How veterinary research institutes support student learning at Surrey
At the University of Surrey, our veterinary medicine and science students benefit from the strong links we have with the veterinary profession, as well as the skills and resources of our wide partner network.
Our students are prepared to meet the needs of a changing world through the wide range of experiences and research opportunities offered through the strategic partnerships held by our School of Veterinary Medicine.
The Pirbright Institute and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) are both founding partners of the School of Veterinary Medicine and maintain a strong relationship with Surrey, including joint appointments, ongoing research links and provision of student placements, which ensure that our veterinary medicine and science students are fully equipped to excel after their studies.
The best things about the course were definitely the opportunities to visit and carry out research projects with University partners.
At Surrey, students benefit from extensive research experience and training combined with taught modules. Many of our academics use research to enhance and enrich the learning of our students to get involved in research opportunities with our partner research institutes.
See what lecturers and students had to say about the how our connection between The Pirbright Institute and APHA supports the learning and of students on our MSc Veterinary Microbiology.
Dr Simon Graham, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Immunology and group leader at The Pirbright Institute:
“The Pirbright Institute contributes to a range of veterinary medicine and veterinary biosciences programmes at Surrey. Many Group Leaders at the Institute provide expert lectures at Surrey on the important diseases they research.
As part of the MSc Veterinary Microbiology programme, students visit the Institute for one week where they gain hands-on experiences and learn cutting-edge laboratory techniques. The Pirbright Institute also offers a range of dissertation projects for Surrey students, including those undertaking their Professional Training Year.”
Professor Mark Chambers, Professor in Veterinary Bacteriology and former Head of the Bacteriology Department at APHA:
“Many of the lecturers on the Veterinary Microbiology course are also employees of APHA and all lecturers are research active in their fields, bringing their current research methods, findings and challenges to the heart of their teaching.
“Graduates from the course are highly sought after by the APHA due to their broad training that has been developed and delivered for its relevance to applied research, such as that undertaken by APHA.”
As well as practical visits, students benefit from being able to undertake a research project with our partners, joining a vibrant and rapidly growing research community and making profound and lasting impacts on the world.
Margot Berrezaie, former MSc Veterinary Microbiology student, had this to say about her experience on the course:
“The best things about the course were definitely the opportunities to visit and carry out research projects with University partners. We were able to step into the life of researchers and really observe what career paths would be open to us once we graduated.
"I was able to work with the pathologist at The Pirbright Institute during my placement project and learn more about the important role veterinarians have in research. This helped cement my decision to continue my studies in veterinary medicine.”
Learn more about our MSc Veterinary Microbiology and our undergraduate programmes in veterinary medicine and veterinary biosciences.
