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- About extra-mural studies (EMS)
- EMS requirements
- Information for vet students
- Information for EMS providers
- Information for vet schools
- Temporary EMS requirements
- Practice by students - regulations
- Health and safety on EMS placements
- EMS contacts and further guidance
- Extra-mural studies fit for the future
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- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons
- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
- Contact the Advice Team
- XL Bully dog ban
- 'Under care' - new guidance
- Advice on Schedule 3
- Controlled Drugs Guidance – A to Z
- Dealing with Difficult Situations webinar recordings
- FAQs – Common medicines pitfalls
- FAQs – Routine veterinary practice and clinical veterinary research
- FAQs – Advertising of practice names
- GDPR – RCVS information and Q&As
Why become an EMS provider
Hosting vet students on EMS placements gives them invaluable real-world experience, and gives you willing and capable assistants. In addition, you'll have the chance to share your expertise and help shape the next generation of veterinary professionals.
On this page:
Seven great reasons to become an EMS provider
Video: The benefits of becoming an EMS provider
What are EMS placements?
Extra-mural studies (EMS) placements are a mandatory part of a veterinary degree.
All veterinary students must undertake up to 30 weeks* of EMS over the course of their degree. The RCVS recommends students complete six weeks’ EMS in every year of their studies.
There are two main types of EMS: clinical EMS and animal husbandry EMS (AHEMS). Professional EMS is also available but is not compulsory.
* Students who started their degree before August 2024 must complete 38 weeks of EMS in total.
Who can provide EMS placements?
Any vet school-approved animal-based workplace, including veterinary practices, farms, livery yards, animal shelters and wildlife parks, can in principle provide EMS placements.
More details on the types of settings that can provide EMS placements.
Seven great reasons to become an EMS provider
1. Fresh ideas – students can bring new ideas and ways of thinking, reflecting the interests and needs of the next generation of customers.
2. Staff development – offering EMS placements provides opportunities for existing staff to supervise and mentor others. This can enhance their own professional and personal development.
3. Build local connections – taking on veterinary students helps forge closer relationships with nearby veterinary colleges and professional networks.
4. Recognition – your practice or workplace could earn peer recognition for its commitment to the future of the veterinary industry.
5. A rich learning experience – providing EMS placements enables employers to access students’ skills, talents and insights. For veterinary establishments, preparing and supporting EMS students can also contribute towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
6. Workplace support – students make a valuable contribution to the workforce during the time they spend at the establishment.
7. Attract future talent – if you’re interested in hiring the talent of tomorrow, showcasing what you have to offer can set you apart from the rest of the field.
Video: The benefits of becoming an EMS provider
Grace, a training officer at a horse charity and sanctuary that offers EMS placements, highlights the advantages of becoming an EMS provider, from fostering a shared passion for learning and research, to benefitting from an extra pair of hands.
Video transcript
We are very, very passionate about what we do. We do a lot of research into veterinary science as well as behavioural science, and it's amazing to have the ability to filter that down into the next generation of vets, and also showing what we learn.
We love what we do, and if we can help other people love what they do as much as we do, then I think that's really beneficial, and it really creates a lovely environment for people.
So having EMS students on sites is really valuable to us. At university, they're going to be learning the most up-to-date things, and bringing that to the table here is really great. Means that not only the students are learning, we are learning as well. And it also, you know, it's great to have an extra pair of hands, and really get them helping. It sometimes can be time-consuming, but again, we all love to help people learn and that's really, really lovely for us to see.
I would definitely recommend being an EMS provider to other organisations. I think it's absolutely brilliant. The students bring such a positive contribution to each team. It's also really great for us to be able to see the students' progression.
Sometimes they can start off being fairly apprehensive and nervous, and by the end of their week or two-week or three-week placement, whatever it is they might be doing, they really grow into such confident individuals and learn so much about each individual area of the, of our, jobs.
It is not always plain sailing. We are a really busy organisation, as everybody is, but overall, the students are very understanding of this and we always muddle through it, and whether it's a little bit hectic one day, but then we get a lot more done the next day, we always manage to get through it. And the students are really great with doing so.
Becoming an EMS provider, you are able to do that as the RCVS run a national booking database. It's just where your practice or establishments log their details on this database. It allows students to go on and figure out where they might like to go. It allows the provider to communicate back to the students.
Join the RCVS EMS National Booking Database
If you'd like to help develop and inspire future vets, join the RCVS EMS National Booking Database, launching in early 2025.
This national database will enable you to share information about your placement offer and connect with interested students.
To learn more or to join the database, email [email protected].