"Our new Veterinary School will be focussed on producing much needed industry-ready graduates for our region." - Professor Cathy Jackson, UCLan.

The 11th veterinary school in the UK is being opened in Lancashire. 

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has opened up the 11th veterinary school in the UK. Based at the Preston Campus, it is Lancashire's first veterinary school, and only the second school in the north of England.

UCLan's new veterinary school will offer courses at all levels, foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate, in areas such as veterinary medicine, bioveterinary science, veterinary clinical practice, veterinary physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and clinical animal behaviour and training. 

Vice-chancellor of UCLan, Professor Graham Baldwin, said of the new venture: “We’re absolutely delighted to be creating an innovative and dynamic Veterinary School. UK veterinary schools are highly prestigious, so we are thrilled to be launching only the second school in the north of England and one of only 11 in the UK.

“We have taken massive strides in developing all areas of human health provision in recent years, and animal health will now join our ever-expanding portfolio of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences and optometry.”

The courses promise to be innovative, with a focus on hands-on experience right from first year, as opposed to traditional veterinary medicine programmes where hands-on experience is delivered in later years. In order to deliver some of these innovative study programmes, UCLan is collaborating with Myerscough College, and with local veterinary partners. 

Chief executive and principal at Myerscough College, Alison Robinson, said of the collaboration: “Myerscough College and University Centre Myerscough is delighted to be working in collaboration with the University to open this prestigious new veterinary school. Myerscough has been delivering land-based education for over 125 years and our experience in delivering a range of veterinary nursing, animal science, equine science and agriculture degrees will provide the ideal environment for University of Central Lancashire veterinary students to develop their practical skills.”

Professor StJohn Crean, commented on the opportunities within the new veterinary school, saying: “Our vet school offers a fantastic opportunity to build on the world-renowned research already being undertaken by our academics across our clinical, biomedical and science areas. The addition of animal health to our portfolio provides many more research opportunities where cross collaboration across many disciplines will not only benefit our research outcomes but unify our researchers under the heading of One Health.”

The official recognition process for a new veterinary degree takes several years, with the degree requiring recognition from the Privy Council before graduates can be automatically eligible for RVCS registration.

This approval cannot be considered until after the RCVS completes a formal inspection of the full course and its standards, after the first cohort of students have finished their degrees. Thus, UCLan is in close correspondence with the RCVS as the programme is being developed, with the final inspection taking place in 2027. Everything being as it should, the Privy Council would then grant a recognition order.

RCVS director of education Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, said: “The RCVS looks forward to working with the team at the University of Central Lancashire to ensure that the degree meets our accreditation standards and, in time, produces high-quality and competent vets for the future.”

The first intake of both students to veterinary sciences BSc and foundation courses will be in September 2022, and from 2023, BVMS students will then be welcomed. 

To find out more about the veterinary courses at UCLan, visit the School's website: uclan.ac.uk/schools