'Historic moment' as SETU announce new course available from next year

A brand new course on Veterinary Medicine has been announced for SETU Waterford in what has been described as a "historic moment" for the county.

It will be available from September of next year and 40 students will be offered the chance to study it.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) programme will provide students with scientific, clinical, and professional training.

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It is a five-year programme that will be delivered in three phases.

The foundation and clinical phases are the first two which will provide students with an in-depth understanding of scientific and clinical concepts.

The final professional phase of the MVB programme employs a fully distributed model of clinical education.

Minister John Cummins has welcomed the news of funding for the course to be provided.

“This is truly a historic moment for Waterford and the South East because, for the first time, young people from our region will have the opportunity to study Veterinary Medicine without leaving the South East," he said. 

A design team will now be appointed to create building designs.

Students will benefit from world-class teaching facilities at SETU’s Glassworks site in Waterford City, alongside a new education facility at Teagasc Kildalton College.

The programme will be supported by a number of veterinary practices across the region.

“I would like to wish newly appointed Head of Veterinary  medicine at SETU Dr Mary Kate Burke and her team every success as they prepare for the first intake of students next September. This is an exciting time for our university,” Minister Cummins said.