Veterinary Medicine
Why study Veterinary Medicine at Emmanuel College?
Some of the best reasons to study veterinary medicine at Emmanuel are our supportive and close-knit community and our fantastic fellows and support staff, however lots of colleges probably say that, so here are a few more factors to consider:
- Emmanuel has a quota of four vet students per year; enough to have friends within your subject and college and to form a supervision (small group teaching) group but still be known individually by colleagues, your supervisors and Director of Studies and college staff
- Emmanuel is perfectly located for the majority of teaching sessions in years 1 and 2 (close to the Downing and New Museums sites)
- There are plenty of accommodation options available through college, including for students in years 4 to 6
- Support is available for clinical placements and overseas (e.g., charity) work
- In years 1 and 2, there are dedicated college ‘clinical evenings’ for vets and medics to highlight the relevance of scientific concepts to real cases, as well as essay writing sessions. Both come with food and drinks!
- Annual events like the college Vet Dinner offer a great opportunity to meet alumni and be inspired by their diverse career paths
- Seeing the ducks always brings a smile!
How will my day be organised?
During years 1 and 2, lectures and practicals predominantly take place ‘downtown’, within a short walk of Emmanuel. This means that whilst the days can be fairly packed, it is usually possible to get back to college for lunch and dinner with friends or to have a break for a coffee and catch up. There are animal handling sessions built in from the first year, and you will usually be picked up from town for these. Supervisions in the evenings are mostly in college (as most of our supervisors are affiliated with the college) or a short walk away. Despite a busy timetable, many Emma vets still find time for music, sports and other hobbies.
What qualities do successful students have?
Successful students are open, enthusiastic and eager to learn. They are willing to share and discuss ideas, even when they do not know the answer or might not be correct. Within veterinary medicine, students are additionally expected to develop their professional and communication skills, to support their colleagues as part of a team and to have compassion for both their patients and clients.
Where could/will my degree lead?
The majority of graduates go on to work in clinical practice, with Emmanuel vets working across the whole range of species in both first opinion and specialist roles. However, a Cambridge veterinary degree opens up a diverse range of career paths and Emma graduates can be found in governmental and charity roles, teaching and research positions and professions outside of the veterinary world such as publishing and law.