In my six years as a student at Cambridge, I met more than a few bemused people who had never realised there was a vet school there at all. The last eighteen months have almost certainly put pay to this as the vet school found itself at controversial threat of closure, something that seemed to be certain in late 2025 but then dramatically reversed by February 2026. This article aims to give an overview of one of the six original UK vet schools, the current concerns around it and why it was always worth saving. 

History of Cambridge Vet School 

Cambridge Vet School officially opened in 1949 with only 8 undergraduates, but veterinary education at this ancient university goes back much further. In 1909 the Department of Pathology had an outstation for studying the diseases of large animals, and in 1935 an agreement was made with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to run an undergraduate course where students then completed their final 2 years at another vet school. 

The department grew substantially in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1975 the departments if Animal Health and Veterinary Clinical Studies merged to form one Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine. The vet school is located on Madingley Road in West Cambridge, on the same site as world famous research institutions such as the Cavendish Laboratory. 

What makes Cambridge Vet School different? 

When I started my veterinary education in 2005, Cambridge was one of only six UK veterinary schools I could have applied to. It has always been the smallest with an intake of around 65 students per year, typically 2-3 from each of the university colleges (think school houses in Hogwarts!). The college system means that whilst the majority of teaching is done through the main department, colleges provides small group teaching (‘supervisions’) in each subject area on a weekly basis, deepening knowledge and understanding and allowing for discussion and debate. Living in college ensures vet students do not just mix with other vets, broadening their horizons, and the small year groups create a deep sense of bonding. 

One of the key distinctions of the Cambridge course is the compulsory ‘intercalated’ third year, where students take a year away from specifically veterinary studies to then graduate with a bachelor’s degree in another subject. In my case I studied zoology, and whilst other sciences are most common, I had peers studying anything from geography to maths. This rigorous training in other academic subjects means Cambridge graduates have a reputation for being able to consider many viewpoints, for innovation, and to be able to problem solve from first principles. 

The story behind the recent attempt to close it 

It’s fair to say that the small vet school has always been considered a relatively modern oddity within a 900 year old university. It faced risk of closure before in 1988, when the Riley report suggested closing both Cambridge and Glasgow vet schools, but this was prevented by a campaign by staff, students and the public. In 1990 it was found that the Riley report had not considered the national requirements for vets (of which there was a shortage) in its recommendations. 

Whilst vet schools award vet degrees, these must be accredited by the RCVS to allow graduates to practice in the UK. It seemed a little like history repeating itself in 2025 when the School of Biological Sciences announced that it recommended the vet school closed in 2032 once the final cohort of students had graduated. The basis for this was claimed to be that the RCVS accreditation visit in May 2024 highlighted ‘wide ranging concerns’ (resulting in only conditional accreditation) but also that the vet school was not financially viable for itself and the wider university. In September 2025 the RCVS extended conditional accreditation for another year as a further visit showed that recommendations for improvement had been met or significant progress made. Despite this, the announcement from the School of Biological Sciences was a ‘bolt from the blue’, and many felt that the real aim of closure was in fact to make use of the very lucrative land that the vet school holds on the West Cambridge site. 

Why is it important Cambridge Vet School stays open? 

The opening of Nottingham Vet School in 2006 was the first of a new wave of UK vet schools, and there are now 11 to choose from, many benefitting from much more modern facilities and curricula. Why is it still important that Cambridge Vet School remains open? 

Shortage of vets 

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there have not been enough vets graduating in the UK to meet demand. The UK veterinary workforce has always relied on non-UK graduates coming here to work (especially in the meat hygiene and academic sectors), but these numbers have been significantly affected by Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in pet ownership during the pandemic has also created increased demand in the small animal sector, but high levels of burnout have also created issues with retention of veterinary graduates. Whilst numbers are starting to ease, in the short term at least every vet graduated in the UK is needed. 

Breadth of veterinary work 

Whilst many only think of vets as being the person in clinic who sees their pet, the reality is far broader than this. Vets work with all species (farm animals, horses, zoo animals, fish, lab animals), in many different settings (in the military, in abattoirs, at UK borders, in education, laboratories, and research, in government, and in sports) and are vital for the ongoing function of daily life in the UK, particularly where food supply, meat hygiene and the prevention and management of emerging diseases are concerned. Cambridge graduates contribute to all of these fields, and their rounded scientific education means they are often more drawn to the non-traditional uses of their degree. 

Contribution to research  

Vets carry out research into the diseases of animals, but the impact this has on human health is enormous. The concept of ‘One Health’ accepts that all living creatures and ecosystems are interlinked, and as scientists who already understand the multiple species, vet contributions to research in many different fields are invaluable. Preparedness for any future pandemics must involve vets, and veterinary researchers are at the forefront of vaccine development and studying antibiotic resistance. Cambridge graduates are often more likely to consider a career in research because they are actively involved with it during their time at vet school, especially in the intercalated third year. 

RSPCA care 

Cambridge Vet School runs a low-cost small animal vet practice with the RSPCA, staffed by fully qualified vets but also acting as a centre of training for clinical students and providing invaluable real life experience. The closure of the vet school would result in the closure of this vital public service for animal welfare, the only low-cost clinic for hundreds of miles. 

Supporting current staff and students 

When the announcement was made, the future careers of nearly 400 current undergraduates was placed at risk, not to mention the hundreds of academics, vets, nurses and support staff who work at the vet school and its facilities (many of whom had been there for decades). The sudden nature of the decision and opaque decision-making process contributed to significant mental health concerns for these people. 

Save the Vet School Campaign 

Following the announcement of closure in November 2025, the Save the Vet School Campaign was immediately launched and garnered over 24,000 statements of support in only two months. These came from staff and students, past and present, but also from the general public who had all benefitted from the expertise and care of Cambridge Vet School. Supported by the BVA, Unison, Unite, UCU, the Veterinary Schools Council, multiple professional organisations and members of parliament, the campaign received extensive media coverage. The website www.savethevetschool.co.uk is still live and the statements of support make for fascinating reading. 

Where are we at now? 

Following two well attended public demonstrations, on 23rd February 2026 the General Board of Cambridge University announced there would be no closure and the vet school was safe, with reassessment of the decision in a year. Offer letters for the 2026 intake were to go out immediately and academic training positions in the hospital have started to be advertised again. 

The university advised a transition to new leadership, and analysis of the vet school and recent events should be shared with Regent’s House (the constitutional body of the university). External analysis to develop and evaluate alternative models for veterinary education at Cambridge was advised, and financial and operational reorganisation of clinical services, with costs savings, should move forward ‘without delay’. It was recognised that ‘the school of Biological Sciences cannot be solely responsible for the future of veterinary education’. 

Obviously this decision comes with great relief, but multiple concerns remain for staff and students. The uncertainty will surely contribute to future student applications and potential attrition of staff, leaving current students still uncertain as to the future of their teaching. The abrupt U-turn by the university and apparent lack of due process has lead to calls for resignations from responsible university administrators, and also for an independent review into how this process came about. 

The veterinary world has rallied to support one of its own, but waits with bated breath to see what will happen in the years to come.