Cambridge Vet School on the Brink? Why the Proposed Closure Has the UK Veterinary World Fired Up
The University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine is facing a potential shutdown, and the reaction from staff, students, and the wider profession has been swift, loud, and emotional. For many in veterinary medicine, this recommendation feels less like strategic planning and more like a curveball no one saw coming. Cambridge confirmed that its Council of the School of the Biological Sciences has recommended ending veterinary education at the university, with the final cohort set to graduate in 2032. If enacted, this would mark the closure of one of the most prestigious veterinary programs in the world. Unsurprisingly, the department is pushing back hard.
Staff and students within the Department of Veterinary Medicine say the recommendation arrived without warning or meaningful consultation. Many describe the process as rushed and poorly justified, particularly given the long term and irreversible nature of closing a veterinary school. From their perspective, the lack of transparency raises serious concerns about how such a consequential decision could be made without broader engagement. For a profession built on evidence based decision making, that disconnect has struck a nerve.
The Vet Shortage Shaped Elephant in the Room
This controversy lands at a time when the UK is already grappling with a well documented shortage of veterinarians. Closing a major training pipeline only intensifies worries about workforce capacity across clinical practice, public health, food security, and research. Veterinarians play a critical role in zoonotic disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Reducing training capacity at a global center of excellence appears, to many, fundamentally misaligned with national and international needs.
One of the most contentious aspects of the recommendation is the absence of a clear explanation. According to the department, decision makers have not convincingly demonstrated whether the proposed closure stems from financial sustainability concerns, teaching quality issues, or feedback from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In 2024, the RCVS issued a significant number of recommendations for improvement. While that raised eyebrows across the profession, the department states it took those findings seriously and implemented substantial changes. Conditional accreditation was extended, with the number of outstanding issues reduced. From the department’s standpoint, improvement was underway and progress was being made. The suggestion of closure, therefore, feels disproportionate and premature.
What Happens Next
Cambridge consistently ranks among the top veterinary schools globally. Faculty argue that the institution’s academic standing and research impact undermine any narrative that the program is underperforming or unsalvageable. Beyond the immediate impact on students and staff, there is concern about reputational damage. Closing a world class veterinary program could send a troubling signal to the global scientific and veterinary community about institutional priorities.
The department has made it clear that it intends to fight the recommendation and is calling on university leadership to pause and reconsider. For veterinary professionals watching from across the UK and beyond, this situation raises uncomfortable questions about how veterinary education is valued, funded, and protected. Whether this recommendation ultimately stands or falls, the debate has already ignited a broader conversation about workforce planning, academic accountability, and the future of veterinary medicine in the UK. Many in the profession will be watching closely, because the outcome could set a precedent that reaches far beyond Cambridge.
