Best Universities for Veterinary Science in the UK 2027
University of Liverpool and University of Nottingham are joint first in our 2027 veterinary science ranking, both with 50 points. Liverpool achieves 97% academic support and 98% teaching quality. Nottingham achieves 97% academic support and 99% teaching quality. University of Glasgow is second with 41 points. We ranked 10 UK universities offering veterinary science degrees across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability. Four partial entries were excluded due to missing data.
University of Bristol (joint 3rd) and University of Cambridge (4th) produce £36,000 — the highest veterinary graduate earnings in this ranking. Nottingham Trent University (joint 3rd) produces £14,000 — a data artefact from the five-year degree structure, not a reflection of programme quality. Middlesex University (5th) achieves 99% teaching quality and 98% academic support. All veterinary science programmes must hold RCVS accreditation — this is the single most important factor to confirm before applying.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Veterinary Science University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Liverpool Liverpool |
£35,000 | 71% | 98% | 97% | 50 |
| 1 | University of Nottingham Nottingham |
£35,500 | 74% | 99% | 97% | 50 |
| 2 | University of Glasgow Glasgow |
£34,000 | 75% | 89% | 95% | 41 |
| 3 | University of Bristol Bristol |
£36,000 | 73% | 87% | 91% | 39 |
| 3 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham |
£14,000 | 76% | 94% | 94% | 39 |
| 4 | University of Cambridge Cambridge |
£36,000 | 76% | 98% | 92% | 38 |
| 5 | Middlesex University Middlesex |
£25,000 | 69% | 99% | 98% | 35 |
| 6 | University of Edinburgh Edinburgh |
£35,000 | 74% | 95% | 95% | 34 |
| 7 | University of Surrey Guildford |
£35,000 | 78% | 85% | 86% | 32 |
| 8 | Harper Adams University Newport, Shropshire |
£27,000 | 88% | 84% | 80% | 23 |
What the ranking tells you about studying veterinary science
Veterinary science is one of the most competitive undergraduate degree programmes in the UK, with fewer than 10 RCVS-accredited schools and entry requirements among the most demanding of any degree. The BVSc, BVM&S or BVetMed degree is a five-year integrated programme covering animal anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, clinical rotation and professional practice across species. RCVS accreditation is legally required for a UK degree to qualify graduates for RCVS registration and UK practice. With only 10 universities in this ranking, you are directly comparing every programme in the field.
Nottingham Trent University at joint 3rd: £14,000 — a timing artefact
Nottingham Trent University ranks joint 3rd with 39 points and produces graduates earning £14,000 — the lowest in this field by a very wide margin. This figure almost certainly reflects the five-year veterinary degree structure rather than actual starting salaries. Veterinary graduates typically complete their degree in June and begin employment in August or September, meaning a six-month survey conducted in December may catch some graduates during their final months of study or in the first weeks of employment. NTU’s 94% on both academic support and teaching quality indicate a strong programme. Newly qualified veterinary surgeons (NQVSs) in the UK typically start at £30,000 to £40,000 within their first full year of clinical practice. The £14,000 figure should not be used to assess programme quality or expected salary.
Middlesex University at 5th: 99% teaching quality and 98% academic support
Middlesex University ranks 5th with 35 points and achieves 99% teaching quality and 98% academic support — the strongest course delivery double in this 10-university field alongside University of Nottingham’s 99% teaching quality. Middlesex ranks 5th because of very low safety and sustainability scores and the lowest satisfaction in the field (69%) alongside below-average earnings (£25,000). Its course delivery data is the most striking in this table at a mid-table ranking position. For students researching Middlesex’s veterinary programme specifically, the 99%/98% data is the most significant measured signal, and the £25,000 earnings figure is likely affected by the same degree timing factors as NTU.
University of Liverpool (joint 1st) and University of Nottingham (joint 1st) both achieve 97% academic support — the highest in the field alongside Middlesex. Nottingham achieves 99% teaching quality — the joint-highest with Middlesex. Liverpool achieves 98% teaching quality. Cambridge (4th) achieves 98% teaching quality and 92% academic support. University of Edinburgh (6th) achieves 95% on both metrics. Harper Adams (8th, last) achieves 80% academic support and 84% teaching quality — the lowest in the field. Harper Adams also has the highest student satisfaction at 88%, reflecting its specialist agricultural and veterinary focus. For students comparing on course delivery quality, Liverpool, Nottingham and Middlesex provide the strongest measured data.
For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking.
