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For UK students, annual tuition fees for VM degrees adhere to the national standard of £9,250 which applies to both the undergraduate (5-6 years) and graduate entry courses (4-5 years). The exception to this is if you are studying in Scotland and are a Scottish citizen in which case VM will cost you £1,820 annually.
Costs for studying in the UK as an international student vary, ranging between £30,000 – £65,000 per year.
Below is a table outlining the costs for Veterinary Medicine in all UK vet schools for 2024-25.
| University | Costs for UK students (Annual) | Costs for International Students (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science | £9,250 | £44,610 |
| Harper and Keele Veterinary School | £9,250 | £33,000 |
| Royal Veterinary College, University of London | £9,250 | £44,610 |
| University of Bristol | £9,250 | £39,200 |
| University of Edinburgh | £9,250 (£1,820 for Scottish citizens) | £34,200 |
| University of Cambridge | £9,250 | £67,194 |
| University of Central Lancashire | £9,250 | £34,000 |
| University of Glasgow | £9,250 (£1,820 for Scottish citizens) | £35,175 |
| University of Liverpool | £9,250 | £42,700 |
| University of Nottingham | £9,250 | £34,000 |
| University of Surrey | £9,250 | £39,900 |
As an example, a UK undergraduate student studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bristol will pay in total £46,250 for a 5 year course.
They will also have to cover any additional equipment costs during the course. Additionally, most of the UK veterinary schools offer mandatory EMS (Extramural Studies) – placements which can be completed in the UK or across the globe. They are usually conducted during Christmas, Easter and Summer breaks, meaning that students will likely not be able to undertake additional employment during those periods. Costs for these can vary between £50 to £200 per week.
You can study Veterinary Medicine in almost any part of the world!
Studying abroad offers unique insights into other cultures and clinical practices. Additionally, since there is a limited number of schools and spaces available at UK veterinary schools, for many aspiring vets, going abroad might be a safer option.
But the costs do vary greatly. Below is a table highlighting the costs of just a few international schools that offer veterinary degree courses.
| Country | University | Annual International Fee |
|---|---|---|
| The US | Cornell University | $61,284 (£48,493) |
| The US | University of Pennsylvania | $61,674 (£48,802) |
| Netherlands | Utrecht University | €26,686 (£23,123) |
| Cyprus | University of Nicosia School of Veterinary Medicine | €20,000 (£17,330) |
| Australia | The University of Sydney | $74,500 (£38,935) |
| Japan | University of Tokyo | ¥520,800 (£2,781) |
As an example, a UK undergraduate student studying veterinary medicine at The University of Nicosia Veterinary School will pay in total €100,000 for the 5-year course (before any grants/scholarships etc.), which appears to be lower than most of the other options presented in the table above.
It is also important to consider the additional costs associated with studying abroad such as flights, visas and medical insurance. Some countries, such as Cyprus, may be reasonably less expensive than the United States or Australia. Just as in the UK, you’ll likely be expected to pay for any additional equipment, tools or books required during your study.
Loans for studying in the UK depend on whether you are a home (UK) student and whether this is your first degree or not. Most student loans in the UK are given by Student Finance. Please note that these are country specific (i.e. England, NI, Whales, Scotland).
UK student – Undergrad: For your first degree, Student Finance will loan you all of your tuition fees.
UK student – Graduate Entry: As this is your second degree, Student Finance will not grant a loan for tuition fees.
International students: International students who do not have UK citizenship will not have access to Student Finances tuition loans.
There are however, alternative options for financial support. Many universities offer bursaries or grants which you may be eligible to apply to. In addition, private grants/bursaries may be able to support you. Finally, there are companies that offer private loans if you cannot access government loans.
It is recommended to apply for your loan as soon as possible after accepting a university offer. This is done via the Student Finance website.
In essence, you cannot get a loan from UK Student Finance in order to study abroad. There are, however, many alternatives, including grants and scholarships from colleges themselves, as well as local awarding bodies and charities, such as The Race For Education. Universities in certain countries (e.g. the US) typically have much broader grant and scholarship schemes in comparison to the UK and so obtaining financial support may be slightly easier.
You will need to check with each individual university to see what financial aid they offer and how the application process works. For example, The University of Nicosia School of Veterinary Medicine offers an automatic 20% scholarship for all years plus an additional 10% for financial needs.
If you are studying veterinary medicine in the UK and are a UK citizen, yes.
Student Finance offers a maintenance loan in addition to tuition loans. A maintenance loan is paid directly to you (as opposed to the University for your tuition loan) and is meant to help with living expenses such as accommodation, bills, food shopping and other related living costs.
The amount you’re given depends on your parental income. There are exceptions to this, for example, if you are financially independent or over 25 (Student Finance will check all your circumstances during your application).
There are, again, differences between undergraduate and graduate Veterinary Medicine courses. Undergraduate VM students receive the same amount of financial support as most other undergraduate students.
However, if you are a graduate student, your maintenance loan will be significantly less, as this is your second degree (although it is still means tested).
Again, you may also qualify for certain private grants or scholarships/bursaries within your university. These may also be means tested.
Unfortunately, in contrast to Medicine or other allied health professional degrees, students do not get an NHS bursary or fund as the veterinary medicine sector is not NHS funded.
However, there is an Army cadetship bursary for Veterinary Medicine worth up to £60,000 in which you will join the army for at least 4 years after graduation. More details about the cadetship and how to apply can be found here.
There is also the opportunity to ‘win’ financial help by entering Veterinary Medicine Essay competitions or other such awards. These, however, will only be available to enter once you have been enrolled in your course.
Finally, UK Student Finance offers additional grants to further help those eligible. These include the Disabled Student’s Allowance and the Dependants Grant (if you have children or adults financially dependent on you).
International students may explore a range of available scholarships – but please note that these often have specific requirements, depending on nationality and personal circumstances.
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