The RCVS, the regulator for veterinary professional standards and education in
the UK, has formally accredited the veterinary degree at University College
Dublin’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
As part of the Mutual Recognition Agreement
signed between the RCVS and the Veterinary Council of Ireland in 2019, the
groundwork was laid for the RCVS recognising the UCD vet degree subject to
successful accreditation visits.
The visit took place in 2020 and, following
consideration of the visitation report by the RCVS Primary Qualifications
Subcommittee and the Education Committee, accreditation was formally granted in
June this year. This means that, from the 2021 cohort of graduates onwards,
those who hold a UCD veterinary degree will have an automatic right to join the
Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
Writing to the RCVS, Dr Michael Doherty, Dean
and Head of School at Dublin, said: “To receive RCVS accreditation is a great
honour and the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine is delighted with the news,
which has added historic significance.”
Dr Linda Prescott-Clements,
RCVS Director of Education, added: “Congratulations to UCD, its faculty and to
its students for this great achievement. Our visitation team found that the
quality of the programme at Dublin, and how it prepares its graduates for life
as practising vets, met the stringent standards we apply to all UK and
international universities and we look forward to continuing to work with them
over the coming years.”
The full accreditation of the UCD School of
Veterinary Medicine’s veterinary degree will last for seven years and it will
also produce annual quality monitoring reports for consideration by the RCVS
Primary Qualifications Subcommittee and Education Committee.
