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Director of Studies
Dr G Pearce BSc(Hons), BVSc, MA, MVS, PhD, GradCertEd(HE), PGCertAqVetS, PGCertWLBio&Cons, DiplECPHM, MRCVS
College Lecturer and Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine
University Lecturer in Farm Animal Health and Production
Department of Veterinary Medicine in Cambridge
Enquiries to magd-admissions@lists.cam.ac.uk
College Teacher
Dr M Hughes BSc PhD MB BChir (Hons Cantab)
Fellow and Tutor Director of Studies in Pre-Clinical Medicine
College Lecturer in Pharmacology
We normally admit 3 students per year.
We expect to receive about 7 - 10 applications per place.
Veterinary students are entered onto the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos for their first three years (the pre-clinical programme). During this period they study some courses with medical students in the first two years, but some courses are specifically for veterinary students. This has the advantage for veterinary students of making them feel that they are part of the wider medical and biomedical community, while at the same time allowing them to learn in more detail the subjects that are specifically relevant to veterinary medicine e.g. Farm Animal Husbandry and Preparing for the Veterinary Profession. Following the award of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree after three years of study, students progress to the clinical part of the course, which is taught by the Department of Veterinary Medicine situated in West Cambridge and within easy access of Magdalene College. The emphasis during this part of the course is learning clinical skills and the final year is free from lectures, the teaching being done in small-group rotations with clinical staff. At the end of the clinical course students graduate as Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (VetM.B) and are eligible for membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
All candidates for the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos take Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Genetics as Tripos subjects in their first year (Part 1A). In addition students are instructed in animal husbandry and various aspects of veterinary practice to enable them to make best use of their time spent with farm animals and prepare them for working in the veterinary profession.
In the second year (Part 1B), students continue to study Anatomy and Physiology. They also study Pharmacology, Pathology, Neurobiology, Animal Behaviour and Veterinary Reproduction. In the third year a number of specialist Part II subjects are available. Biomedical specialities are strongly recommended, but it is possible to study other Triposes, for example Anthropology or Law, if these may support future careers outside Veterinary Medicine.
In the fourth and fifth years students follow courses in clinical subjects by attending lectures, practicals and small group clinical rotations. There are no lectures in the sixth year of the course where the emphasis is on small group teaching and direct responsibility for cases during clinical rotations. There are opportunities within the clinical course to undertake more in-depth study in chosesn areas of veterinary medicine. In addition, students spend 12 week in the first three years, and 26 weeks during the clinical course on extramural placements during vacations, gaining practical experience in animal management and veterinary practice.
By taking the two-part course (pre-clinical and clinical) students gain maximum academic advantage from their time in Cambridge by being able to study scientific subjects as well as Veterinary Medicine.
Undergraduates receive formal instruction in the form of lectures and practical classes arranged by the appropriate University Departments. In addition the College, through the Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine, arranges tutorial teaching in the subjects being taken at undergraduate level. This teaching (supervision) takes the form of an hourly session in each main subject each week during Term. These supervisions are given by experts in the particular area being studied, often by members of the College. The supervision system is unique to Oxford and Cambridge and is highly valued by both the teacher staff and students alike.
The College Library is open 24 hours a day. There are specific veterinary and medical sections which contain copies of all the recommended texts for the University courses. The College Librarian is always willing to consider purchasing any additional texts students think desirable (with the support of the Director of Studies). Most individual departments within the University also have their own well-stocked specialist libraries which are available for use by students. Additionally there are large central libraries such as the University Library, the Clinical Veterinary School Library and the Scientific Periodicals Library.
Dr. Gareth Pearce MRCVS qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the Universities of Melbourne and Bristol and has worked in veterinary practice in the UK and New Zealand. He has held teaching and research posts in Veterinary Schools in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and is now a University Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Medicine in Cambridge.
There are minimum requirements (the same for all Colleges) as follows: GCSE passes at grade C or above in Physics, Biology and Mathematics or Double Science and Mathematics; A or A/S level pass in three of the following - Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry providing at least one is at A2 level and one subject is Chemistry. This College, in common with many others, takes the view that since the Cambridge pre-clinical course has a high scientific content, Physics and Chemistry to A-Level are normally advised for a satisfactory understanding of first year work in Physiology and Biochemistry. Therefore students of veterinary medicine at Cambridge are expected to typically achieve three A's in sciences at A2-Level. Suitable combinations of subjects may include Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, or Biology (Zoology), Physics and Chemistry.
A*AA, assuming good A/S grades already obtained, at A2 Level. Other offers may also be based on Scottish Advanced Highers and other qualifications, such as the IB. Here, Advanced Highers and Higher Level qualifications should be taken in sciences where possible.
We are happy to accept applications for deferred entry. We will ask about your Gap year plans, which should be relevant to your course.
We do not normally encourage re-applications but would be happy to discuss particular circumstances with prospective candidates.
Mature students are admitted from time to time. You will need to satisfy the same entry requirements as standard applicants and to have recently completed, or be currently engaged in, academic study. Please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
We encourage applicants from all types of school and college background and although the information about offers given above indicates a typical requirement, each candidate is looked at in the light of his or her individual circumstances.
The College has hardship funds and also awards scholarships to those performing well in University examinations. A number of travel awards are available.
All students applying to Cambridge to read Veterinary Medicine are required to sit the Biomedical admissions test or BMAT organized by the University but examined in the students' school or College. A small number of candidates who are unable to make arrangements to sit the test at their current or former school can take the test in Cambridge. Details of the BMAT and specimin questions are available on the BMAT website, at http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/.
Applicants will then be invited for two interviews. Both interveiws will assess whether the applicant has a sufficient knowledge of scientific subjects to allow him or her to progress satisfactorily through the pre-clinical part of the course. In addition, the subject interview aims to determine whether the applicant is well motivated to work in animal medicine, and as evidence for this, candidates are expected to have obtained experience in veterinary clinics and/or places where animals are managed, such as farms, zoos or pet sanctuaries. During the course of one of the interviews, some discussion of a more general nature should be expected with an interviewer who may be a non-specialist in this subject. Candidates may defer application or their entry date to obtain such experience if they wish.
All candidates sit the BMAT. Essays or other work may also be requested in order to help assess these applications.
Further information may be obtained from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London, SW1p 2AF (Tel: 0207 222 2001) and their website at http://www.rcvs.org.uk.
Information about Veterinary Medicine in Cambridge is available from the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES and in the University of Cambridge Undergraduate Prospectus at http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/vetmed/index.html.
David Sainsbury (2nd Edition), ‘Animal Health: Health Disease, and Welfare of Farm Livestock’ Published by Blackwell Publishing Limited.
June 2010
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©2012 Magdalene College, Cambridge, CB3 0AG
Registered Charity Number 1137542