it’s inspiring Nobel Prize-winners like Dr Fred Sanger came here.

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Applying

A competitive application will include evidence of excellent examination results and predicted grades. We want to see how your interest in studying Veterinary Medicine has developed and what you have done to expand your understanding.

Strong applicants will have explored their interest in Veterinary Medicine from academic and vocational aspects.

This might involve wider reading outside your school/college curriculum, completing MOOCs or competing in Olympiads or Challenges. These can help to distinguish you from applicants who are doing well in school/college but are not pursuing their academic interests to the next level.

We also value evidence that you have engaged with the vocational side of Veterinary Medicine, for example shadowing a practicing clinician, volunteering or anything else that exposes you to the professional and caring side of your chosen career.

Work experience is not a requirement for applicants but it is useful to understand the profession and its demands and to spark your scientific interests in specific cases. If possible, applicants should try to acquire at least two weeks of work experience. There is further advice and guidance about this on the Veterinary School’s website.

If you are invited to interview, you will have two interviews, each of about 20 minutes. The interviews help us to find out more about your motivation and aptitude for the Cambridge course and the profession.

The Scientific Reasoning interview is with the Director of Pre-Clinical Studies and a Fellow in one of the basic Veterinary / Medical Sciences. This academically based interview will draw together ideas that you have studied in your different subjects at school. The aim is to see if you can apply concepts that you have already met in ways that you will not have encountered before. The interview is normally divided into two sections. One will typically explore a problem that may be loosely related to Veterinary Medicine. The other will be designed to test your scientific reasoning skills as you link together concepts from the basic sciences to address a problem that you have not met before.

The Clinical Reasoning interview is with the Director of Studies for Clinical Veterinary Sciences and another Vet. This will cover aspects specific to your aspirations in Veterinary Medicine, with broad-ranging discussion about the clinical side of Veterinary work such as ethical decision making and current issues in the field. You may be asked a few questions about your schoolwork, but the interview is not an oral examination of your academic progress and no special preparation is necessary or desirable.

Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)

Applicants will need to sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) in mid-October as part of the application to the University

Learn more

Life after St John's

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Our societies

Veterinary Society

The society supports the personal and academic growth of all veterinary students at St John’s.

We arrange social events and guest speakers to allow vets from both the pre-clinical and clinical years a platform to meet together for discussions on relevant topics and to hear from College alumni now working in veterinary practice.

All veterinary students are automatically members of the society.

Find out more Visit society's website

Medical Society

Known as ‘SJCMedSoc’, our society represents the College’s medical and veterinary students across all years of study.

MedSoc facilitates academic, social and welfare support and enrichment for all our medics and vets, making the six years as a student at St John’s as enjoyable as possible.

Our events can range from trips to the Royal Society of Medicine and talks by world-leading academics to more informal social events such as our student-favourite mulled wine and mince pies evening, therapy dog visits, and Formal Hall swaps with other colleges.

Find out more Visit society's website

Discover all societies

Notable alumni

William Wilberforce

1776

Abolitionist, Politician

Nobel Laureate

Royal Medal winner

Academy Award winner

Pulitzer Prize winner

Olympic Medal winner

Poet Laureate

By George Richmond © St John's College, Cambridge

Wilberforce was elected to Parliament in 1780, before he had even graduated from St John's. Soon he was leading the fight for the abolition of slavery, alongside fellow Johnian Thomas Clarkson; the House of Commons passed the abolition bill in 1807. He also campaigned to improve conditions in factories, for the suppression of vice and for the better observance of Sunday. He was a founding member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (later the RSPCA). A room in College is named after him and the Chapel houses his statue.