Can you offer a placement to one of our students?

BVetMed students

At the RVC, each BVetMed student must complete 12 weeks of Animal Husbandry Extra-Mural Studies (AHEMS) placements in vacation time during their first two years at the RVC in order to continue into their third year. It must include at least 2 weeks of each of the following - dairy, pigs, horses and sheep.

Students must also complete 26 weeks of Clinical Extra-Mural Studies (ClinEMS) during years 3,4 and 5. One of these weeks must be spent studying meat hygiene in an abattoir and one week in a Veterinary Investigation Centre. Whilst on placements in practice, students gain invaluable experience by participating in consultations, examining animals, administering treatments and performing common surgical procedures.

Placements enable students to:

• Experience a broad range of veterinary placements, linking theory with practice
• Experience and participate in all aspects of first opinion clinical veterinary medicine and surgery, including both individual animal and flock/herd health
• Enhance their ability to identify and treat a range of diseases
• Develop interpersonal skills necessary for effective communication with a wide range of animal owners and practice employees
• Gain insight into the professional aspects of practice, including practice organisation and management
• Gain insight into future career development

Both AHEMS and EMS are Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons requirements and therefore essential in order to graduate. All work on placements must be under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon.

Students are required to find and finance their own placements therefore any assistance alumni can give our students is vital. If you feel you can offer one of our students a placement and/or accommodation then please contact our EMS Placements office for further information.

BSc Students

Undergraduate work placements

An important part of our bioveterinary science, biological science and veterinary medicine degrees is a short industry-based placement, which helps to develop students' professional skills and knowledge.  As well as offering students valuable opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills; employers benefit from having a talented and motivated individual on board who can focus on a dedicated project. Placements range from a number of weeks to one year.  

Certificate in Work-based Learning and Research (Industrial placement or sandwich year)

Industry placements are structured programmes in which students spend an entire academic year working for an organisation as a full-time member of staff before returning to university for their final year. They take place after the second year at university and provide students with the opportunity to gain all-important work experience and employability skills before graduating. Students on our Veterinary Medicine, Bioveterinary Science and Biological Science degree programmes seek placement opportunities which must be for a minimum of 30 weeks, including at least eight weeks focused on a research project.  

Employers wanting to find out more about the benefits of taking on an RVC student can contact our placement year scheme Academic Co-ordinator Claire Russell.

Nursing Students

Nursing Placements

Nursing students complete up to 60 weeks of practical training within the first three foundation years of the BSc programme. If you can offer practical placement opportunities at your practice please email the Alumni Relations Office who will pass your details on to the relevant RVC department.

The RVC has stands at UCAS and school careers events throughout the year. We would love you to come along to an event and talk to prospective students about a veterinary career. This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire the next generation of veterinary and para-veterinary professionals. Talk about your own experiences at the RVC, about your chosen career path and offer advice to young people about how they can maximise their chances for success.

If you would like to be involved in RVC student recruitment activity, please contact the RVC Access team.

Remember as a vet you can make a referral to the Royal Veterinary College’s referral services.

Small animal referrals - Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Hertfordshire

With a team of over 200 dedicated and professional staff, the RVC offers the largest and most comprehensive small animal referral service in Europe. We offer a helpful and responsive service for referring vets and pet owners, as well as outstanding opportunities for specialists-in-training.  

One of our current referring alumnus said:

“The RVC's Queen Mother Hospital is our nearest centre of excellence. The RVC is very different from when I studied there many years ago though – I think of it as the John Lewis of the veterinary profession!.”

Equine referrals - RVC Equine Referral Hospital, Hertfordshire

The Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital is internationally renowned and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art surgical, diagnostic and critical care facilities, treating all types of horses from the family pony to the international elite athlete.

The Equine Referral Hospital aspires to be the first choice of referring Veterinary Surgeons.

All cases are treated in a professional manner whilst enabling our current students on rotations to learn about the huge variety of cases our hospitals admit.  

For further information contact either the RVC small animal referrals service or RVC Equine referral service 

We are currently looking at systems to connect current students with alumni who are willing to act as a mentor. It may be that you work in a specialist area of the profession or overseas and that our current students could benefit from a phone conversation or email discussion with you about your chosen career path.  

By connecting with current students and sharing your professional experiences you can put them one step ahead on the path to success.

We already have a small group of willing alumni, both in the UK and overseas, and if you are interested in being involved in this area please email alumni@rvc.ac.uk

No-one knows the RVC like you do! We would like you to share your inspirational experiences of being a student at the RVC whether it was 50 years ago or just last year.

If you would like to speak at your old school or college, at a conference or event, or just give some information to people coming to your practice, the RVC Alumni Relations team and RVC Access can help. We can provide up to date information on RVC courses and facilities, brochures and promotional materials as well as general advice.