The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science was established in 2006 at the Sutton Bonington Campus as the first new veterinary school built in the UK for 50 years. It admitted its first cohort of 84 veterinary students in 2006. This intake has now increased to approximately 300 students per year, with two cohorts (September to May and April to December) of around 150 students each.
History The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham was established in 2006 at the Sutton Bonington Campus in Nottinghamshire. Its creation was driven in part by the aftermath of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the United Kingdom, which highlighted shortages in veterinary capacity and the need for expanded veterinary education and training provision.
The School admitted its first cohort of 84 veterinary students in 2006, marking the launch of its Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme. It was the first new veterinary school to be established in the United Kingdom for over 50 years, reflecting a significant expansion in national veterinary education provision.
Since its establishment, the School has grown substantially. Its annual intake has increased to approximately 300 students per year, delivered across two cohorts of around 150 students each (September to May and April to December), alongside continued development of its teaching facilities, clinical training partnerships, and research activities.
Degrees awarded
The School awards jointly the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery (BVM BVS) degree. Students also receive an Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Sciences (BVMedSci) degree upon completion of the third year of study.
Campus and facilities The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science is based at the Sutton Bonington Campus of the University of Nottingham.
Since its establishment, the School has undergone significant expansion in its physical infrastructure. A key early development was the £5.5 million Gateway Building, completed in 2011 as part of a wider campus masterplan. The building houses facilities for veterinary and biosciences teaching, and is one of the largest straw-bale buildings in Europe. It is used primarily to teach the students on the preliminary and gateway veterinary medicine and surgery courses.
A major expansion of clinical teaching facilities was completed in 2024 with the opening of the £3 million Sir Peter Rubin Veterinary Education Centre. The facility includes a purpose-built mock veterinary practice, featuring consulting rooms, operating theatres, kennels, and teaching spaces designed to simulate real clinical environments. It is primarily used for clinical skills training and final-year veterinary education, and has been designed with the potential for future conversion into a functioning veterinary practice.
Alongside these developments, the campus has also seen significant upgrades to its teaching and student facilities. The North Laboratory (AKA “The Super Lab”) was refurbished to modernise and expand large-group practical teaching capacity, providing enhanced laboratory space for biosciences and veterinary students. In addition, the Barn, home of the Sutton Bonington Student Guild, was constructed to provide dedicated social, welfare, and activity space for students at Sutton Bonington Campus, supporting the wider student community alongside academic facilities.
References