Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Antwerp

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Antwerp is a three-year, 180-ECTS programme for students who are interested in animal health, behaviour, welfare, and veterinary care. It gives students a strong scientific base in subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, and pharmacology, while also introducing practical veterinary skills from an early stage.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
The first year focuses on understanding how animals are built and how their bodies work. Students study subjects such as Vertebrate Anatomy, Ethology of Domestic Animals, and Cell Biology and Basic Veterinary Histology, while also building knowledge in chemistry, genetics, statistics, and veterinary public health.

Year 2:
In the second year, students move deeper into animal physiology and body systems. Modules such as Veterinary Physiology, Locomotor System, and Biochemistry of Domestic Animals help students understand how healthy animals function, while Skills Lab I introduces practical animal handling and basic clinical skills.

Year 3:
The third year becomes much more focused on disease, diagnosis, and veterinary practice. Students study areas such as Microbiology, Immunology and Immunopathology, General Pathology, Pharmacology, Propaedeutics, and General Surgery, while Skills Lab II and the internship allow them to apply what they have learned in real veterinary settings.

Focus areas: Animal anatomy and physiology, animal behaviour and welfare, veterinary biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pathology, pharmacology, animal nutrition, veterinary public health, clinical examination, and practical veterinary skills.

Learning outcomes: Students learn how to examine animals, recognise normal and abnormal clinical signs, handle animals safely, perform basic procedures such as injections and wound care, understand the causes of disease, and apply scientific knowledge to real veterinary problems.

Professional alignment: The programme was reviewed by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, or EAEVE, in 2023. The University of Antwerp is recognised as an EAEVE Feeder University, and its bachelor's curriculum is designed to connect smoothly with the Master in Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University.

Reputation: The University of Antwerp is internationally recognised and is ranked 170th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and 277th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

Official programme link:
https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/study/programmes/all-programmes/veterinary-medicine/

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

A major strength of the programme is that students do not only learn veterinary medicine from textbooks. Practical training is built into the degree, allowing students to develop confidence with animals, equipment, clinical procedures, and communication before moving into real professional environments.

Students begin by practising on simulation models in the Skills Lab and gradually move on to working with live animals and completing practical placements. Some of the key hands-on opportunities include:

Skills Lab: Students practise basic veterinary procedures using models and veterinary equipment, including injections, bandaging, suturing, sampling, and rectal examination.
Skills Lab I: In the second year, students learn how to safely handle both large and small domestic animals and carry out basic clinical examinations.
Field visits: Students may visit a dairy farm or horse stud, giving them the chance to understand animal care and veterinary work in a real working environment.
Skills Lab II: In the third year, students apply their practical skills to live animals and also learn how to communicate professionally with animal owners.
Internships: The bachelor includes three practical placements, including experience with a company, a veterinarian, and the university's large-animal training facility, De Ark.
De Ark: This training facility gives students practical experience with animals such as horses, cattle, llamas, dogs, and cats, while also teaching animal welfare and low-stress handling.
Veterinary research facilities: Students study in an environment connected to research facilities including cell culture laboratories, surgery rooms, microscopy facilities, zebrafish laboratories, and large-animal facilities.
Biomedical Library: Students can use the Biomedical Library at Campus Drie Eiken, which provides resources in veterinary science, medicine, biomedical sciences, and related subjects.
Research exposure: The programme is connected to research in areas such as animal physiology, reproduction, herd health, animal management, and gene expression.

Official facilities and practical learning links:
https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/studeren/aanbod/alle-opleidingen/diergeneeskunde/over-de-bachelor/proeven-van-praktijk/

https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/veterinary-physiology-biochemistry/facilities-and-collaborations/infrastructure/

Progression & Future Opportunities

The bachelor gives students a strong foundation for continuing towards a professional career in veterinary medicine. Most students who want to become practising veterinarians continue into the Master in Veterinary Medicine, but the degree also opens pathways into animal health, research, pharmaceuticals, food production, and other science-based careers.

Typical career directions include veterinarian, animal health professional, veterinary or pharmaceutical industry professional, and veterinary researcher.

Some of the key progression and career opportunities include:

Career support: The UAntwerp Career Center helps students and graduates find internships, vacancies, student jobs, and career events, and also provides tools to support job searching and career planning.
Career sectors: Graduates can eventually work in veterinary practices, the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, animal-feed companies, education, and scientific research.
Industry and research links: Veterinary research at UAntwerp is connected with organisations such as ILVO, Hooibeekhoeve, CRV, VITO, and Ghent University, giving students exposure to a wider professional and research network.
Accreditation value: Recognition as an EAEVE Feeder University gives the programme strong European academic alignment and supports progression into professional veterinary education.
Graduate outcome: Students graduate with a Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine and can move directly into the Master in Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the bachelor, students can continue into the Master in Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, where they can specialise in areas such as horses, ruminants, companion animals, pigs, poultry and rabbits, or research. Students who decide not to continue into clinical veterinary medicine can also explore related master's programmes such as Biomedical Sciences or Biochemistry and Biotechnology.

Official progression link:
https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/studeren/aanbod/alle-opleidingen/diergeneeskunde/over-de-bachelor/na-je-bachelor/