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Scholarships and bursaries empower students to overcome financial challenges and reach their full potential.

For people who have dreamed of a career in veterinary medicine, biological science or research but thought it beyond their means, scholarships and bursaries can offer a lifeline.

“It is great to know that with the help of the RVC Alumni Fund amazing opportunities aren’t out of your reach. Money plays an important role in the everyday life of a student but with the financial support of these grants it doesn’t have to limit my education.” Elizabeth Hall, BVetMed Graduate, 2022. EMS Bursary recipient.

Support from our alumni help us fund scholarships to attract the world's brightest minds, regardless of their background. These advance research in a variety of veterinary fields, giving students the experience of creating knowledge as well as acquiring it.

Many of our amazing alumni who have left legacies to the RVC have enables us to create and fund our scholarships. Find out how gifts in wills change lives on our Legacy webpage.

Student Support Fund

At the RVC we believe that financial circumstances should never prevent gifted students from receiving a world class education. We receive an increasing number of applications each year to the Student Support Fund.

Recipients of the RVC Student Support Fund say:

“The grant allowed me to get out of my overdraft, contributed to therapy sessions and decreased stress around money. Without it, I would have been in a lot of debt.” BVetMed student, Year Five.

“It allowed me to pay my rent which was a huge relief. I am very grateful to the university for providing this grant” BVetMed Student, Year One.

The RVC EMS+ Awards Scheme

Bursaries of either £500 or £1000 enable BVetMed students in their third, fourth and fifth years to overcome financial obstacles to aspirational work placements. Find out more about the RVC EMS+ Awards Scheme.

Recipients of the RVC EMS+ Awards Scheme

When Josh secured a placement at a specialist exotic clinic in Cardiff, he was excited. But he ‘quickly started to panic when the realism of financial constraints hit’. As this was Josh's second degree, he was not entitled to a student loan. To support his studies, Josh had a part-time job and would need to commute back to London every weekend for his shifts plus find accommodation in Wales. An EMS+ grant helped Josh meet these costs. He told us,

“Thanks to the EMS + grant I was able to focus on enjoying my placement and getting the absolute most out of it, rather than stress about the logistics and practicalities which would have shadowed my time there. Thank you!"

An-Chi worked with dolphins during her EMS placement at Falgory Ocean Park in Taiwan and said,

'The funding I was lucky to receive from the RVC Alumni Fund, not only allowed the placement to go ahead on a logistical level but also made me feel encouraged and supported in my interest in this field. I would like to express how grateful I am.'

The RVC Alumni Fund finances facilities and equipment to improve the teaching and learning experience.

Facilities

The new Atrium Building at our Hawkshead Campus facilitates world-changing research and innovation at the RVC. Part-funded by our alumni community, it offers vast social learning spaces and a new 400-capacity lecture theatre which enables veterinary science and veterinary nursing students to study together for the first time. The building brings together academia and industry to inspire pioneering work. Specialist infrastructure, such as fully equipped laboratories and animal houses, enables researchers, clinicians, teaching staff and RVC students to work together to consolidate our global scientific impact. This new facility prospers significant benefits to people, animals, societies and environments and couldn’t have been built without support from our RVC alumni.  

Inside the Atrium Building

The skeleton of one of the most famous racehorses in history, Eclipse, is installed in the Atrium Building on Hawkshead Campus.

Equipment

Teaching models bring textbooks to life and are invaluable for teaching. Improving the student experience and animal welfare, they are a safe way for students to gain confidence. Being able to practice a variety of procedures on realistic (and quieter!) models before being faced with a real patient is paramount to animal welfare.

Teaching models such as Bovine calving simulators (affectionately referred to as Pint and Half Pint) help students practice taking blood, euthanasia and castration. An equine limb model is helping students learn the structure and function of the distal carpus and understand soft tissue injuries. While a new Holstein calving simulator is helping students practice difficult calvings. All these innovative resources were funded by RVC alumni.

“I found the model extremely useful. Having used it in clinical examination sessions, the authenticity in the anatomical structures provided a great stepping stone before attending live animals – it contributed well to a safe session and increased students’ confidence when examining real animals afterwards.” Peter Plate, Lecturer in Livestock Veterinary Extension Services

Widening participation activities at the RVC empower young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to excel.

School visits and experience days bring animal-related and science careers to life. Pupils can listen to educational talks, take part in practical demonstrations and learn how to handle livestock. By practising on our teaching models (that are funded by the RVC Alumni Fund) they can imagine what it would be a student vet. The funding from our alumni helps inspire the next generation of veterinary and science professionals.  

Inspiring young minds

"The children had a fantastic time, being able to experience real-life opportunities is a day they will remember for a long time" Parent

"It was very, very informative as there were real-life vet students always available to answer questions. I liked how varied the activities were! Event attendee

SU Clubs and Societies empower students to look after their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Clubs and societies are a vital and vibrant part of student life, offering opportunities to learn new skills, gain confidence and make friends. Often, they hold fundraisers to support their activities and aspirations. Thanks to our alumni community, we can match their fundraising.

“We are incredibly grateful for the matched-funding which means we can purchase a new goalkeeper kit. Our current kit is held together by tape so this will be a safer upgrade! Any additional funds will help hire pitches for training and matches.” Maisey Howson, RVC Hockey Club Charity Secretary 

“Having matched-funding helped the Equestrian Team run two extra training sessions for our riders. It also funded our entries into regional competitions, and we got fantastic results! Being able to enter these competitions and feel ready for the challenge was fundamental to our success. Thank you to RVC alumni who helped make this experience possible - it's one we'll never forget." Jo Grenfell, Captain of RVC Equestrian Team B, 2021 – 2022.

 The RVC alumni community has funded Summer Research Studentships at the RVC since 2001.

Research studentships give students the opportunity to undertake paid research work over the summer break and are a valuable way for students to ‘earn while they learn’. Working alongside RVC researchers, students can improve their technical research skills and gain an insight into research as a potential career.

“Summer studentships are a great way for students to learn more about a career in research. During my studentship, I realised how much I enjoy working in a lab environment. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do more placements with a lab vet in the future and gain further research experience.” Chloe, second-year, BVetMed student.