2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST VET SCHOOLS
The Best Veterinary Schools for Aspiring Vets
Becoming a vet is one of those dreams that survive childhood. The kids who wished to become princesses or fairies had to sacrifice those lofty ambitions, but those who wanted to take care of animals discovered they could go to school and make it happen.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Vet Schools
Of course, veterinary medicine is a highly specialized field, so there is quite a bit of education involved. Those who are most passionate about animal care want to attend the best vet schools in the world.
To help get your research process moving, we’ve put together a list of the top vet schools in the world.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Vet Schools
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that school).
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London
- Texas A&M University
- University of California, Davis
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Guelph
- Utrecht University
Top 6 Best Veterinary Schools | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Veterinary Schools | Highlighted Features |
| Royal Veterinary College, University of London | Continuing Professional Development |
| Texas A&M University | Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital |
| University of California, Davis | SVM Office of Research |
| University of Edinburgh | Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) |
| University of Guelph | Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation |
| Utrecht University | International accreditation |
Table: Top 6 Best Vet Schools | List is sorted alphabetically
How to Become a Practicing Vet in the United States
It takes time to become a veterinarian. It’s not just about looking at vet school rankings and identifying the best vet schools.
While everyone’s path to obtaining a veterinarian degree and becoming a vet will be different, the journey typically consists of the following steps:
1. Undergraduate studies: Entry into the top vet schools to obtain your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine requires undergraduate studies. Taking courses in subjects like animal science, biology, and chemistry is highly recommended.
2. Take the necessary standardized test: Most veterinary schools require the GRE. Some accept the MCAT.
3. Create a shortlist of schools: Draft a list of accredited vet schools you are interested in attending.
4. Graduate/professional studies: Obtain your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from one of the top vet schools and complete clinical training.
5. Get licensed: Get licensed by your state board, as applicable.
Image: Veterinary Practice News
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Detailed Review—Top Ranking Veterinary Schools
Below, please find the detailed review of each school on our list of the top vet schools. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these veterinary schools to score so high in our selection ranking.
Royal Veterinary College, University of London Review
The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London is consistently ranked one of the top veterinary schools in the world. It tops many vet school rankings list. Students interested in obtaining a veterinarian degree can enroll in undergraduate and graduate veterinary programs at the University of London. It is located in the United Kingdom.
Undergraduate Veterinarian Degree Option
As one of the best vet schools, the Royal Veterinary College offers three distinct undergraduate veterinarian degree programs: veterinary medicine, bioveterinary sciences, and veterinary nursing.
Graduating from one of the top vet schools has its advantages. Eighty-nine percent of recent veterinary nursing students found work or pursued further studies within six months of graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, one of the best veterinary schools in the world.
Graduate Veterinarian Degree Options
The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London also offers graduate degrees. It is one of the many reasons it tops many lists of vet school rankings.
Royal Veterinary College is one of the top vet schools and as one of the best vet schools in the world it offers aspiring veterinary professionals the opportunity to further their education.
Students can pursue the following at the University of London, home of the top vet schools in the world:
- Professional Doctorate
- PhD
- Master of Research (MRes)
Continuing Professional Development
The smartest people know that their learning never stops. For those who seek professional development opportunities at one of the top accredited vet schools in the world, the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College offers online learning materials and on-campus courses for veterinary professionals.
Interested veterinary professionals can also pursue Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practices that is offered by the Royal Veterinary College, one of the top accredited vet schools in the world.
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Texas A&M University Review
Texas A&M University is one of the best veterinary schools in the world that offers a professional veterinary program. It is located in the United States.
A Long History
Not only is Texas A&M University’s veterinary school one of the best vet schools in the United States, it is also one of the oldest in the country. All veterinary schools have to be selective when it comes to admitting students to ensure they are training individuals who prioritize excellence, discipline, and ethics.
Selecting the best, brightest, and conscientious students is the top priority of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, contributing to its high status on many vet school rankings.
Structure of Program
The best veterinary schools in the world organize rigorous programs that ensure their graduates have all the technical and academic knowledge required to provide the best care for animals.
But top vet schools in the world also ensure that their students go into the workforce with the hands-on experience required to be instantly valuable as practitioners.
It takes four years for students to complete this professional degree program at one of the top accredited vet schools. For the first three years, students receive instruction in the classroom and practical experience in the lab. Students spend the final year doing clinical rotations.
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
It’s clear that Texas A&M hosts one of the good vet schools in the world, but it’s the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital that makes it one of the top veterinary schools in the world.
The Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital lets students experience being a veterinarian in its totality. Good vet schools seek to provide instruction that is as close as possible to real-world situations, so their graduates know what they are doing when they start practicing. Texas A&M definitely provides that kind of an education as one of the best veterinary schools in the world.
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University of California, Davis Review
The University of California, Davis founded the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1948. In addition to its status of one of the top schools for veterinary training, the UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine also facilitates research and service programs. It is located in the United States.
Image: North Road Animal Hospital
Variety of Programs
There are several programs available at UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM)
- DVM/PhD dual degree for veterinarian-scientists (VSTP)
There are also a number of MS and PhD degrees that are available as well as continuing education programs.
UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine also has a number of academic departments for those looking for good vet schools for specialized areas of study.
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology
- Molecular Biosciences
- Medicine and Epidemiology
- Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
- Population Health and Reproduction
- Surgical and Radiological Sciences
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
The William R. Pritchard Teaching Hospital offers students at one of the top schools for veterinary training the opportunity to get hands-on experience.
The large animal clinic at this teaching hospital helps animals like horses and also provides care either at the hospital or at an owner’s farm or ranch. Similarly, the small animal clinic provides care for pets with service that include preventative care and sophisticated surgical procedures.
In addition to these care services, this teaching hospital at one of the top schools for veterinary training offers laboratory services, diagnostic imaging services, and clinical training programs.
Support for Researchers
The SVM Office of Research provides support for students and faculty. This includes assistance with preparing applications as well as help identifying sources of funding. They can also help academic finds appropriate publications.
The best vet schools in the world don’t maintain their status as good vet schools simply by drawing the brightest minds. They become and remain the best veterinary schools in the world by fostering an environment of curiosity and producing ground-breaking research.
Providing support for its researchers is one of the things that makes UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine one of the top veterinary schools in the world.
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University of Edinburgh Review
The University of Edinburgh proudly has one of the top vet schools in the world, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. It is located in the United Kingdom.
Accelerated Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Degree
As one of the top vet schools, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies offers a five-year Veterinary & Surgery Degree that is the main route for students interested in a career as a vet.
But if you are a student who already has an academic background in biological or animal science, you can pursue an accelerated version of this degree from one of the best vet schools that can be completed in four years.
This school’s degree programs are accredited by:
- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
- The European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE)
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS)
Another factor that has put Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the top of many vet school rankings is its participation in the Coursera consortium. This means that students can courses from one of the top veterinary schools in the world—free of charge.
One of their courses is called “Do you have what it takes to be a veterinarian?” People who are interested in becoming a vet but not yet sure whether they want to spend five years at one of the top vets schools, can sign up for this course and learn more about the profession.
Another course offered by Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, one of the best vet schools in the world, is Animal Behaviour and Welfare. This course is useful for anyone who wants to learn more about some of the welfare issues faced by animals, and their behavioral and emotional issues and needs.
Student Support
As one of the institutions with a high status in vet school rankings, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies offers extensive support for its students to ensure they become the best veterinary professionals in the world. Their support services include:
- Personal Tutors
- Student Support Team
- Study Skills Training
- VetPALS, a program that helps student adjust to studying in a university environment
University of Guelph Review
The Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph offers academics, research, and veterinary care. All of these elements make it one of the top vet schools in the world. It is located in Canada.
The OVC Advantage
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ontario Veterinary College, one of the top vet schools, opens up a range of career opportunities for students. They can pursue professional opportunities in clinic as well as private companies and government institutions. There are also plenty of exciting opportunities in the world of teaching and research.
When it comes to vet school rankings, Ontario Veterinary College is ranked eighth in the world, fourth in North America, and first in Canada.
As one of the top veterinary schools, Ontario Veterinary College makes it easy for students to explore different career opportunities by giving them access to an extensive network of alumni and extracurricular activities.
Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation
The Animal Cancer Center at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College is a one-of-a-kind institution in Canada. They champion an integrative approach to researching and treating animal cancer by combining knowledge and best practices in cancer biology and veterinary medicine.
The Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation distinguishes Ontario Veterinary College as one of the top vet schools in Canada and the world.
Being one of the best vet schools in the world means that the Ontario Veterinary College boasts a lot of brilliant and world-renowned researchers and professionals. The Animal Cancer Center brings together more than 30 cancer investigators from several departments. This includes:
- Cancer biologists
- Veterinarians
- Chemists
- Mathematicians
- Computer scientists
- Toxicologists
- Psychologists
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Utrecht University Review
Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is the only place to get a veterinarian degree in the Netherlands. The education students receive at this school is not limited to learning how to be a practicing vet. Utrecht’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also teaches students how to work in research, policy, and management settings.
International Accreditation
It’s not a given that students will want to stay in the Netherlands upon receiving their veterinarian degree. So if they wish to practice in other countries, they need credentials that will be widely recognized.
The Veterinary Medicine program is accredited by organizations in Europe as well as organizations in Canada and the United States. This allows graduates a lot of flexibility when it comes to deciding where they want to build their careers after studying at one of the top vet schools.
Organizations include:
- Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO)
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
- European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE)
Academics
Veterinarian degrees are available at different levels and Utrecht offers students, both in the Netherlands and around the world, two options.
As one of the top vet schools, Utrecht offers an undergraduate veterinarian degree program for students at the beginning of their journey as aspiring vets. This is a three-year program.
They also offer a three-year master’s program with three different specializations:
- Companion Animal Health
- Farm Animal Health/Veterinary Public Health
- Equine Health
The master’s program is in Dutch.
Conclusion—Top 6 Best Veterinary Schools
A career as a veterinarian can be exciting and rewarding, and there are good vet schools around the world that offer the education you need.
These top vet schools offer a first-class education, robust support, hands-on experience, and a network of talented researchers and alumni.
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