UCD Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office

Oifig Chlár Eolaíocht na Talmhaíochta agus an Leighis Tréidliachta, UCD

Veterinary Medicine

Understanding Your Degree

To work as a vet in the Republic of Ireland, you must have a degree in Veterinary Medicine that is registered by the Veterinary Council of Ireland. UCD’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) is the only such degree available in Ireland . The programme is concerned with the promotion of the health and welfare of animals of special importance to society. This involves the care of healthy and sick animals, the prevention, recognition, control and treatment of their diseases and the welfare and productivity of livestock.

There is an emphasis throughout the programme on problem-based learning, moving away from the exclusive lecture-based approach and dealing with simulated and real-life problems. Clinical rotations take place primarily in the University Veterinary Hospital in Belfield, which receives a wide range of pet species, farm animals and horses. The caseload provides important opportunities for our students to complete their clinical training requirements.

Mapping Your Degree

At the start you will be given a thorough grounding in normal animal structure and function, animal handling, welfare, nutrition, breeding and management. In later stages, you will develop knowledge and skills in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases in domestic animals and birds.

Stage 5 of the programme reflects UCD’s new veterinary curriculum. This stage focuses on hands-on work and real clinical cases. It consists of rotations in:

Large and Small Animal Surgeries
Diagnostic Imaging
Anaesthesiology
Small and Large Animal Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Clinical Reproduction
Herd Health
Population Medicine
Diagnostic Pathology
Clinical Pathology

You will undertake professional practical work between academic years and during other vacation periods. In the early stages of your programme you will take an appropriate programme of farm animal and companion animal experience, up to a maximum of 10 weeks. During Stages 3, 4 and 5 of the programme you are required to complete a minimum period of 24 weeks of extramural studies.

It is important that you study the programme syllabus before making your final choice

click here for year 1 programme modules and descriptions.

International Study Opportunities

During your four-week elective period of Stage 5, you may engage in elective projects at veterinary or research laboratories in other institutions in the US. You can also become involved in wildlife conservation projects around the world.

Career Opportunities

Most veterinary graduates are engaged in small animal or mixed practice, while the remainder are engaged in farm animal practice and a few in equine practice, veterinary public health, teaching, research or commerce. The largest single employer of veterinarians in the Republic of Ireland is the Irish government, particularly the Department of Agriculture and Food. This reflects the important role of the veterinarian in animal health control and consumer protection. At present there is almost complete employment for veterinary graduates.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Many specialist postgraduate training opportunities in the form of internships and residencies are available, allowing veterinary graduates to expand their clinical skills and achieve advanced qualification or specialty recognition. Most MVB graduates enter veterinary practice initially but opportunities for research in Veterinary Sciences and Clinical disciplines are often undertaken after this period of practice.

Key Fact

Farm animal teaching is based at Lyons Research Farm, a special teaching and research facility at Newcastle, Co. Dublin .

Further Information

UCD Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine Programme Office

Agriculture & Food Science Centre

Belfield, Dublin 4

Tel: +353 1 716 6245

Email: agandvet@ucd.ie

Web: www.ucd.ie/vetmed/