Dr Susan Paterson, Professor Chris Proudman and RCVS president, Dr Niall Connell.

Veterinary school becomes eight in the UK to offer an approved programme

The University of Surrey’s veterinary degree has received formal approval from RCVS Council, meaning that, pending final approval by the Privy Council, students completing the programme will be able to register with the RCVS as veterinary surgeons in the UK.

The School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its first group of students in September 2014, and was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2015. Since the course was founded, the RCVS has been working with the University to ensure the development of the degree meets the College’s standards.

Professor Chris Proudman, head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: “I am delighted that our new degree programme in veterinary medicine and science has been approved by RCVS Council for recognition by the Privy Council.

“This decision recognises the huge investment in veterinary education made by the university and the quality of the education that we offer. It is also validation of our innovative model of delivering clinical teaching through working in partnership with clinical practices and other organisations involved in animal health, which has proven very popular with our students.

“The commitment and enthusiasm of our partners has been truly inspiring and energising. I look forward to Surrey veterinary graduates making valuable contributions to the profession in a variety of ways over the coming years.”

For the past five years, the RCVS has been working closely with the university to ensure the development of the programme meets the College’s standards. This included interim visitations with a team of accreditation reviewers and a final accreditation visit in 2018 comprising representatives from the RCVS, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and the South African Veterinary Council.

Dr Susan Paterson, chair of the education committee, who attended the final visitation as an observer said: “We are very glad to have reached the stage where we can formally welcome the University of Surrey on board as the eighth UK veterinary school to offer an approved degree, and that we will, from now on and pending Privy Council’s approval, be able to welcome its graduates onto the Register as proud members of the RCVS.

“We appreciate the immense hard work of both the faculty and the student body over the past five years in working to meet the College’s stringent accreditation standards and the effort that they have made to address our feedback and advice in a constructive and engaged way.”

She continued: “When I observed at the final accreditation visit earlier this year I, along with the other visitors, was particularly impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the staff, the network of partner veterinary practices and the student body to the school’s ethos and success.

"We also recognised that, with its unique ‘distributive model’ meaning that students can get direct clinical experience across 49 veterinary practice partners, the students have access to a large and diverse medical and surgical caseload.

“The final report contained a number of further recommendations and we look forward to continuing to work with the school over the next two years to help them meet our recommendations and suggestions.”

Image (C) RCVS.