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Getting into Veterinary Medicine through Clearing is difficult and rare, however, not impossible! This guide will provide all the information and tips you need to know about how to get into veterinary medicine through Clearing and how the application process works.

Understanding Clearing for Veterinary Medicine

Clearing is a process in which universities fill their empty sports after the application deadline. This is usually for students who have not met the requirements for their firm or backup choice or those who have decided to apply to university after the deadline.

If you have met those requirements, you’ll have to self-release from your firm or insurance choice (meaning, decline them) before being able to access Clearing.

Note: don’t do that unless you have received a verbal or a written offer from a different university.

The Clearing process for this academic year will be open from the 5th of July – 21st October 2024. 

Not all veterinary schools will be open for Clearing as veterinary medicine is a competitive course. Any vacancies that are available will be displayed on the UCAS website on results day.

Tip: Be prepared

Checking the UCAS website and phoning universities as early as possible on results day for vacancies is important as Clearing spots can go quickly.

There are only 11 universities in the UK that offer veterinary medicine as a course and each year the Clearing list will change as not all schools will offer Clearing.

Therefore, it may work in your favour to call up the university and check whether your grades may be accepted through the Clearing route. 

Can You Get into Veterinary Medicine Through Clearing?

The short answer is, yes! In the past, various universities have had vacancies for entry into veterinary medicine in the Clearing portal. While it is rare, it is not impossible! If there are any available places, they will be applied for quickly, so ensure that you check the UCAS Clearing page as soon as possible.

Preparing for Veterinary Medicine Clearing

To prepare as well as you can to apply for Clearing, ensure that you have reviewed all the required entry qualifications, GCSE grades and current and past A-Level grades prior to results day. 

Universities may ask you questions about your application on results day, so knowing all the details will be important. Clearing for veterinary medicine is competitive so you should also note down your back-up choices and any alternative options that you may have sought out beforehand.

These could be applying for the gateway course, other veterinary-related courses or taking a gap year. Be prepared for universities to inform you that there are no Clearing spaces, so having a plan B is always necessary! 

Finally, make sure that you have all the documents and information necessary to apply for Clearing. You will need to have a few things ready on results day

  •    UCAS ID number 
  •    GCSE and A-Level results
  •    Grade Transcripts 
  •    Work Experience Details 
  •    Personal Statement 
  •    Clearing Number 
  •    Any other relevant portfolios 

Having all these necessary documents and information will allow you to apply as quickly as possible and secure the best chance at getting through Clearing! You can also call the universities directly if you know exactly where you would like to go. They may ask you for this information on the phone. 

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Clearing Application Process for Veterinary Medicine

The Clearing application process for veterinary medicine is relatively straightforward and similar to other courses! 

  1. Use the UCAS Clearing Search Tool to firstly search for course vacancies available for veterinary medicine. The quicker you look on UCAS, the more likely you are to find available spots. 
  2. If you are unable to find any available spots on Clearing, this may be because others have already applied to them, or that universities filled their spaces prior to results day. Contact the universities directly and ask if they will accept you based on your grades. 
  3. If your chosen university has accepted you through Clearing, you will need to log onto UCAS, upload the details of the course under ‘Your Choices’ and then ‘Add A Clearing Choice’ in Track. 

Veterinary Medicine Clearing: Tips and Strategies

Clearing can be an opportunity to find a better-suited veterinary medicine course! Remember to stay positive, proactive, and prepared. This process can be tough and frustrating, however, keep an open mind!

Here are a few tips that can help:

  • Research and prepare well beforehand – have all the information ready even before Clearing begins and research well about the universities that you apply for. They may ask you questions about your interest in their university! 
  • Be proactive – Clearing works on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will find available spaces if you act quickly on results day and are proactive in phoning and contacting universities directly to enquire about vacancies. 
  • Prepare for interviews on the phone – as veterinary medicine has interviews before offers, universities may discuss your motivation, passion, and interest in studying veterinary medicine on the phone.
  • Be prepared and research each university and have all your necessary details and information ready! 

Alternative Options: Veterinary Gateway Courses UK

Do not worry if you did not meet the requirements for veterinary medicine or did not get a seat through Clearing, there are always alternative options to consider! 

A few universities in the UK now offer Gateway Courses for Veterinary Medicine. Currently, it’s Royal Veterinary College, University of Bristol and University of Nottingham. The Gateway Course is a targeted widening participation for students who did not meet the entry requirements.

It is a 6-year course that will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare them for veterinary medicine. If students successfully complete the gateway year 1, it will lead them automatically into the 5-year veterinary medicine programme. 

Through Clearing, you may also decide to apply for other veterinary-related courses such as Veterinary Sciences, Bio Veterinary Medicine, or Zoology. These programmes are allied with veterinary medicine without the clinical aspect.

After obtaining your Bachelor’s degree, you may then apply for Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine. This is a great option for students who did not achieve the requirements during school or college. 

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