Education in veterinary medicine consists of a three-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a three-year Licentiate of Veterinary Medicine degree. The studies form a continuum, with a joint study right granted at the same time for the Bachelor’s Programme in Veterinary Medicine and the Degree Programme in Veterinary Medicine.
At the bachelor’s stage, you will familiarise yourself with the care of healthy animals and the onset of diseases. In the first year of studies, you will focus on animal anatomy and physiology, as well as the basics of animal keeping and welfare. In the second year, you will familiarise yourself with the nutrition, pathogens, immunology and pathology of domestic animals. In addition, farm traineeship periods are completed in the first two years of studies. Studies in pathology continue in the third year, in addition to which you will explore epidemiology, pharmacology and the official responsibilities of veterinarians. In studies focused on meat inspection, you will familiarise yourself with the duties of inspection veterinarians in slaughterhouses and complete a slaughterhouse traineeship. In the spring, the introductory courses in clinical work begin.
Studies for the licentiate degree begin in the fourth year when you will focus on animal diseases, including their diagnostics, treatment and prevention. The fifth year of studies is known as the clinic year, as you take part in patient care at the different departments of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and, if you wish, outside the Faculty. At the end of the fifth year, you will have the opportunity to obtain a temporary licence to pursue the profession of veterinarian, acting as a substitute for a licensed veterinarian. In the sixth year, you will concentrate on food safety, environmental health and environmental health control. At the licentiate stage, you will also complete a licentiate thesis in veterinary medicine.
The "One Health" perspective permeates the studies from start to finish: the health, welfare and environment of animals and humans are interconnected. In this, veterinarians hold a key role.