Can you offer a placement to one of our students?

BVetMed students

At the RVC, each BVetMed student must complete up to 12 (10 weeks for new entrance 2024 BVetMed1 students) 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. Students are encouraged to cover a range of species that they may encounter within their studies and in future clinical practice.

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.

Bioscience Students

Undergraduate work placements An important part of our bioscience undergraduate training is an 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 (eg summer placements, part-time work) to one year (see below). 

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.  During that year they will need to also complete some academic tasks.   

 Sandwich Placement Year  

The Sandwich Placement Year takes 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 Bioscience degree programmes seek placement opportunities which must be for a minimum of 30 weeks, including at least eight weeks focused on a research project.    

Our Bioscience degree programmes with a Sandwich Placement Year are:

Biological Sciences

Bioveterinary Sciences

Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Sciences)

Animal Biology, Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics 

Masters Placement Year

The Masters Placement Year takes place after the third year at university. Students spend a minimum of 36 weeks on placement, predominantly involved in a research project  

Our Bioscience degree programmes with a Masters Placement Year are:

Biological Sciences

Bioveterinary Sciences 

Want to know more? Employers wanting to find out more about the benefits of taking on an RVC student, the details of our placement years, or to advertise a position, can contact our placement year leader Claire Russell on crussell@rvc.ac.uk

Veterinary Nursing Students

Veterinary Nursing Placements

Our undergraduate Veterinary Nursing students must complete at least 1800 hours of placement over three years, working an average of 35 hours per week as part of the veterinary team. Many students often gain employment with the practices where they complete their placements once they graduate with us.

Placement goals:
Develop nursing and professional skills, connecting theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
Gain firsthand veterinary nursing experience and work as part of a team
Collect evidence of competency in RCVS Day One Skills and Competencies for Veterinary Nurses via the electronic Nursing Progress Log (NPL)

The placement blocks, lasting two to six months, occur throughout the three years, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practice.
Placements are arranged through a joint agreement between the university and the College of Animal Welfare, ensuring all students are placed in approved practices.
The students and practice are supported by CAW placement officers, and training is provided for the Clinical Coaches/Supervisors in the practice.
If you can offer practical placement opportunities at your practice, please email vnplacements@rvc.ac.uk, and we will be able to pass your details to the CAW placement team. 

Our aim to inspire and support the next generation of RVC students (including those who are under-represented at the RVC) and their supporters (e.g. parents/guardians, advisors, and teachers) through the design and delivery of a range of programmes/interventions that provide passionate, pro-active, professional and comprehensively tailored advice and guidance, as well as ensuring that our admissions processes are as transparent as possible. All of which are designed to help empower students so that they can make an informed decision and fulfil their potential and join the RVC.

It would be impossible for us to run any of the opportunities that we facilitate without the passion, expertise and insight provided by RVC academics, alumni, researchers, clinicians and support staff – so please get in touch if you have any ideas for events and/or if you would like to support an existing event(s).  

Similarly, if you are planning to support a schools careers fair; we would be delighted to provide you with support and/or equipment/resources.  

Alternatively, if you are based overseas; we would be delighted to speak with you about representing the RVC internationally.  

To see all of the programmes/interventions that we have upcoming please go to: www.rvc.ac.uk/visitus.

If you are considering volunteering your time and/or have any questions please email: schools@rvc.ac.uk.  

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.

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.