Come to Illinois for the opportunity to work with outstanding clinical specialists in a busy referral hospital that is part of a world-class university.
Options for Advanced Study
Several pathways are available to meet the needs of the individual student pursuing careers involving specialty clinical practice, academia, industry, government, or research.
VCM Graduate Program
Master of Science (MS) The MS degree prepares students to be lifelong learners in careers involving specialty clinical practice, teaching, industry, government, or research. The requirements for the MS can usually be completed within two years.
Students receive training in planning research projects and writing research proposals and gains the ability to conduct research both independently and within teams of scientists from various biomedical or agricultural fields. The student also gains experience in clinical teaching and critical review of the literature, which will serve as the basis for delivering instruction within their discipline.
Application Requirements and Procedures
Application requirements:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, or an appropriate undergraduate degree (Applicants who do not have a DVM or equivalent degree must also submit an official copy of the results of the GRE General Test, taken within the past five years.)
- Minimum grade point average* of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with a grade point average below 3.0 may be considered for admission on limited status on the basis of individual merit.
*Note: GPA is computed as follows:
- Applicants with DVM or equivalent: GPA based on grades from veterinary coursework
- Applicants without DVM: GPA based on grades from the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies
- Applicants who have completed graduate study or graduate degree: GPA based on grades from graduate courses as well as undergraduate or professional degrees
Students seeking to transfer from other graduate programs will be judged on the basis of past undergraduate and graduate performance.
Applications, submitted with all supplemental materials [personal statement, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and test scores — GRE (if no DVM) and, if applicable, TOEFL or IELTS score, and application fee of $70 for U.S. students, and $90 for international students, must be submitted via the Graduate College’s website by January 31 for fall admission.
Prospective applicants should contact the department head or a faculty member in the department before starting the application process, in order to determine whether a suitable research training position is available.
Foreign applicants must also include the following in their departmental application:
- Evidence of financial support (such support should be discussed with the department head before formal application is made)
- Evidence of English Proficiency. All international degree-seeking applicants are required to submit the results of the TOEFL or IELTS as evidence of English proficiency unless they qualify for an exemption. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from the testing agency. All scores must be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term. Minimum Score Requirements: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c
For additional information, contact the department: 217-333-8517; email VCMGradProgram@vetmed.illinois.edu.
Clinical Residency Programs
Residency programs are designed to complete or largely complete the training raequirements for veterinary clinical specialty board certification as well as to provide the candidate the opportunity to conduct applied or basic research. Unless the applicant for a residency already holds an MS or PhD degree, the residency will be combined with the MS program.
Availability of residency programs vary. To view current residency opportunities, please visit www.virmp.org.
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Equine Internal Medicine
- Equine Surgery
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
- Small Animal Internal Medicine
- Small Animal Surgery
- Theriogenology
- Zoological Companion Medicine
A residency in zoological and aquatic animal medicine residency is offered jointly by the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo, and John G. Shedd Aquarium. Go to the zoo and aquatic animal medicine residency page.
Residencies are also available in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, microbiology, and zoological anatomic pathology. For information on how to apply, please visit the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory residency page.
The length of a residency is defined by the appropriate clinical specialty board of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The length of time required to satisfy the objectives of a combined residency/MS program is three years for most clinical specialty boards, or up to four years for radiology boards.
All residents have a supervising diplomate who is board certified in the appropriate area of study as well as a committee that supervises their clinical and graduate programs.
Residents are expected to attend and give staff seminars and to assist in the clinical and laboratory teaching of students in the DVM program. It must be emphasized that, as in most advanced training programs, much of the initiative to obtain knowledge is left to the individual: the benefit the resident derives from the program will be directly related to the effort the resident is willing to expend.
All residents will be required to write at least one paper during their residency. They are encouraged to publish not only for their own development but also to fulfill the eligibility requirements of the appropriate clinical specialty board.
- Residencies start on or after July 16.
- Residents are initially appointed for one year; continuation in the program is contingent upon mutual satisfaction of the resident, the supervising diplomate, the resident’s section head, and the head of the department.
- The University of Illinois classifies residents as University employees. Employees and their eligible dependents qualify for University benefits. Malpractice coverage is provided under the U of I blanket plan for service provided to university clients only. Thirteen paid sick days per year (non-cumulative), 10 paid vacation days per year (non-cumulative), health, dental, vision insurance available. Parking is at 0.9% of monthly salary.
Residency Application Requirements and Procedures
Application requirements:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Successful completion of a one-year rotating internship or its equivalent
Residents are expected to obtain Illinois licensure, although it is not mandatory. Graduates from non-AVMA-accredited schools may not be able to take the licensure examination unless they have completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program.
Residencies are usually filled via the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program, which posts deadlines for receipt of completed applications on its website.
Information for Foreign Applicants
Participants must be a citizen of the US, Canada, or Mexico, a US permanent resident (i.e. holding a “green card”), or other foreign national with employment authorization from US Citizenship and Immigration Services valid for and during the program’s period of proposed training without our provision of assistance, support or sponsorship in obtaining employment authorization.
After formal notification of acceptance into the residency program, successful residency applicants who do not yet have a MS or PhD degree will need to apply to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduate College for admission to the MS degree program.
Internship Program
Internships are non-degree certificate programs that provide guidance in the in-depth management of clinical cases. Internships fulfill the requirements for eligibility to apply for clinical specialty residency programs.
Small animal rotating internships are 12 ½ month appointments. Required rotations include emergency service, internal medicine, soft tissue & orthopedic surgery, cardiology, neurology, anesthesia, and zoological medicine. Interns will also have exposure to diagnostic imaging and clinical pathology. Additional available rotations include oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry, rehabilitation, shelter medicine, and primary care.
Large animal rotating internships are 12 ½ month appointments. Interns will share assignments in equine surgical, equine medical and equine primary care service
Specialty internships are 1-year appointments that usually require completion of a rotating internship or practice equivalent. Areas include: Dermatology, Equine Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and Zoological Medicine.
Availability of these internships vary. To view current internship opportunities, please visit www.virmp.org.
All interns work under the supervision of senior staff members, are responsible for some of the daily services of the hospital and provide emergency services on a rotating basis. Interns also share some
teaching responsibilities in the form of intern seminars, rounds, and clinical instructions to senior students and will be required to prepare a manuscript (e.g., a case report).
- Rotating Internships appointments are June 16th – June 30th
- Specialty Internships appointments are July 16th – July 15th
- The University of Illinois classifies interns as University employees. Employees and their eligible dependents qualify for University benefits. Malpractice coverage is provided under the U of I blanket plan for service provided to university clients only. Thirteen paid sick days per year (non-cumulative), 10 paid vacation days per year (non-cumulative), health, dental, vision insurance available. Parking is at 0.9% of monthly salary.
Internship Application Requirements and Procedures
Application requirements:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association or senior year status in a DVM program at an AVMA-accredited school
- Licensure to practice veterinary medicine in a state or Canadian province by the start of the internship program. Licensure in Illinois is encouraged. Internships are usually filled via the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program, which posts deadlines for receipt of completed applications on its website.
Information for Foreign Applicants
Participants must be a citizen of the US, Canada, or Mexico, a US permanent resident (i.e. holding a “green card”), or other foreign national with employment authorization from US Citizenship and Immigration Services valid for and during the program’s period of proposed training without our provision of assistance, support or sponsorship in obtaining employment authorization.
The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.