The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has awarded unconditional approved status for the maximum period of seven years to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Edinburgh.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies joins an elite group of vet schools across the world which have gained this status, universally regarded as indicating the highest international standards in veterinary education.

There are only four other schools outside the United States and Canada, which are recognised in this way (Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Massey University, New Zealand; University of Glasgow and The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom).

The accreditation process was a major exercise, involving the preparation of a self-evaluation document explaining how the school met the stringent criteria in the AVMA standards for approval, and a site visit to tour our facilities and meet with a wide cross-section of Faculty staff and students.

After postponing the planned site visit in May 2001 because of the Foot and Mouth Disease crisis, the AVMA team visited at the beginning of December, with the decision granting accreditation being made at the Council on Education meeting in late March. The site visit team was not exclusively from the United States and Canada as the specified composition included two UK members to advise on custom and practices here - David Murdoch, a practitioner from the Wirral, and Professor Michael Clarkson, a retired member of staff from the University of Liverpool.

Commenting on the award the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Richard Halliwell, said, “We are delighted that our undergraduate degree programme meets the exacting standards of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

This recognition acknowledges the hard work and professionalism of the staff of the Dick Vet in providing world class teaching, and it gives our students a qualification which affords greater flexibility in terms of entitlement to practice in other countries around the world.”