Graduates

From student to vet.

VetPartners has four graduate programmes – small animal, equine, farm and mixed.

The scheme is a mix of training attendance days and in-practice mentoring support and runs for approximately 18-20 months starting each September. The goal is to support our newly qualified vets as they transition from university student to working professional.

New graduate programme

New graduate programme

Farm graduate programme

Farm graduate programme

Small animal

Small animal

Programme Outline

VetPartners has a commitment to develop and support its people. We see the support and training of new and recent graduates as a priority, as part of that we have established a comprehensive graduate scheme to develop skills and confidence.

Year 1
  • Programme Introduction
  • Cardiology
  • Rabbit Medicine
  • Surgery Practical
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Feline Medicine
  • Clinical Decision Making
  • Managing Cases on a Budget
Year 2
  • Veterinary Practice as a Business
  • Cardiology
  • Ultrasound
  • Surgery Practical
  • Oncology

The Small Animal Graduate Development Programme has been designed to build on the knowledge and skills learnt at university and provide recent graduates with the necessary support to allow them to develop as small animal clinicians. The goals of the VetPartners Graduate Development Programme are:

  • To develop our new graduate veterinary surgeons (NGVS) into confident and competent members of the profession.
  • To provide further support from a VetPartners mentor in both group and one to one meetings
  • To give them a solid grounding in the management of the most common clinical presentations that encourages appropriate investigation and treatment of these conditions.
  • To give our NGVS some understanding of veterinary practice as a business.
  • Give them appropriate support throughout their first 2 years in practice.
  • To develop a team ethos among each cohort of NGVS using a blended learning approach.
Equine

Equine

Programme Outline

VetPartners has a commitment to develop and support its people. We see the support and training of new and recent graduates as a priority, as part of that we have established a comprehensive graduate scheme to develop skills and confidence.

Areas covered in the programme
  • An introduction to equine reproduction
  • Essentials of equine practice
  • Castration
  • An introduction to diagnostic imaging in equine practice
  • VetPartners equine CPD event
  • BEVA congress

The Equine Graduate Development Programme has been designed to build on the knowledge and skills learned at university and provide recent graduates with the necessary support to allow them to develop into confident Equine clinicians.

  • We aim for graduates to spend 1-2 weeks at VetPartners’ hospital practice before beginning ambulatory work – this could include 1 week at the hospital then 1 week out on the road.
  • Courses are delivered using a blended learning approach, encouraging the application of theory to practice.
  • Recordings of online presentations and further resources are available on our learning platform.
  • Support via group mentor sessions and one to one mentor contact.
Farm

Farm

Programme Outline

VetPartners has a commitment to develop and support its people. We see the support and training of new and recent graduates as a priority, as part of that we have established a comprehensive graduate scheme to develop skills and confidence.

Year 1
  • Consulting and communication skills Clinical decision making, focusing on the sick cow and sick calf
  • Obstetrics and emergencies
  • Reproduction and fertility
  • Investigation of disease outbreaks including diagnostics and veterinary surveillance
  • Young stock management and heifer rearing
Year 2
  • Beef and Sheep
  • Clinical nutrition
  • Production diseases including udder health and lameness
  • Camelids and smallholders
  • Farm animal practice as a business

The Farm Animal Graduate Development Programme has been designed to build on the knowledge and skills learnt at university and provide recent graduates with the necessary support to allow them to develop as farm animal clinicians. The diversity of the programme modules reflects modern farm animal practice and the aim is to produce farm animal veterinary surgeons with the knowledge, skills and ability to deal with individual animals, routine fertility visits and herd/ flock health problems in an evidence-based way.

  • All courses delivered by experienced practitioners and will provide practical tips on how to apply the knowledge and skills learnt on farm.
  • Lecture notes/slides and additional resources available using a blended learning approach.
  • Regular webinars, journal clubs and the opportunity for case presentations/ discussions.
  • Group mentor sessions and one to one mentor contact for further support.
Pig and Poultry

Pig and Poultry

Programme Outline

Poultry Health Services offers internationally acclaimed veterinary care for all poultry keepers backed by a full range of diagnostic capabilities. Our team brings a wealth of experience and science led innovation to address the needs of poultry producers.

Areas Covered in the Programme (6-12 months)
  • Industry Structure and Poultry Production including: Broiler Breeders - Broilers - Layer Breeders - Commercial Layers - Turkeys - Game Birds
  • Sampling Techniques: Blood Sampling - Organ Sampling - FTA Paper Impressions - Water Sampling - Environmental Sampling - Tracheal and Cloacal Swabbing
  • Hands on Experience including visits to: Poultry Units - Laboratories - Breeding Farms Vaccine Manufacturers - Hatcheries
  • Laboratory Diagnostics Bacteriology - Serology - Histopathology - Microbiology - Molecular Diagnostics
  • Key Poultry Diseases: Epidemiology - Diagnosis - Treatment and Control - Prevention
  • Data Management Data Input and Reporting - Veterinary Medicines Prescriptions
  • Diagnostic Procedures: Clinical Inspections - Necropsy Examination - Coccidiosis Screening - Pododermatitis/Gait Scoring
  • International CPD - Minimum of one international CPD course during the internship

At the end of the internship the successful applicant will have gained experience and an understanding of:

  • The structure of the poultry industry.
  • The relationship between bird health and welfare, farm management, nutrition, biosecurity, cleaning procedures and vaccination protocols.
  • The most significant poultry diseases with an emphasis placed on epidemiology pathogenesis, clinical presentation and lesions, diagnosis, control and treatment.
  • The necessary skills, understanding and confidence to perform the appropriate routine diagnostic procedures.
  • Working knowledge of the available databases and software to interpret and input clinical data
Mixed

Mixed

Programme Outline

VetPartners have a wide range of opportunities for varied veterinary roles. We have practices that can offer combinations of small animal and farm, small animal and equine, and, truly mixed roles.

The structure of the programme is similar to the species-specific programmes with a mix of clinical CPD and mentor support.

Graduates in mixed roles pick which clinical events from the appropriate Small Animal, Farm and Equine programmes they wish to participate in.

All courses delivered by experienced practitioners and will provide practical tips on how to apply your knowledge and skills. Lecture notes/slides and additional resources are available on VetPartners learning platform ensuring a blended learning approach. Regular webinars, journal clubs and the opportunity for case presentations/ discussions.

Small group mentor sessions and one to one mentor contact both in-practice and associated with your programme are included for further support.

Areas covered in the programme
  • Small Animal
  • Farm
  • Equine

Apply for our graduate program