Queens' College Cambridge - Veterinary Medical Sciences

These notes describe the admissions procedure and the teaching of Veterinary Sciences at Queens', and should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the Cambridge University Undergraduate Prospectus.

In order to apply for this course at Cambridge University you must satisfy certain pre-medical requirements. The different qualifications which may, or may not, satisfy the requirements are complex. The official prospectus summary of requirements is attached. If you are taking A-levels, whether at a British or overseas school, then the system is explained in the attached sheet and is straight forward. If you are taking the Scottish Advanced Highers or the International Baccalaureate or the Irish Higher Level Leaving Certificate then the position is also outlined clearly in the prospectus entry. Other international examinations cause confusion to candidates. If you are taking the European or French Baccalaureate (or any North American, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand examinations preparatory to applying to University) or if you are taking a leaving examination which is particular to your own country of residence (e.g. Hong Kong Certificate of Education) then there is a strong possibility that you will not satisfy the University's pre-medical requirements. We therefore recommend that you should check your qualifications with your first choice college or with the Department of Medicine via their website: www.medschl.cam.ac.uk before you make your application to Cambridge

The Medical and Veterinary Medical Courses have been revised to incorporate new developments and concepts in pre-clinical teaching and as a response to the generally held view that the curriculum has become too over-loaded with fact and detail. These changes are intended to conform to the wishes of both the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. They are reducing the load on students while, at the same time, ensuring that the requirement to undertake advanced study in the third pre-clinical year is fully maintained.

The traditional approach of individual courses being given by single departments has been replaced by much greater integration between departments in the preparation of “core” and “elective” courses. The first pre-clinical year comprises courses of essential material. The second year contains both core material and options, from which students are required to choose two. The latter build on core knowledge to increase both breadth and depth of understanding as a basis for both the third year and for clinical school. The revised pre-clinical course pays much attention to clinical relevance including aspects of the relation between patient and clinician but is not vertically integrated to incorporate a substantial amount of clinical teaching.

While some applicants gain admission as post A-level candidates on the basis of their actual examination results and interview, most are considered in their fourth term of study leading to their final school examinations. The offers are conditional on results in examinations to be taken in the following June. In most cases this will be A-level but offers can also be made on Scottish Advanced Highers, Baccalaureate exams or other school leaving examinations. A typical offer will involve three A's in basic A-level subjects, but conditions are always tailored to the individual circumstances and school background. Queens' admits approximately three Veterinary students each year as determined by a University quota system.

All Medical and Veterinary applicants to Cambridge are required to sit the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), which is taken in schools during November, prior to Cambridge interviews. Details are attached, but for further information view the BMAT website at www.bmat.org.uk

We believe that a year off between school and university can be extremely valuable, a view corroborated by the students themselves. This year should not necessarily be spent in medically-related jobs but might be used as an opportunity to live independently and to gain wider experience. Work experience with animals can be useful but it is not essential or even desirable to spend lengthy periods doing this kind of work. Other valuable forms of extra-curricular activity e.g. sport or music, should not be given up in order to work specifically with animals. Indeed, some successful candidates have not had much experience of such work.

The first two years of the three-year pre-clinical Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos are common, except in certain details, for both medical and veterinary students. In the third year there is a very wide choice of subjects from a single subject read in depth to a more general course consisting of two or possibly three subjects.

In the first two years students are supervised, in the main, by Fellows or Senior Members of the College although research students and Fellows of other Colleges are used when necessary. Each student receives three to four supervisions a week in the first two years. In the third year the number of supervisions is on average much less and will depend on the chosen course. After three years of pre-clinical training, veterinary students undertake their clinical studies at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, which is situated less than two miles from Queens' although most will then live out of College.

The College has five teaching Fellows in [medical and] veterinary subjects: Dr Field (Director of Studies in Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Pathology), Dr Bryant (Pharmacology), Dr Holmes (Veterinary Anatomy), Dr Johnstone (Biochemistry), and Dr Sage (Physiology). For the clinical years, Dr Slater is the College's appointed Clinical Adviser in Veterinary Medicine.

Queens' has a very active and distinguished Medical Society. Speaker meetings are held each term, together with other activities and an annual dinner. The main aim of the Society is to widen the experience of the pre-clinical students (both Medical and Veterinary) by introducing them to speakers from clinical and related disciplines, both medical and veterinary, particularly those from outside Cambridge.

Overall the Queens' medical and veterinary students form one of the most coherent groups in the College, and at the same time are involved in almost all aspects of College life. We believe that our students are some of the best of the Cambridge students entering the clinical years. This is reflected not only in the excellent examination results they achieve but also in their subsequent careers.

Further details of the course can be found on the Clinical School website: www.medschl.cam.ac.uk

Admissions - Subjects

VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES