| Specialty | Veterinary Medicine, master’s programme after secondary school |
|---|---|
| Diploma | Master of Veterinary Medicine with the professional qualification of veterinarian |
| Duration | 6 years (360 ECTS credits) |
| Language of instruction | English or Ukrainian, depending on the university |
| Tuition | USD 4,900 a year at our partner university |
| State exam | Unified State Qualification Exam (a test) |
| Registration in the UK and Ireland | RCVS Statutory Membership Examination in the UK; assessment by the Veterinary Council of Ireland |
Veterinary studies in Ukraine: who they are for
A veterinarian treats companion animals, horses and farm animals, and looks after animal health and food safety. It is a profession for people who love animals and want to combine medical knowledge with practical work. In Ukraine, you can study veterinary medicine straight after secondary school, and at some universities in English.
- Veterinary medicine in Ukraine is a master’s programme taken straight after secondary school: 360 ECTS credits, or 6 years.
- Graduates receive a Master of Veterinary Medicine diploma and the professional qualification of veterinarian.
- Some universities teach the programme in English.
- The studies end with the Unified State Qualification Exam.
Veterinary faculties in Europe, including outside the EU, are evaluated by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE). One Ukrainian veterinary faculty has a positive EAEVE evaluation valid until 2028. In some countries such an evaluation makes recognition of the diploma easier, so we check it when choosing a university.
The programme and the state exam
Ukraine’s state educational standard for veterinary medicine sets 360 ECTS credits after secondary school, ending with the Unified State Qualification Exam. In the programme of one Ukrainian university, for example, placements account for 33 ECTS credits: educational and professional placements.
- Studies You complete theoretical subjects and clinical classes.
- Placements You complete the educational and professional placements set out in the programme.
- State exam You sit the Unified State Qualification Exam. In 2024, when veterinary graduates took it for the first time, it was a computer-based test: 100 questions in 120 minutes.
- Diploma You receive a Master of Veterinary Medicine diploma with the professional qualification of veterinarian.
Keep all your placement certificates, starting in your first year
When you have your diploma recognised abroad, the programme of studies counts, including the number of hours of classes and placements. We help you put together your course syllabuses and placement certificates during your studies, not only after graduation.
How much do veterinary studies in Ukraine cost?
Among our partner universities, veterinary medicine in English is taught by the university in Kyiv. A year of study costs USD 4,900:
| University | City | Veterinary medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University | Kyiv | $4,900 |
Tuition depends on the university and on the language of instruction. On top of tuition, you need to budget for accommodation, food, document translations and travel. We go through the current figures with you in a free consultation.
Registering as a veterinary surgeon in the UK
In the UK, veterinary surgeons register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). If the RCVS does not recognise your degree, your route is the Statutory Membership Examination.
- Eligibility You must be a qualified vet in good professional standing and eligible to practise in the country where you qualified.
- English Unless your degree was taught and examined entirely in English, you prove your English with IELTS Academic 7.0 overall and in each component, or OET grade B.
- Written exam You sit multiple-choice papers covering companion animals, production animals including veterinary public health, and horses, plus an open-book paper on the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.
- Clinical exam After passing the written part, you take the OSCE, a circuit of clinical stations usually held in the autumn. The whole process typically takes around 15 months.
Registering as a veterinary practitioner in Ireland
In Ireland, the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) keeps the Register of Veterinary Practitioners. It recognises Ukrainian qualifications that meet the required minimum standard; at present, those of one Ukrainian university awarded after 1 October 2021.
- Assessment If your qualification is not recognised, you apply for an assessment. The Council aims to decide within three months of receiving all documents.
- Registration exam The Council may invite you to sit its registration exam: a written part and, after passing it, a practical part.
- English You show that you can communicate effectively in English; a degree taught and completed wholly in English counts as evidence.
Start in Ukraine, finish in the EU if you wish
For many students the simplest option is to finish the degree in Ukraine and have the diploma recognised after graduation. If you prefer an EU degree, you can start in Ukraine and transfer during your studies to a veterinary programme at a university in the EU, for example in Poland.
- Completed years You pass each year and collect your syllabuses, transcript and placement certificates.
- Several universities Together we choose several EU universities that accept transfers that year.
- Documents We prepare the application, translations and a comparison of the programmes.
- EU degree You finish your veterinary studies at the EU university and receive its degree.
Transfers from universities outside the EU are part of our everyday work. In our experience a transfer always works out, although not always to the first-choice university, so we always choose several. Ask about a transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How long do veterinary studies in Ukraine take?
After secondary school, the programme has 360 ECTS credits, or 6 years. It ends with a Master of Veterinary Medicine diploma with the professional qualification of veterinarian.
How much do veterinary studies in Ukraine cost?
At our partner university in Kyiv, a year of veterinary medicine in English costs USD 4,900. Tuition depends on the university and on the language of instruction, and living costs come on top. We give you the current figures in a free consultation.
Can I work as a vet in the UK or Ireland with a Ukrainian diploma?
In the UK, a degree the RCVS does not recognise leads to the Statutory Membership Examination. In Ireland, the Veterinary Council recognises some Ukrainian qualifications and assesses the others, sometimes with a registration exam.
Can you study veterinary medicine in Ukraine in English?
Yes, at some universities. In the programme of one of them, for example, one group is taught entirely in English. Our partner university in Kyiv also teaches veterinary medicine in English.
Do I need to speak Ukrainian?
No, if you study in an English-taught group. Basic Ukrainian is useful on placements and in everyday life, though.
Where should I start?
With a conversation about where you want to work after graduation and what your budget is. On that basis we draw up a plan, with recognition of your diploma in your chosen country in mind from day one.
University in Ukraine offering veterinary medicine
Start: SeptemberVolodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University
Veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology and management in Kyiv, at a university with a tradition dating back to 1920.
Read also: Studying medicine in Ukraine: is it a good idea?. You will find more on the Ukraine page, on the Veterinary medicine programme page and in our university catalogue. Not sure where to start? Book a free consultation.
Have questions about studying abroad?
An Edumetric adviser will answer your questions and put together a list of universities with their costs. The consultation is free.