Equine-related degrees or vet medicine

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Hello all,

I wonder if anyone could help me - I'm a 26 year old graduate (of history) who is a bit lost as to what to do after my first degree. I am passionate about horses and animals in general and I have been thinking about going back to university to study an animal-related subject.

I have been considering an MSc in equine science or equine management however I am not sure what career this could lead into. Is there anyone out there who has done an equine science degree or an equine related degree who could tell me where they studied and what it has lead them into?

I have also been considering veterinary school however, although I did take Biology A-level and Chemistry AS-level, I did not get top-class grades and so this will perhaps hinder my application to some universities although, as a mature student with a first class degree (albeit a BA) and relevant work experience, Edinburgh University did suggest I might have a chance.

Does anyone have any advice on the Vet Med front? Is it worth the application struggle and the significant cost (£27k per year for a graduate at Edinburgh apparently) to graduate as a vet and then have the struggle to find a job? Am I crazy to give it a shot?

Any help or advice very much appreciated- thank you! :)
 
All the successful applicants I've known to the graduate entry programme at Edinburgh have been biological science graduates. I think it would be difficult to do the 4 year shortened graduate programme without a biological degree, as I believe they expect more background knowledge than the standard entry course. It's also a heck of a debt to saddle yourself with, but if you really want to do it, I think the consensus is that it's worth it.

If it helps, I'm the opposite - I did half a vet degree, then a Phd now I wish I'd done history ;)
 
Hello! Thanks for the comment.
It seems that I would be doing the undergraduate degree but as I am a mature student I would be classed as a graduate when it came to the fees side of things (!!)
History was a brilliant degree - pity it doesn't lead into much of a career though! :)
 
So you'd have 5 years at graduate fees level - I think you'd have to be very sure you wanted to do it! But that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a good way to get there - if you're sure you wanted to. Have you spent time shadowing vets? Because that's the only way you'll really know if it's the path for you.

Friend of mine is just finishing grad entry this year and loving it. Another friend (older than you) is starting grad entry this year (I think) and they'll both be great vets. If you want to do it, it's the only way sadly. If you're not sure, I'd do some shadowing and find out before you jump right in.
 
I think Nottingham are the only uni doing vet sci that don't charge horrific fees for grads of other degrees. Though I think competition is tough for places...
 
Hi,

If it helps at all I did an Animal Science degree at Nottingham University and I am now a Ruminant Nutritionist and love what I am doing.
 
I did Biovet Science with the plan of going into Vet Med after I graduated - I'm the opposite now, I am glad that things didn't go as I planned :o I graduated and am now working in research.

Things are very bad in the job world as it is, but after a good long chat with a few vets, it seems things are tougher in that industry than anywhere else. My local vet has just taken on a lady for work experience - she has been a qualified vet for just over 12 months and can't even get interviews but needs to stay in the clinical environment even just observing.

It seems to me (and I could be wrong!! ;)) that there is far more call for veterinary researchers - jobs and PhDs alike for which, you don't necessarily require a vet med degree - and although where I am working isn't where I want to be atm, once I have got some experience under my belt, it will be far easier to progress and begin to move into the field I want to be in. After 18 months of university, it began to dawn on me, that I am happier in the lab and enjoy working with microbiology and parasites and that's where I want to be now.

Continuing education is something worth considering, but definitely needs seriously thinking about - it's an obscene amount of money to not be able to get a job at the end of it...most vet schools also required a large amount of work experience, to have been done in the last 2 years before application. See if any local vets would be willing to have a chat with you about postgrad vet school (not sure if it is still required to do years 1 + 2 together also?) and do your research on all the different unis and what they require, plus fees and any help they can give financially. For postgrads, there's not much help as I remember :(

K x
 
On the vet medicine front your school grades don't matter at all as you would be doing a graduate entry course. Have a look on their websites for exact details on the entry requirments as the different vet school do differ in exactly what they want.
 
She won't be eligible for graduate vetmed as she has a BA. When I looked into also doing the 5 year courses I was told I'd have to go and get biology/chemistry at A grade Alevel standard and ideally a third A grade too. If it's what you want to do and you can afford the extortionate fees (bearing in mind there are no student loans either for the fees or maintenance) then go for it.
 
