Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine training at Namur is based on both the acquisition and application of knowledge and regular contact with animals.

The first block aims to develop a solid scientific foundation and discover the animal (understanding its behavior and studying its morphology).

Thereafter, you continue to learn the fundamental disciplines (biochemistry, microbiology, genetics...). Many courses are animal-oriented, such as the anatomy of the locomotor system and organs (splanchnology), as well as their formation (embryology). You'll also study the physiology of different systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, nervous...).

Finally, an applied ethology course looks at behavioral disorders in domestic animals, the human-animal relationship, and notions of well-being and stress.

• you're passionate about animals and have excellent contact with them;
• you're comfortable with scientific subjects;
• you're open-minded about life sciences.

Participation in care, lambing, dissection labs, medical imaging, problem-based learning in clinical teams... everything is done to promote mastery of concepts and develop your practice in contact with animals.

Practical work and care at the university's didactic farm

From the very first year, you'll have the opportunity to establish the link between theory and practice through regular, supervised contact with different animal species: horses, dogs, sheep and cows. You learn to observe them, handle them and understand their behavior.

At the educational farm, you'll take part in lambing and provide care for newborns, and witness the monitoring of a large herd.

In the laboratory, dissection sessions, surgery simulation, medical imaging, problem-based learning, topographical anatomy... illustrate anatomy, embryology and splanchnology courses. Practical sessions introduce you to various aspects of animal physiology; for example, blood groups, blood coagulation, electrocardiogram, sports medicine.

Group activities and team clinics

In groups made up of students from different years, you discover the animal in a more practical way, under the supervision of older students who fill the role of tutors. Based on real-life clinical cases, you learn about your future profession, but also about team spirit, flexibility and self-criticism.

Interdisciplinary seminars

Conferences and debates confront you with the issues facing society and the roles veterinarians can play in them. Issues such as farm animal welfare, animal rights, animal epidemics, natural disasters... concern both the veterinarian and society.

Integrated tutorials

Thanks to the collaboration of teachers, integrated activities enable you to make the link between different subjects (statistics-genetics-ethology, physiology-splanchnology, physiology-biochemistry...).

End-of-cycle work and student-research

Through the analysis of a scientific question, you develop a scientific and critical mind, essential in medical decision-making.

This work can take the form of a bibliographical or research study. In this case, you obtain student-researcher status. You take part in writing protocols, collecting data, analyzing them, publishing results in scientific journals and communicating them at conferences.

Zootechnical internships

You also have the opportunity to carry out zootechnical internships on farms or in companies.

An exceptional infrastructure dedicated to teaching!

January, June and if necessary August... three sessions to demonstrate your mastery of the subjects

In January of your first year, you sit the exams on the UEs of the 1st quadrimester. Attendance at this test is compulsory for admission to the end-of-year exams.

• If you obtain an average greater than or equal to 8/20, you continue your 1st year bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine in the second quadrimester.
• If you obtain an average of less than 8/20, the jury invites you to a personalized interview for advice. The possibility of reorienting towards other study programs, possibly in the health sector, at university or at a university of applied sciences may be considered.

However:

• you can ask to follow a remedial program in the science UEs with a view to a possible continuation of the veterinary medicine curriculum (or reorientation) with valorization of the credits obtained for the UEs of the first quadrimester;
• you can also ask to follow a lightening of the UEs of the program of the second quadrimester to enable you to sit the veterinary medicine competitive examination only in June of the following year.

In June, you take the exams for the UEs of the 2nd quadrimester to obtain the credits. This exam is only held at the end of the second term, and establishes a ranking based on the average results obtained. To proceed to the next stage of training, two conditions must be met:

• obtain the first 60 credits of the bachelor's degree;
• rank "in useful order", i.e. within the quota of students to whom the university is entitled to issue the attestation authorizing the continuation of veterinary medicine studies, i.e. the 120 credits completing the bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine.

The competitive examination tests are based on multiple-choice questions.

According to the choice of the professors, the examinations for the second part of the bachelor of veterinary medicine studies may be assessed either in writing or orally. Assessment procedures are specified during the first course and are detailed on the university website.

Succeeding in a year of study at university involves many challenges.

To help you meet them, UNamur supports you in developing your disciplinary, methodological and human skills... with the support of numerous professionals.

Preparatory courses, individualized help... Discover the schemes set up for your training.

After obtaining the bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine, you have access to the master's degree in veterinary medicine. This second cycle can be taken at the University of Liège, Ghent University or any other university in Europe and gives access to the practice of veterinary medicine.

The master's degree awarded in Belgium is valid throughout Europe. Belgian expertise is recognized and veterinarians easily find employment abroad. There, they can practice their profession in the professional, family or geographical context of their choice: conventional practice, wild animals in zoos and reserves, development cooperation...