New Ranking of the World’s Top Veterinary Schools

This article is based on the results of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015. Click here to read the latest version of this article, based on the 2019 results.

One of six new additions to the QS World University Rankings by Subject this year is a ranking of the top veterinary schools worldwide. Useful for anyone interested in discovering world-leading universities at which to study veterinary science, this inaugural edition of the veterinary science ranking highlights 50 of the world’s leading universities in the field, spanning 17 different countries.

See below for an overview of the top 10 universities for veterinary science worldwide, followed by a look at how the top 50 veterinary schools are divided across each world region.

Top veterinary schools in the US & Canada

The United States has by far the largest number of globally ranked veterinary schools, boasting a 20 universities ranked among the world’s top 50.

While three of the top 10 spots are claimed by the US, five more US universities appear in the top 20: Colorado State University (13= for veterinary science; 441-450 in the QS World University Rankings 2014/15), the University of Minnesota (13= for veterinary science; 119^th in the world rankings), the University of Florida (17= for veterinary science; 192^nd in the world rankings), the University of Pennsylvania (19^th for veterinary science; 13^th in the world rankings) and North Carolina State University (20^th for veterinary science; 388^th in the world rankings).

Heading north, Canada has a total of three universities ranked within the veterinary science top 50. These are the University of Guelph in 4^th place (431-440 in the world rankings), the Université de Montréal in 42^nd place (83^rd in the world rankings), and the University of Saskatchewan in 47^th place (481-490 in the world rankings).

For more information about studying in the US or Canada, see our regional guide. You can also explore the top universities in each US state here, and the top universities in each Canadian province here.

Top veterinary schools in Europe

In addition to the five UK universities ranked within the top 10, including the Royal Veterinary College in 3^rd, there are two more universities in the UK ranked among the top 50. These are the University of Bristol (11= for veterinary science; 29^th in the world rankings) and the University of Nottingham (45= for veterinary science; 77^th in the world rankings).

Heading to warmer parts of Europe, Spain claims two of the world’s top veterinary science schools, with Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (23^rd for veterinary science; 173^rd in the world rankings) and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, 50^th for veterinary science; 212nd in the world rankings). The only other European country with two schools featured is the Netherlands, with Wageningen University in 16^th place (151^st in the world rankings), behind Utrecht University in 5^th (80^th in the world rankings).

Eight more European countries have one institution featured among the top 50. In Denmark, this is the University of Copenhagen in 17= (45^th in the world rankings); in Germany, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in 25= (52^nd in the world rankings); in Belgium, the University of Ghent in 27^th (129^th in the world rankings); in Switzerland, the University of Zurich in 32^nd (57^th in the world rankings); in Austria, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in 38^th; in Norway, the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in 39^th; in Ireland, University College Dublin (UCD) in 40^th place (139^th in the world rankings) and, lastly, in Sweden, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in joint 43^rd.

Want to know more about studying in Europe? See our full range of European country guides.

Top veterinary schools in Australia & New Zealand

Australia’s University of Sydney is the highest ranked of the country’s four entrants (11= for veterinary science; 37^th in the world rankings), followed by the University of Queensland (UQ, 22^nd for veterinary science; 43^rd in the world rankings), the University of Melbourne (28^th for veterinary science; 33^rd in the world rankings) and Murdoch University (38^th for veterinary science; 551-600 in the world rankings). Meanwhile New Zealand is represented by Massey University (15^th for veterinary science; 346^th in the world rankings).

Rest of the world

Brazil is the only Latin American country featured in the veterinary science top 50, with two entries: the Universidade de São Paulo (36^th for veterinary science; 132^nd in the world rankings) and the Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (45= for veterinary sciences; 421-430 in the world rankings).

Meanwhile, despite Asian universities’ growing international profile overall, just one Asian institution is featured here. This is South Korea’s Seoul National University (SNU), ranked joint 41^st for veterinary science (31^st in the overall world rankings).

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