What do you come out with? Any one of the following: BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science), BvetMed (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine) or BVM&S (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery).

Why do it? It's a caring profession for those who have a passion for working with animals and the motivation to complete the five years of hard study. You need a strong sense of vocation and an ability to operate independently. The squeamish need not apply.

What's it about? The six UK veterinary courses look remarkably alike because all have to be recognised by the Royal College. They offer a strong grounding in biological sciences - anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, on which are built para-clinical disciplines such as pathology, pharmacology, parasitology and therapeutics. Students also study animal nutrition, housing and welfare. The Royal College also specifies that veterinary students must undertake 38 weeks of extra-mural studies during vacations, doing placements on a range of units such as farms and stables. You can expect long hours and a heavy workload, so commitment is essential.

How long is the degree? Five years, six at Cambridge.

What are the students like? Generally very hard-working, as diligence is vital in order to keep up with the pacey course. That said, students do know how to have fun. There tends to be a higher proportion of women than men.

How is it packaged? Assessment methods vary throughout the course. In the earlier years, when the focus is on theory, there will be more formal assessment by written examination. During subsequent clinical years continuous assessment by way of coursework, practical assessments and orals is followed by end-of-degree finals. Schools offering the five-year course generally have the option to insert another year at the end of the second year, in which you can study specialist scientific areas to receive a BSc.

How cool is it? Fantastically - and not just because of the James Herriot novels, Rolf Harris and all those furry animal programmes on TV. Places at vet school are so in demand that applicants can now apply for only four veterinary schools. If 5th and 6th applications are made, they must be for related subjects such as equine studies.

What A levels do you need? RVC requires Chemistry and Biology at A-level, as does Bristol, with a Grade A at Double Science (or in Biology and Chemistry if done separately). Glasgow asks for Biology and either Physics or Chemistry, while Bristol asks for a selection from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths. At both Cambridge and RVC, you will also be expected to sit the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), a supplementary science aptitude test which will examine not so much your knowledge but the way in which you approach problems and structure your thoughts. All the veterinary schools expect some pre-application work experience in a variety of fields - farms, stables, kennels or with vets - RVC specifies that this must total at least six weeks.

What grades? AAB at Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, AAA at Bristol, RVC and Cambridge.

Will it keep you off the dole? Yes. There's an acute shortage of vets. Almost all graduates find work. Most go into general veterinary practice initially. An increasing number leave after a few years for research, industry or the state veterinary service. Vets are paid well but don't make a fortune - the satisfaction comes from the job.

Will you be interviewed? Yes, you can expect to interviewed at all Veterinary Schools.

What do students say? Laura Somers, going into her 4th year at Royal Veterinary College. "I've found the course is very enjoyable. It is broad, which means that you can't specialise and you do do the same as everyone else. It is definitely hard work and quite intense, it's 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. However I have got a lot out of it, and if it's what you want to do, then it can really be quite satisfying."

Where's best for teaching? RVC, Bristol and Liverpool were all awarded 24, with Cambridge receiving 23.

Where's best for research? Bristol, Cambridge, Liverpool, RVC, Edinburgh and Glasgow all scored 5.

Where's the cutting edge? Glasgow is known for its work on parasitic diseases and on reproductive and developmental biology, while Bristol focuses on animal welfare. The Structure and Motion Laboratory is a joint venture by the RVC and UCL, and conducts research into the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system. Much of their work on horses is sponsored by organisations such as the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Home of Rest for Horses.

Who are the stars? At Bristol, Professor Tom Humphrey and Dr Mick Bailey are leading a large research programme looking at how an animal's susceptibility to disease is affected by environment. At the RVC, the research group leaders each have their own specialist areas: Professor Claire Wathes works on the scientific basis of fertility in dairy cows, vital for the continued success of farming, Professor Neil Stoker investigates the virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in both humans and its variant in animals, and Dr Alan Wilson runs the aforementioned Structure and Motion Laboratory. Glasgow's Hal Thompson and Alun Williams lead Companion Animal Diagnostics, a laboratory that specialises in feline and canine viruses.

Added value: The Veterinary School at Glasgow is one of four schools in Europe to be approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, meaning that graduates wanting to work in the US or Canada will not have to sit the otherwise necessary Clinical Proficiency Exam.