To apply for the Production Animal programme you must meet the following requirements:

Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (or eligible) RCVS.

You must be eligible for full Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). All applicants must be an MRCVS by the date the internship starts, and ideally by the date of application and interview. It is the applicant's responsibility to organise and pay for the annual membership fee.

Meet English language requirement 

You must be able to communicate clearly in English, both verbally and in writing. If you are not exempt from proving your English language proficiency, you must take an IELTS (Academic) test (or equivalent). 

We require an overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0, with no element below 6.5. A certified copy of your IELTS test result should be submitted with your application. The test result must have been obtained within 2 years of the start date of the course.  Applications that do not satisfy these criteria will not be considered for shortlisting.

It is advisable that applicants arrange to take the IELTS exam as soon as possible due to limited availability.

Please see a list of English qualifications we will accept as alternatives To IELTS.

Foreign language applicants are encouraged to practice as a veterinary surgeon in the UK for at least one year prior to application.

Overseas Students

Students classifed as "Overseas" with regards to tuition fees are very welcome to apply for the internship. We are keen to find the best candidates regardless of their nationality and have had occasional Overseas interns. Candidates should note that funding models for this programme are weighted towards "Home" fee candidates, so when candidates are equal, internships will be offered to applicants eligible for "Home" fees. To help determine whether you would be eligible for "Home" fees please see the UKCISA's 'Who pays 'home' fees for higher education in England?' guide found here.

What essential attributes do you need to join the programme?  

• Be a highly motivated recently qualified veterinary surgeon          
• Keen to  develop your veterinary skills, experience and knowledge          
• Willing to work hard        
• Ability to cope under pressure        
• Positive attitude at all times        
• Great teamwork skills        
• Work effectively and efficiently with a range of people from support staff, veterinary students to Professors        
• Patience to teach and guide veterinary undergraduate students

Admissions Policy & Procedures

Further information on the recruitment procedure can be found here.

Synergy Farm Health, near Dorchester in Dorset

The Interns will be based at Synergy Farm Health near Dorchester in Dorset throughout the programme. They will be embedded in this very proactive practice and will be exposed to a wide range of production animal activities and case material amidst a dynamic team of both clinical and non-clinical staff. The Synergy experience includes the opportunity to work alongside Diplomates, Certificate holders, MSc holders and those with research interests, as well as our large team of veterinary technicians, working with farming businesses across a wide demographic allowing development of a varied skillset.

The Synergy Internship has now been running very successfully for the last 12 years, with many previous Interns having gone on to be employed, and perform important roles, including becoming shareholders of the business, whilst simultaneously growing the service and advancing their careers.

We are looking for new graduates who have a desire to be involved in the future of farm animal practice and come armed with ideas, passion and enthusiasm to develop their skills within a dedicated, forward looking farm animal team.

Torch Farm Vets in North Devon 

The Intern will be based at Torch Farm Vets  near Barnstaple in North Devon throughout the program. They will be embedded in this very proactive practice and will be exposed to a wide range of production animal activities and case material. The practice incorporates a forward thinking of team vets, vet techs and support team where individuals are encouraged to develop their skills and specialisms whilst providing high standards of veterinary care. 

Torch Farm Vets have been running an RVC Internship programme for seven years with many previous interns still employed within the practice, developing their skills in a supportive and friendly team.  We enjoy excellent staff retention and have a fun, progressive environment where a good work life balance is important. Living in North Devon gives easy access to Exmoor and some of the best beaches in the country. 

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic graduate with the desire to fully engage across the varied range of activities with the Torch Farm Vet team.  This will be an ideal internship for someone who is looking to develop their knowledge and skills in production animal practice at the start of their veterinary career.

Fenton Vets in Pembrokeshire

The intern will be based at Fenton Vets in Haverfordwest, West Wales. They will be embedded in this very proactive practice and will be exposed to a wide range of production animal activities and case material. The rugged Pembrokeshire landscape is home to a very traditional mix of farm types as well as a number of larger, more modern dairy enterprises. Approximately 85% of our work is dairy, 10% beef and 5% sheep. We also work with a number of camelid owners and small holders. The internship will be ideal for a new graduate who is looking to gain a thorough grounding in all types of production systems and rural life.

