Royal Veterinary College (University of London)

Royal Veterinary College, University of London

Age: 220

History: Founded in London in 1791, it was the first veterinary college in Britain.

Address: Campuses in Camden Town, London, and North Mymms, Hertfordshire.

Ambience: The Camden campus is in direct contrast to the rural setting in Hertfordshire, close to other university colleges and central student facilities. The countryside campus stands alone and has most of the sports facilities; Potter's Bar and Hatfield are the nearest towns. Students tend to excel on the sports field.

Vital statistics: One of the leading vet schools in the country. Intimate, with around 2,000 students. Its three referral hospitals treat more than 20,000 patients a year.

Added value: RVC has been accredited by both the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, in addition to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, so it attracts a number of overseas students. This also puts it high up in the league of international veterinary schools for both research and teaching. The only veterinary school in the country to be awarded a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning by HEFCE in 2005. The university is one of the first in the UK to offer two new degrees; veterinary nursing and veterinary science.

Easy to get into? Veterinary medicine is notoriously difficult to get into. RVC expects AAA for veterinary medicine and a minimum of BBB for bioveterinary sciences. Work experience is very important.

Glittering alumni: David Grant, vet on Animal Hospital; Sir Frederick Hobday, renowned vet who pioneered the Hobday operation; Adrian Jones, vet and sculptor, responsible for the largest bronze sculpture in Britain, the ‘Peace Quadriga’ in London.

Transport links: Excellent in London, with buses and the underground. Hertfordshire campus is half an hour from London by train; the college has a minibus that picks students up from the station and regularly drives between campuses.

Who's the boss? Professor Quintin McKellar, a Scot with a passion for parasites and rowing.

Teaching: In a 2009 audit, the QAA concluded that it could have 'reasonable confidence' in the college. In the most recent National Student Survey 84 per cent of students said they were satisfied with teaching.

Research: 55 per cent of academics submitted for the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise are producing “world class” or “internationally excellent” research. It is England’s best school in the agriculture, veterinary and food science unit of assessment for institutions whose research is exclusively veterinary-related. One of the leaders in Europe for research.

Nightlife: London, and Camden especially, is brimming with things to do and see. There is a student bar on the Hertfordshire campus and students also frequent the local pubs.

Any accommodation? Yes – guarantees a room in halls to 95 per cent of first year students. Rents range between £161 and £140 per week in Camden, and £100 and £120 inn Herts.

Cheap to live there? Oh no. Private rents in London will set you back £100 plus. Cheaper in Hertfordshire.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home undergrads starting in 2011. The RVC plans on charging between £7,500 and £9,000 per year as of 2012.

Bursaries: Up to £1,650 per year to students with a household income of less than £25,000 per year. There is also a range of scholarships based on merit and course studied. See the website for full details.

Prospectus: 020 7468 5147; www.rvc.ac.uk

UCAS code: R84