Introduction
During your veterinary education, you’ll acquire in-depth expertise and practical skills in diagnosing, treating, and preventing illnesses across a wide range of animal species. For many, being a veterinarian is more than just a profession; it’s a calling.
Veterinary medicine studies are known to be quite demanding – yet not impossible. The choice of veterinary medicine must be well thought. The information on this page should help you in this journey! From high school to specialized veterinarian formation: here are the keys to becoming a veterinarian and having the career of your dreams!
Secondary school – preparing for veterinary school
The prerequisites to enter a veterinary medicine school vary between European countries. You should look for the conditions applying to the country and the university of your choice. In several universities, candidates are selected based on their high school grades, in others, extracurricular activities are also taken into account. In some universities or countries, admission requirements can include entrance exams. You should prepare yourself according to this information!
Additionally, veterinary medicine studies require a strong background in sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) and mathematics. Moreover, keeping up with your studies in high school sets a great habit for the future. In veterinary medicine, learning is ongoing and exciting, making it a field where studying is not just a necessity but also a joy.
In case you didn’t get much background in sciences or mathematics in your school, some extra credits often exist. Don’t hesitate to follow any preparatory courses for scientific studies or more specifically for veterinary medicine studies.
Gain as much experience as you can working with animal professionals! These extra curriculum activities help set you apart and show your motivation to enter veterinary medicine studies.
Veterinary medicine studies in Europe
In Europe, veterinary medicine studies are attended at the university level. The typical duration of these studies ranges from 5 to 6 years, varying by country, and lead to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree.
You can choose to either attend a university in your country, as most European countries have at least one veterinary school (public or private), or to go abroad, which broadens the career possibilities after your studies! Some countries offer veterinary programs in English – or even other languages such as French. These are popular among international students who do not speak the local language fluently. Tuition fees in these programs can be higher than for local students.
In EU Member States, veterinary studies are regulated at the national level, but they follow common EU directives that ensure mobility and recognition of diplomas across countries. The European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) plays a key role in accrediting European veterinary schools and ensuring they meet high educational and clinical standards.
Here’s why an EAEVE accreditation matters:
- High Educational Standards: EAEVE ensures the school provides comprehensive clinical training and meets EU requirements. Schools undergo rigorous inspections every 7-10 years to maintain accreditation.
- Easier Recognition of Diplomas: If you study at an EAEVE-approved school, your diploma is automatically recognized across most of Europe without additional exams. If the university is not accredited, some countries may require extra tests or training to validate your degree.
- Better Clinical Exposure: EAEVE-accredited schools must offer sufficient caseloads in teaching hospitals, ensuring students gain hands-on experience.
- Increased Employability & Specialization Opportunities: Employers, especially in research or high-level clinical practice, favour graduates from accredited institutions. Moreover, access to European College Diplomas is often smoother.
If you want to know if the university of your choice is EAEVE accredited, check here.
Studies after the DVM degee
When you got your master’s degree in veterinary medicine, you are ready to work as a practitioner, hygienist, researcher or in many other fields (see career paths here + link). However, you might want to continue to develop your knowledge or skills in specific aspects of the profession. You can continue to evolve in your career through different formations.
To continue your formation as a veterinarian, you have a panel of paths:
- You can have a specialized master’s degree (e.g. in food chain security, in one health or in sanitary risks management). They usually last one year.
- You can graduate from a European College from the European Board of Veterinary Specialization. EBVS propose 27 veterinary specialist Colleges, representing over 38 distinct specialties (see EBVS website here). This veterinary specialist education and training is highly valued in the veterinarian community and takes at least 4 years after completing a veterinary degree. Ready for a challenge that will let you become leader in your specialty?
- Shorter formation courses exist and can help you getting valuable knowledge to enhance your practice. The duration varies (one evening to several days / weekends or even weeks or months). Continuous formation is always a clever idea, and accredited formations can be mandatory for practicing in your country.
After the DVM, you can also follow a PhD programme. Doing a PhD is a huge quantity of work, but it guarantees you excellence in a field and acknowledgement from the academic community. A PhD is usually mandatory for an academic or a research career at the university.