Our newly refurbished practice is a great base to study and work from and is home to our small animal team as well as our farm team which consists of eight clinical vets, a non-clinical vet focusing on preventative health and two TB testers.  We are looking for a new graduate who wants to home their practical skills and can use their own initiative to develop opportunities of the whole Fenton team.

Belmont Farm and Equine in Herefordshire 

The Intern will be based in Herefordshire on the borders of Wales. They will be embedded in this very proactive practice and will be exposed to a wide range of production animal activities and case material.

Belmont Farm and Equine vets has experience in delivery of veterinary services across diverse farming businesses. We not only offer dairy herd experience but have a wealth of engaged beef, sheep and dairy goat systems to work alongside.

We aspire to deliver an enriching first year in practice, enveloping the intern into our fantastic team and empowering the candidate to develop their skills in production animal practice in a forward thinking environment.

Friars Moor Livestock Health in Dorset 

The intern will be based at Friars Moor Livestock Health, in Sturminster Newton, Dorset. They will be embedded in this very proactive practice and will be exposed to a wide range of production animal activities and case material. The practice aims to provide the highest level of service to our clients based in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. Approximately 70% of our work is progressive dairy and 30% beef, sheep and goats. We also work with a number of camelid owners and small holders. The internship will be ideal for a new graduate who is looking to gain a thorough grounding in all types of production systems. As a practice we encourage new ideas and actively support people to bring these new ideas to fruition.

Our award-winning veterinary team consists of ten clinical vets, four TB testers, two foot trimmers and three veterinary technicians. We are looking for new graduates who are motivated, enthusiastic and brimming with ideas to help both develop their own skills and the services we can offer our forward-thinking client base.

Annual Leave

The total annual leave entitlement is 20 days inclusive of bank holidays.

Assessment

Constructive feedback will be provided both informally and formally throughout the year. Your clinical progress will be assessed on an individual basis and feedback given on an informal basis every three months based on your performance during rotations. Each intern has a formal appraisal six months after the start of the internship i.e. half-way through. This is intended to track progress, and to ensure that all learning objectives are completed by the end of the internship. Further information can be found in Course Assessment and Award Regulations 2019/20:  PGDip in Veterinary Clinical Practice. 

Code of Practice

All interns must adhere and abide by the Royal Veterinary College. The Code of Practice can be found under Essential Information in the Graduate School

Stipend

Information on the current stipend can be found under Funding Options.

Informal enquiries regarding the Internship programmes are actively encouraged

If you have any specific queries, please contact the Head of the Farm Animal Health and Production Group, Dr Richard Booth, in the first instance

• Dr Richard Booth (rbooth@rvc.ac.uk)

For general queries/how to apply please contact: admissions@rvc.ac.uk

If you would like to know more, the following links may be useful: 

• Synergy Farm Health
• Torch Farm Vets
• Fenton Vets
• Belmont Farm and Equine
• Friars Moor Livestock Health
• Postgraduate study options at the RVC      
• Graduate School

FAQS

You may also find these FAQs helpful.

Production Animal Internships usually commence in July and run for 52 weeks. At least one position will be offered at each of the practices below:

• Synergy Farm Health
• Torch Farm Vets
• Fenton Vets
• Belmont Farm and Equine
• Friars Moor Livestock Health

Dates for 2024 Production Animal Internship applications

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend interviews during the above dates. We endeavour to inform those who have been short listed for interview within 2 weeks of the interview date. The interview typically lasts 20-30 minutes. It is designed to test the applicant's understanding of the role and function of an intern, and their motivation for pursuing an internship.

Informal enquiries regarding the Internship programs are actively encouraged

For specific enquiries please contact Dr Richard Booth.

For general queries, or for more information on how to apply, please contact admissions@rvc.ac.uk.

Please see How to Apply for more details on the application process, but if you have a specific query you should contact the Admissions Team.

Only online application forms submitted through our system will be considered.

Please ensure that your English qualification meets our requirements in time for applying.

Tuition Fees

All Clinical Training Internships are fully funded.

• As an intern you will be awarded a scholarship for your fees.
• A stipend will be paid monthly in arrears. Currently the stipend is £17,200 per annum (subject to review)

The tuition fees (which are covered by a scholarship) are as follows:

Tuition fee amounts are subject to increase each academic year.