What is the role of the RCVS in relation to undergraduate veterinary education?

A full accreditation cycle is 7 years; however, the RCVS may grant shorter accreditation for programmes where they feel an earlier review is needed to consider progress being made towards areas needing improvement. This accreditation classification is known as ‘Accreditation for a shorter period’.

Regardless of the period of classification, the RCVS may trigger an earlier accreditation event if the yearly reports indicate there are standards that are not being met, that there are risks to student learning and experience or if there are major changes to the programme.

In some instances, where the problems are perhaps widespread and / or could severely impact student learning and experience, an accreditation classification of ‘Conditional accreditation’ could be granted. Conditional accreditation is essentially a ‘final warning’ for the programme; the Department must work to meet all the RCVS standards and provide evidence of this by the date set.

As a result of concerns arising on the programme later in 2023, an accreditation event was triggered which took place in May 2024. The accreditation report showed that there was evidence that a wide range of accreditation standards were not being met by the Department in relation to the degree programme. All accreditation reports are published on our website.

Considering the Cambridge report, the RCVS Primary Qualifications Subcommittee and Education Committee agreed that the concerns about the programme were sufficiently significant that they needed to be addressed quickly, to prevent further risk to students’ learning and experience. For these reasons, on 19 November 2024 the programme was awarded ‘conditional accreditation’ with the need for the department to address the standards not currently being met by September 2025.

The Department at Cambridge University has been notified that it must address the issues identified with the programme and meet the accreditation standards by September 2025. They will be able to share evidence with us that progress has been made – using an online secure repository - from now until the panel re-visits the Department late in September 2025, where further evidence will be collected in relation to how standards are being met.

If, following consideration of the accreditation report, it is decided by RCVS committees that the standards have been met, then the RCVS will accredit the programme and continue to monitor things as usual. However, if the committees review the evidence and decide the Department has not met the standards, they may decide to award the VetMB programme a classification of ‘Terminal accreditation’.

While the programme has conditional accreditation, students successfully graduating from the programme will remain eligible to automatically register with the RCVS, and this will continue if the degree programme remains accredited after the September 2025 visit.

If, following the accreditation event in September 2025, the programme is awarded ‘terminal accreditation’ the Department will no longer be able to enrol new students onto the programme, and they must ensure that the standards needed to allow all currently enrolled students to complete the programme and graduate are maintained.

If the school is unable to ensure the relevant standards are met, the RCVS may ask Privy Council to suspend or revoke the Recognition Order (RO) for the programme. If the RO is suspended or revoked, students graduating from the programme will not be automatically eligible to register as an MRCVS and would need to pass the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination after they have graduated.

The RCVS is working closely with your Department heads to ensure that all students are informed and supported during this time. Your day-to-day classes and programme will continue as normal whilst the Department is working on making improvements to the programme. However, if you are worried you should contact your university support services. Emotional and mental health support for veterinary students is also available via the Vetlife charity’s free, confidential helpline on 0303 040 2551.

If your programme was accredited when you graduated, your degree will carry the same value as any other RCVS-accredited veterinary degree.

As long as the degree is still being run by Cambridge your funding should not be affected as the degree status is not in question. It is only the RCVS accreditation that has changed. You would need to contact Student Finance if you want to change your degree programme.

In order for someone to work as a vet in the UK, they must be registered as a Member of the RCVS (MRCVS). To be eligible to register, the individual must either hold a veterinary degree that is recognised by us (via accreditation or other arrangement) or they must pass our Statutory Membership Examination.

Those studying in the UK, are automatically eligible to register if their UK veterinary degree is accredited by the RCVS. RCVS accreditation of a new veterinary degree enables a Recognition Order (RO) to be granted by the Privy Council that allows graduates from the programme to be automatically eligible to register, become an MRCVS and obtain a licence to practise.

In order for veterinary degrees to be accredited by the RCVS, they need to meet the required 2023 Standards and Methodology. This is checked through both accreditation events (where an accreditation panel visits the school/department to check they are meeting the standards) and through yearly reports, that all programmes must complete.