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EMS grants to be made available for vet students
“It’s clear that EMS costs students hundreds of pounds a year, without taking into account lost potential earnings."
Survey shows cost is the main barrier to placements

A new grant scheme will help veterinary students cover the cost of extra mural studies (EMS), after a survey found that cost is the main barrier to placements.

The Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) will offer five £200 grants to assist students with the cost of their 26-week clinical EMS placements.

VDS Training has agreed to fund the first two years as a pilot scheme, after which AVS will review the offering based on demand.

A 2016 survey by the AVS and BVA found that the cost of EMS contributed significantly to the estimated shortfall of £1188 per term in the clinical years of the veterinary degree. It also revealed that the average expenditure for a two-week placement was £152 for large animal and £119 for small animal.

In addition, 87 per cent of students had to have a car for their placement.

AVS president David Charles said: “It’s clear that EMS costs students hundreds of pounds a year, without taking into account lost potential earnings.

“For a lot of students, many placements are not possible, as they would have to source external accommodation and transport, just because of where they happen to live. This is on top of the costs of food and travel required for any placement as evidenced in the AVS/BVA 2016 Survey.

“Most, if not all, of the current grants on offer to students are for taking part in research or for travel abroad. The AVS EMS Grants will make previously inaccessible EMS placements feasible for the winning students and help them get the most out of their EMS.”

The first AVS EMS grants will be launched in the next academic year. Applications open on 1 October 2018 and the awards will be presented at the 2019 AVS Congress in London.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.