UK/Ireland/Oz/NZ Program Format question

[OneDay81]

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Good morning everyone! I have been lurking for quite a while, mainly because for the past few years I have debated Vet school v PA school v Med school. Each has its pros and cons, but every time I start thinking about becoming a vet, that seems to be the only one that makes sense to me when I take my overall future happiness into account. I have tons of animal and veterinary experience, but the last 6 years have been spent in the military as a mechanic so I'm going to need to get some current experience when I get out of the military in December. I also have some chemistry courses to take before I can start my application process.

I really want to go to an overseas school, and my first choice is RVC. I am also looking into the Scotland, Ireland, and the Australia and NZ schools. However, in the little bit of research I have done, I have been unable to find out anything about the number of credits or the format of the programs (semester? quarter system? etc). The reason this is important to me is because I have educational benefits that I will receive through the military that will give me money for tuition on a per credit basis ($408/CH), a max lump sum towards fees ($10,503 per "term"), as well as a housing allowance and book stipend, for 36 months.

This money could really help with the costs of going to one of the schools I am looking at; I just don't know how much of the cost would be covered since the programs are not broken down into credits, the number of months attending are not specified, and tuition and fees are not seperated. Maybe someone who has attended each school could help me out on figuring this out??? Thank you!

 

[Nexx]

Murdoch University runs on a semester system and tuition is roughly $35,000AUD/year. We take 12 credits per semester. Living allowances are estimated at $23,000/year (Can live on less). The program length is 5 years in length currently for most people with a previous undergrad degree that included Biology, Chemistry, and Stats

 

[OneDay81]

Murdoch University runs on a semester system and tuition is roughly $35,000AUD/year. We take 12 credits per semester. Living allowances are estimated at $23,000/year (Can live on less). The program length is 5 years in length currently for most people with a previous undergrad degree that included Biology, Chemistry, and Stats

Thank you for your reply! How is the weather there? I was reading some information on the weather in Australia from a tourist website and it seemed very varied, but I didn't read about specifically where the schools are. The weather in NZ seemed a bit more stable throughout the year, which made me considering moving it up on my list of preferred schools.

 

[Nexx]

The weather in Perth is very similar to North Central Florida. The main difference being the seasonal weather patterns. Winter here is cold, it rains a bit (usually), and it's the start of the growing season. Summer is warm/hot and dry. In winter it dips down into the low-mid 30s and summer can reach 104+ on it's hottest days which are usually very few thankfully. Overall the hot period lasts a lot less than it does in FL and there is a lot less humidity.

I can't say much about the rest of Australia as I haven't made it over east yet 🙂

I don't know what your intentions are for practicing when you are out (small animal, large animal, research, etc) But Murdoch gives a well rounded large/small curriculum whereas I've head (on this forum so take it for what it's worth) that Massey -may- put a large emphasis on large animal practice. So check out what classes you will be taking at each school if you can.

 

[OneDay81]

I don't know what your intentions are for practicing when you are out (small animal, large animal, research, etc) But Murdoch gives a well rounded large/small curriculum whereas I've head (on this forum so take it for what it's worth) that Massey -may- put a large emphasis on large animal practice. So check out what classes you will be taking at each school if you can.

I've just begun doing my research, so thank you for bringing that point to my attention; it's definitely something I should remember to keep in mind as I look at schools. I think that I would like to get into exotic/zoo, or possible LA, but from what I recall you tend to make more money in SA, although I suppose it probably varies by where you live (urban v rural, etc) and I should make my decision based on what I would enjoy rather than what I would make. Somewhere down the line when I get tired of being kicked by zebras and monkeys throwing poo at me I would end up getting out of clinical practice and look more at doing something involving infectious disease research, hopefully for the CDC or WHO, something like that.

 

[chii chan]

The Dick Vet programme definitely incorporates small mammal/exotics into the course. In the Easter Bush facilities they have their own ward. We new students got a tour of it today and there was a chinchilla dental and rabbit dental scheduled as well as a tortoise spay & endoscopy. During the first year you're required to be able to handle and know the husbandry of all species including small mammal/exotics. It seems that they don't put an emphasis on any one specie or area of learning. You can also tailor your experiences (through Extra Mural Studies) to focus in on exotics if you want.

I don't know about the other programs you're asking about at other schools.

As for credits, I have no clue how many credits we're taking. We essentially have full days every day with the occasional Wednesday being a half day instead of 9-5. There's really only 3 classes I think we'll receive grades in. The Animal Body course extends the full year and covers EVERYTHING anatomy & physiology related. There's also AHWAFS and the Professional & Clinical skills courses that run the full year. Topics are broken down within the courses, but finals are totally cumulative at the end of the year (unlike US schools I think).

