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About the University of Glasgow's

Veterinary School

The veterinary school has been part of the University of Glasgow since 1949. Prior to that time, it was a separate entity called Glasgow Veterinary College. Glasgow Veterinary College dates back to 1862! One of the most famous graduates of Glasgow Veterinary College is Alf White, more commonly known as the author "James Herriot". The veterinary school campus is located on the beautiful, wooded Garscube Estate. The Garscube Estate is located off Bearsden Road in the West End of Glasgow. The Kelvin River winds through the estate property. Today (2004) there are still some first and second year lectures being held on the main University campus of Gilmorehill. There are 4 lecture theatres on the Garscube campus, including: pre-para clinical theatre (PPCT), large animal demonstration theatre (LADT), assembly hall (A-Hall), and the animal health technology centre theatre (AHTC).

The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) degree requires 5 years of study. Entrance requirements are similar to those of veterinary schools in the United States and Canada. The University of Glasgow's vet school is approved by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), allowing graduates to obtain their BVMS at Glasgow and not have to obtain ECFVG (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates) certification prior to practicing in the United States.

The following information is taken from the Undergraduate Prospectus:

"In the first and second years of the course you study Biomolecular Sciences, Anatomy, Physiology and Animal Husbandry. During this pre-clinical period the anatomy of the normal healthy animal is related to function in the Physiology and Biomolecular Sciences courses. Animal Husbandry deals with all aspects of the recognition, housing and handling of the common breeds of domestic animals. At the end of the first two years you have a sound working knowledge of healthy domestic animals.

During third year, you study Pathology, Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology and Pharmacology and are introduced to the skills of clinical examination. An intensive lecture course in Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and Public Health follows in fourth year, with associated practical sessions which allow clinical cases to be examined and discussed in detail.

In the final year there are no formal lectures and the emphasis is on small group clinical teaching covering all the common species of domestic animals, during which time you are involved in all aspects of work in the Faculty's busy referral hospital. You also gain first hand experience of a busy small animal clinic at the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in Glasgow, and spend two weeks in residence at a large veterinary practice in Lanark. A feature unique to Glasgow is the co-operative demonstration of clinical cases by clinicians, pathologists and other staff members to fourth and final year students."

The curriculum is under constant revision. Different classes have different experiences due to this (i.e. my class had no professional exams until the end of our second year, but the class after us had professional exams during their first year). The fourth year curriculum is 'new and improved': from September until March you take the 'Complete Integrated Course' (CIC) about farm animal medicine and surgery - for this you have a professional exam in March. From April until June you take the 'Companion Animal Course' (CAC) which includes medicine and surgery of horses and small animals - for this you have a professional exam in June. You must also complete a group research project (makes up about 20% of your grade) and take 'OSCEs', which are 5 minute exams to see if you have clinical skills (i.e. can you suture?). More about this once I finally reach 4th year...

Some of the newest facilities at the University of Glasgow's veterinary school include the James Herriot Library, the Weipers Centre for Equine Welfare, and the Animal Health Technology Transfer Complex. Currently under construction are the MRI building and a new research building. Plans have been made for a new small animal hospital (to be built by 2006/07?). The current small animal hospital forms the bulk of the main 'clinical building' and the farm animal byres are behind this. The vet school has its own operating farm: 'Cochno Farm'. This is an old estate containing about 1000 acres of land (mostly fields for sheep and cattle). There are several lochs on Cochno Farm, on which private fishing is allowed. Cochno House was built in the 1700s and has been fully restored (completed spring 2003). There is student accommodation (for lambing and other students doing extramural studies) within the house, as well as conference facilities. Some teaching takes place at the farm; mostly 1st/2nd year animal husbandry practicals and 4th/5th year farm animal studies.

The University of Glasgow's veterinary school is internationally known for its research. It even has its own feline virus research centre. Other research strengths include epidemiology, veterinary microbiology and public health, parasitology and informatics.