Alternatives to Veterinary medicine
If someone is struggling with veterinary studies—whether due to academic challenges, the demanding nature of the program, or not meeting entry requirements—there are a few alternatives that still align with a passion for animals, science, and healthcare. Here are some options you might consider:
- Veterinary nursing (Veterinary Technician): vet nurse is a practical, hands-on career assisting veterinarians in clinics, hospitals, or research settings. The studies are shorter (1-4 years) and less academically intense than vet school. In some countries, you can apply to be a vet nurse without any degree.
- Animal osteopathy: In some countries, you can train as an animal osteopath without being a vet. Programs usually take 3 to 5 years. However, you should check if you can practice osteopathy without being a veterinarian in your country.
- Biology or biomedical sciences: these studies are a good option if you want to do research animal behaviour, zoology, animal ecology as well as work in the health industry or in a laboratory. This is a suitable alternative if you want to work on animal matter without clinical implication.
There are also other careers implicated with animals, such as farmer, animal trainers, animal keeper, etc. These careers don’t necessarily require studies at the university level, but formations are usually needed (e.g. Animal trainer, farm manager).
Common questions
From caring for farm animals to beloved pets, safeguarding public health through official controls along the food chain, to ground-breaking research, the veterinary profession offers diverse opportunities. Veterinarians play a vital role in enhancing animals’ and people’s health and well-being. Veterinarians can pursue careers as a practitioner, entrepreneur, in public health, government agencies, in research and education, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, animal welfare organizations, zoos and wildlife conservation, and more. This diversity of career options allows veterinarians to explore their interests and passions within the field. Begin an exciting journey toward a career in veterinary medicine!
If you’re considering or have decided to pursue a career as a veterinarian, this is for you!
Veterinary medicine is a field that welcomes everyone from all backgrounds and diverse interests. Whether you’re passionate about animals, fascinated by science, dedicated to public health, or driven to make a difference in the world, there’s a place for you in veterinary medicine.
To explore if veterinary medicine is the right fit for you, you can participate in the ‘Vet for a Day’ activities we propose. You can also listen to veterinary professionals at your school, career fairs or open days to gain insights into the profession.
While it’s not easy, it’s definitely achievable!
The requirements of the almost 150 veterinary education establishments across Europe is be different across universities and countries. While admission standards vary, most only require your high-school diploma, while others (such as France and Italy) have specific entrance exams.
The vast majority of veterinary education establishment offer harmonised study programmes, which are verified and accredited regularly. The degree obtained at one of these veterinary education establishment will be recognised by others. You are free in your choice of where to work as a veterinarian!
A degree in veterinary medicine offers you a wide range of opportunities. During your veterinary education, you’ll acquire in-depth expertise and practical skills in diagnosing, treating, and preventing illnesses across a wide range of animal species. Day-One competencies are defined in the study programme and will be taught to all students. This expertise provides opportunities for various career paths, including working in clinical practice, conducting research, contributing to public health, collaborating with pharmaceutical companies, shelter medicine, working for the government and forming public policies, and many more.
For furthermore information, you can check here the career paths.
The price of the veterinary medicine studies depends on the university or the country.
Most European countries offer state-funded veterinary faculties, which are generally more affordable but have highly competitive entrance exams (e.g., France, Spain, Italy).
Private universities can offer veterinary programs, often with higher tuition fees and sometimes easier entry requirements.
The answer depends on whether you want to stay in Europe or if you would prefer to go abroad, as well as what field you want to work in.
- For clinical career:
- In Europe: If you study at an EAEVE-accredited establishment, your diploma is automatically recognized across most of Europe without additional exams. If the university is not accredited, some countries may require extra tests or training to validate your degree.
- Outside Europe: Even with a degree from an EAEVE-accredited school, you’ll often need to ask for an equivalence of your diploma, which usually requires additional exams. If your goal is to work outside Europe, you might consider studying there directly.
- For non-practice career: non-clinical careers usually are not under specific restrictions. You should be able to work worldwide without the need of a diploma equivalence. However, other requirements may be mecessary according to the career and the country.