Cambridge veterinary course to continue despite quality concerns

The University of Cambridge’s under-fire veterinary school will continue to accept admissions following student and union protests.

An inspection by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) last year found that the school had met only 27 of its 77 accreditation standards, and the university was told that it risked losing its accreditation if standards had not improved by September 2025. 

The university had consequently considered closing admissions to the veterinary medicine course from 2026, but following a meeting of the university’s general board on 5 March to decide on the school’s future, recruitment will continue. 

“We can confirm that admissions to veterinary medicine for 2026 entry will proceed as planned,” a university spokesperson said. “The university recognises the progress being made by the department on its accreditation plan.”

Unions had warned in a joint letter that 160 jobs had been put at risk by the uncertainty, “creating tremendous stress for staff and extreme anxiety for hundreds of current and future students”.

Sarah Murphy, co-president of the Cambridge University Veterinary Society who protested alongside nearly 200 students outside the university this week in a bid to save the course, said students and staff were “really pleased” about the decision to continue admissions. 

“We hope the university’s future decisions continue in the same spirit of supporting the vet school. The only way to go forth is as a united front, not least with the [RCVS] accreditation visit coming in September,” she told Times Higher Education.

The RCVS previously raised “ethical concerns” the school, including worries that student reports of racism were not being taken seriously, evidence that animals were being “automatically euthanised”, and that discarded drugs had been found on stable floors.

Meanwhile, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has said that it has requested a meeting with Cambridge to discuss its proposals for its future, “and to ensure the concerns of our staff and student members, as well as the profession, are heard”.

Elizabeth Mullineaux, president of the BVA, said: “A resilient veterinary workforce relies on a healthy pipeline of homegrown talent and the UK’s vet schools, including Cambridge Vet School, play a crucial role. The ongoing uncertainty around the future of Cambridge will be hugely concerning for students, alumni and staff, as well as the wider veterinary profession. 
“In the meantime, it’s vital that where possible, the impact of this uncertainty on those immediately affected is minimised. I want to reassure all Cambridge students and graduates that they have positive futures ahead of them and the veterinary profession stands ready to embrace them.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com