School of Veterinary Medicine

What courses should a student take in high school in preparation for studying veterinary medicine?

A good background in chemistry, biology physics, mathematics, and English is important, since both pre-veterinary and veterinary medicine programmes are based on these subject matters.

What pre-veterinary courses are required for entry into the SVM’s DVM programme?

A curriculum based on chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and animal production/nutrition, biochemistry and statistics is required.

How many years of study are required to complete the pre-veterinary programme of the University of the West Indies?

The UWI’s programme consists of 36 semester credits. Students spend one year (three semesters) to complete the requirements.  

Once accepted into veterinary school, five years of course work are required to complete the DVM degree requirements.

Is an undergraduate degree necessary for admission into the SVM-UWI?

No. But those students with a relevant science / animal science degree may be admitted into the four-year (eight-semester) DVM programme.

If a person has the minimum required grade point average, is there assurance that the student will be admitted?

No. Because of the keen competition for the available positions, most successful applicants tend to have at least a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses attempted.

What are the criteria for selection?

A comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications, grades and experience is carried out by the selection committee in determining those who will be accepted. College-level courses in chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics are closely scrutinized by selection committees. A high grade point average is important, but is not the sole criterion. Animal and veterinary experience is highly desirable.

Is financial aid available for foreign students in veterinary medicine?

Yes. Students attending the School of Veterinary Medicine can at present access the International Student Loan Program (ISLP) from the International Education Finance Corporation.

Is there an age limit for applicants?

While the School of Veterinary Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of an applicant's age, gender or race, the University does have a minimum age requirement of 17 years at the commencement of the academic year of entry.

What is the competition for admission to veterinary school?

In general, there are over 120 applicants for the 50 available places each year.

The selection committee does not consider GRE scores.

What is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) requirement for the SVM?

Many of our graduates have successfully passed the relevant licensure examinations for North America and UK.

Will I be allowed to practise in North America or Europe with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from UWI?

The School of Veterinary Medicine is an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) listed school, which allows our graduates to register with the Educational Committee of Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). ECFVG certification allows our graduates to be licensed in the United States.

Graduates can also proceed to licensure through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards programme for evaluating international veterinary education - the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education equivalence (PAVE).

School of Veterinary Medicine graduates on successful completion of the Membership examinations of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons may license to practise in the United Kingdom and Europe.