Hiya,

I am doing the graduate course at RVC. RVC and Nottingham only charge the normal undergraduate fees even if it is your second degree. It is more difficult to get in as everyone wants to go to the cheaper university but then again my academic background is far from amazing and I got a place :)

I have a biology degree but even with your history degree and the science A-levels you could apply for the five year degree. When I was looking into my options, I emailed Margaret Kilyon in the admissions office. If you drop her a line I'm sure she will give you some advice, she is really helpful :)

If you want to ask anything about going back to uni fee free. i was 26 when I started and it is a big change but so so SO worth it to be working towards your dream job :)
 
Ps - the student loan company tells you there are no loans but you are eligible for maintenance loans if studying vetmed, medicine, dentistry or architecture as a second degree. You will have to cover fees without a loan though.
 
Do the maths very carefully. Some of my vet friends who took the graduate entry route will be paying off their education related debts for the rest of their working lives (and maybe beyond.....)

Contrary to popular public opinion veterinary is not nearly as well paid as Joe Public thinks it is!
 
In my humble opinion, unfortunately the fees to study make it not worth going back to study as a mature student. Realistically, your wages when you qualify will probably be in the mid to high 20k bracket - however wages in vet med are dropping NOT increasing so could be much much less when you graduate. In the 12mths before i graduated, wages for new graduates dropped £8k average ( i didnt graduate in the uk). If you have £120k fees plus keep over your head before you graduate, you are highly unlikely to be able to buy your own home never mind buy into a partnership in the future - all things to consider before taking the plunge. Think carefully - I realise now I should have done medicine (which incidentally is cheaper to do as a postgraduate than vet!)
 
If you can afford the fees you could do a foundation science degree and then whatever you want, but graduate entry is normally for people who have done science degrees, especially biology based and even then they are highly competitive. You won't get a student loan for anything below what you already have - a degree. So unless you have an awful lot of money stashed away an MSc would be your best bet.

I am also 26, studying zoology and tend to go down the routes of grazing animals, grassland ecology, nutrition etc as I didn't believe equine science would provide good enough career opportunities for the big life change! I did start university before but managed to get it discounted from my total years of student loan as I left for health reasons (5 years most people are allowed).

Have a look at the MSc courses you want to do and email them, they're often more lenient with mature students if you have any relevant life experience.
 
This is all really helpful stuff. Thank you all!

I will look into RVC as I was unaware they were also a 'cheaper' option. It's great to have a name of someone to talk to there as well - thank you MontyandZoom for that!

I must admit the cost is putting me off a bit. I am fortunate enough to have (most of) the means but it is a big decision to decide how much I want to invest in vet med as opposed to a similar degree where I could end up working with animals in a similar way just not as a vet (and with a more money left in the bank as a result!)

It's just working out what other options are out there and what jobs they may lead into that is the thing. I think I need to do more work experience/research. Although it's really tough getting veterinary work experience I have found.

Is there anyone else out there who has done a degree similar to vet med or another animal related degree that could tell me what their job is now and what route they took to their current job?

Thanks again!
 
MontyandZoom said:
Hiya,

I am doing the graduate course at RVC. RVC and Nottingham only charge the normal undergraduate fees even if it is your second degree. It is more difficult to get in as everyone wants to go to the cheaper university but then again my academic background is far from amazing and I got a place :)

I have a biology degree but even with your history degree and the science A-levels you could apply for the five year degree. When I was looking into my options, I emailed Margaret Kilyon in the admissions office. If you drop her a line I'm sure she will give you some advice, she is really helpful :)

If you want to ask anything about going back to uni fee free. i was 26 when I started and it is a big change but so so SO worth it to be working towards your dream job :)
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MontyandZoom - do you know what Margaret Killyon's email address is? I've Googled it but it just comes up with the RVC address.

Thanks :)
 
If you email the admissions email address then she is the one who gets back to you. I'm not near a computer at the moment but it will be on the website. Hope she's helpful :)
 
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