Keep in mind COA and programme lengths for each school. London is much more expensive to live in than Scotland. Edinburgh & RVC offers a 4 & 5 year programme, whereas Glasgow only offers a 5 year programme. Glasgow has cheaper living and tuition, but not so much that it will reduce cost of a full year to a cost below Edinburgh.

Fees change every year for each class and generally raise every year. My tuition will hold constant all 4 years I'm here at 22,200 pounds. Whatever the tuition rate is when you are offered a position will remain constant for the 4 or 5 years I think. Living really depends on a lot of factors, but Edinburgh does have a spreadsheet and other tools available online you can access to approximate loan amounts. My COA as calculated by the University is about $60,000 per year. Keep in mind that the conversion rate of $ to pounds is about 1.5. This means my COA is about 40,000 pounds where 22,200 is tuition alone.

Hope that helps for the questions you asked...

 

[OneDay81]

The Dick Vet programme...

Thank you for the info! The exotic stuff sounds amazing! I am going to try to go to Scotland and Ireland on my way back from the middle east this winter, for a few days in each location. I know December will be a terrible time of year to get a first impression, but I would still like to visit while I have the chance!

 

[Tiempo]

This money could really help with the costs of going to one of the schools I am looking at; I just don't know how much of the cost would be covered since the programs are not broken down into credits, the number of months attending are not specified, and tuition and fees are not seperated. Maybe someone who has attended each school could help me out on figuring this out??? Thank you!

Hi there. Credits are a bit of a mystery to me here, but TBH I haven't really paid a whole lot of attention to them. Having said that, there is this info on the University's website:

https://www.star.euclid.ed.ac.uk/ipp/drps_vet.htm

Click on one of the undergraduate programs to be taken to a page listing the credits. Not sure if you're considering the 4-year program for students with pre-existing relevant degrees, or the 5-year program, but the 4-year is the one called "Graduate Entry" on that page.

Good luck!

 

[OneDay81]

Tiempo-

I hadn't thought to look at the school's catalog instead of just the course outline on the vet school page! Thank you! I'll have to do the same with all of the other schools I am looking at.

 

[OneDay81]

I just got an email reply back from RVC and they operate in 3 terms over the course of 9 months, but don't use credits. I'm not sure how that would work out for getting my funding, but they are still one of my top two picks (along with Edinburgh) so far...

 

[shortnsweet]

Glasgow is usually a 5 year program (sometimes people an skip first year and jump into second year). The first two years you take 4 classes--Anatomy, Physiology, Husbandry, and Biomolecular Science. I don't know credits, but I do know hours? They can be found here :http://www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/vet/...erybvms/curriculumdigest/firstyearcurriculum/

We are on a 3 term system to account for lambing time over easter---the rest of Glasgow Uni is on semester. There is Martinmas(sept-dec), Candlemas(jan-march), and Whitsun (April-May). We only have small class exams right around winter break in December and March break that are 7% of a class mark each...so you can get 15% of your class grade throughout the year. The other 85% is determined by Professional exams in May. They are not too much longer than the class exams, but they are worth more and cover the whole year. If you do not pass those the first try, there is an opportunity for a pass/fail oral, then a resit in August before you have to resit the entire year in that class.

We have a set rate tuition based on what year you enter--my class is 18,500 GBP per year.

Living costs vary, but one could expect to pay about 250-350 GBP per month in rent and utilities. And then factor in such things as a bus pass/food/other expenses.

For me, even the 5 years worked out to be cheaper than going to a US school OOS....and was WAY cheaper than Dublin 4 yr program in tuition and living costs.

 

[OneDay81]

For me, even the 5 years worked out to be cheaper than going to a US school OOS....and was WAY cheaper than Dublin 4 yr program in tuition and living costs.

I started looking at OOS tuition rates yesterday, and they are ridiculous. Luckily I am a Texas resident, so A&M would be an option, but I would much rather go overseas, even if it means not being called "doctor" when I return to the US.

Is Dublin really that expensive to live in?

 

[shortnsweet]

I started looking at OOS tuition rates yesterday, and they are ridiculous. Luckily I am a Texas resident, so A&M would be an option, but I would much rather go overseas, even if it means not being called "doctor" when I return to the US.

Is Dublin really that expensive to live in?

Just to clarify..you will be called "Doctor" when you return to the US. If you practice in the UK you would not be, but the degree equiv. + the NAVLE lets you be known as doctor here.

And yes...the Dublin program per year when I applied was 35,000 euro per year plus SUPER high living costs. The price of food and rent is outrageous. (I still love Ireland, regardless, but wouldn't live there for fear of the depletion of my bank account).