Royal Veterinary College, University of London

Everyday expenses

The food and drink on campus is expensive- you're much better catering for yourself. The local tesco and sainsburys are well priced- be sure to take advantage of their weekly offers. The campus itself is pretty secluded, and the shuttle bus service doesn't run on weekends so unless you have your own transport you struggle to get off campus unless you fork out for a taxi. I wish i'd know about this when I started as I wouldnt have gone to this university if i had known how secluded the campus is. The taxi fare from the campus to PB station is at a set price of 5 for students currently, luckily the local firms do deals for RVC students. The accommodation could do with a lick of paint, and the rooms are very dark and the lighting provided isnt brilliant. As additional course costs go, there arent many. Most of the core texts are avaliable from the library if you get in there quick, otherwise youll struggle to get a copy for when you need it. Lab coats are provided for clinical skills although it probably is wise to purchase your own.

2013, 1st year, Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture & Related Subjects Not Elsewhere Classified

Everyday expenses

There is a wide variety of stores and shops, the campus is a 10 min walk from Camden high street. The price range is broad and caters to any budget. Transport in London is expensive, but transport links to the uni are good. Having to take the train to potters bar sometimes incurs extra costs but is not too expensive

2013, 1st year, Clinical Medicine

Everyday expenses

I find it hard sometimes to manage costs, I usually pay my rent straight away so I know that's done, but budgeting for food shopping can be difficult, and because the area is not built up you have to travel if you want to do anything at a weekend like shopping or going to the cinema, and I usually forget to factor in my travel costs when planning to go out. Also because the area is quite small there are no opportunities for work so additional money is not possible. I wish someone had told me to save more money when I had the chance so I had more savings to full back on, as if I am short of money there is no one who can help me out.

2013, 3rd year, Clinical Veterinary Medicine

Academic Experience

The course is good and the workload is fine until you reach exams where only one week is given regardless of the numbers of years' material you have to revise; it means it is impossible to cover everything, incentivising cramming and meaning that things are not learnt to as great a depth or breadth as would be ideal. Tutor system is a bit stilted and more of a box ticking exercise. Facilities generally are good except for overcrowding and rushed feeling in practicals due to size of year. The content is not difficult, it is just the quantity of it which makes it hard.

2013, 2nd year, Clinical Veterinary Medicine

Academic Experience

I'm on the graduate course and the first year is essentially two years squished into one. This does make it very challenging so be prepared to work hard and read a lot outside of the lecture material! It's easy to get a bit overwhelmed with the amount of work but the lecturers are great if you need clarification on anything and they give specific pages within specific textbooks for you to read so you don't have to waste time searching through lots of different books. There are also lots of different resources to help you study including online quizzes, histology slides, anatomy pictures and recorded lectures. I've really enjoyed this first year and found most of the content really interesting. The only subject I didn't really get on with was Animal Husbandry but I think that's one subject that can't really be taught well through lectures; you learn much more and it's so much more interesting when you go out on the farms for AHEMS. Essential tip if you're on the graduate course: get some experience done before you start the course, even if it's just 2 weeks else all your holidays in the first year will be take up with AHEMS; I've learnt the hard way!

2013, 1st year, Clinical Veterinary Medicine