Pre-Vet Summer School Objective

To pro-actively facilitate an inclusive learning environment that immerses Summer School students into the RVC’s Veterinary Pathway, enabling them to experience university life and develop both academically and personally; while simultaneously providing an authentic perspective of the veterinary profession. Comprehensive application advice and guidance sessions will be enhanced throughout the Summer School by the curated schedule which offers repeated opportunities for students to develop skills and provide insights to empower applications and inspire enrolment at the RVC.  

Pre-Vet Summer School Programme*

The Pre-Vet Summer School is one of the RVC’s most immersive, preparatory programme for students with an aspiration to study Veterinary Medicine. This 13-day residential Summer School is based at RVC’S Hertfordshire Campus and offers work experience in cutting-edge animal hospitals and animal handling environments with students gaining between 25 and 30 hours that can be used towards an application. Students, no matter their previous experience, typically undertake placements in the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, Equine Referral Hospital as well as non-clinical environments such as Boltons Park Farm.

To complement placements, students will experience university-level lectures from RVC academics on a wide range of veterinary topics at both the London and Hertfordshire campuses. They will also as conduct a research project, engage in group-led teaching, learn practical clinical skills, and try to solve a real-life veterinary case!

Students will be allocated a Student Ambassador as a mentor to support and guide their academic and professional development during the Summer School. Dedicated RVC professionals will provide comprehensive sessions around the application process with the aim of empowering students to fulfil their potential and join the RVC.  Throughout the academic and social programme there will be the opportunity for students to meet and learn from veterinary professionals in order to gain real-life insight into the veterinary profession/career.

To support the comprehensive academic/placement schedule there is also a curated social programme, to facilitate the integration of Summer School students and establish an environment in which to develop skills, attributes and friendships. In past years this has included: exploring London’s famous landmarks, visiting ZSL London Zoo, attending a West End show, competing in an RVC Bake Off competition and experiencing animal handling opportunities.

*The RVC may (at its sole discretion) change the format of the event at any time, whether or not due to a Force Majeure Event, in each case without liability.

Pre-Vet Summer School

Dates: The date of PVSS in 2025 is to be confirmed.

Tuition Fee Costs: Tuition fees for 2025 are to be confirmed. The cost of the PVSS in 2024 was £3,130 per place.

The above fee is inclusive of accommodation and meal costs for the duration of the programme.

Scholarships: The RVC will award three individual scholarships covering the Tuition Fee Cost of the course

UK Students:

• One fee-waiver full scholarship is available to a UK student of outstanding academic merit, a strong personal statement and who falls within our Widening Participation criteria. This will be awarded to the strongest applicant, after applications have closed (to allow us to consider all applicants). NB: There is no separate application for this scholarship. 

International Students:

• Two fee-waiver scholarships are available to international students of outstanding academic merit and with a strong personal statement. This will be awarded to the strongest applicant, after applications have closed (to allow us to consider all applicants). NB: There is no separate application for this scholarship. 

You will be assessed in reference to your achieved/predicted grades, in accordance with the below:

Academic

• In the application form you will be asked which RVC course you are most likely to consider applying to (post Summer School) from the following: Veterinary Gateway, Veterinary Medicine (5 Year) or Graduate Accelerated Veterinary Medicine (4 Year). We will use the entry requirements from one of these pathways to assess your suitability for the Summer School. Note; you need to be on track to achieving these grades. 
• The application form will require a reference to support your application, this should confirm your suitability for the programme both academically and professionally. Please click here to see an example of a suitable reference for Pre-Vet Summer School. 

Please note, this is a competitive programme with around 50 places available to the strongest applicants. As well as being assessed on your academic suitability, we will also use the personal statement part of the application to help us decide who to offer places to.

English Language

• If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency for example; 6.5 in IELTS with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-test or Pearson Test of English overall score of at least 60. If you have not yet taken any of our recognised English qualifications, you should ask your school to provide a reference that details your performance in English Language classes/examinations at school/any qualifications you have already gained in English Language. You should also ask the teacher providing your reference to outline your general proficiency in English Language in their reference. Please click here to see an example of a suitable reference for Pre-Vet Summer School. We may ask for further evidence of your English proficiency if we feel it is necessary.
• For reference of any further accepted English Language qualifications please visit our website taking note of the first column: English Language Requirements.

Other

• Minimum age: 16 years (there is no maximum age).
• It may be a requirement to have a Visa to study at the Pre-Vet Summer School, we will provide all of the necessary information to offer holders.It may be a requirement to have a Visa to study at the Pre-Vet Summer School, we will provide all of the necessary information to offer holders.

"The Pre-Vet Summer School was an experience I will never forget. I learnt so many new things from the amazing student ambassadors, staff, and vets on placement days. It is great to be able to get a real feel for what the veterinary profession is like. We also got a feel for what the veterinary medicine course is like, only making me more excited to apply here." - Pre-Vet Summer School attendee from 2024

"At first coming here was nerve racking, being my first time in the UK I wasn’t sure what to expect, however over the past two weeks I have met people that I never want to leave. I now know how great this community is and would like to join it as a student." - Pre-Vet Summer School attendee from 2024

"This summer school has been an incredible experience. It makes you feel like you're already a vet student and it gives you such a unique experience that gave me so much motivation to keep going. It has not only given me a huge insight into the world of veterinary medicine but also into other careers and the diversity of pathways you can take after a degree in veterinary medicine. You will learn so much and get to meet so many incredible people, students, staff and vets that are always there to answer any questions you can possibly think of." - Pre-Vet Summer School attendee from 2023

"The Pre-Vet Summer School was incredibly informative and inspirational. The course has given me the ability to explore my passions in-depth and meet other students who are traveling the same path. It has given me a view of the veterinary profession I could not get elsewhere." - Pre-Vet Summer School attendee from 2023

If you have any questions about our Pre-Vet Summer School, the application process and/or our academic courses please get in touch:

The Royal Veterinary College,
Royal College Street
London
NW1 0TU, UK

Email: schools@rvc.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)7595411477