The survey has been sent to 984 veterinary surgeons who graduated from one of the UK's eight veterinary schools in 2020.

Results to help inform future policy on graduate support

A new survey has been launched which aims to assess the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on recent graduates in the veterinary field.

The survey – developed by the RCVS and the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) – has been sent to 984 veterinary surgeons who graduated from one of the UK's eight veterinary schools in 2020.

RCVS director of education Dr Linda Prescott-Clements said: “We know that the coronavirus pandemic has had a disruptive impact on the final stages of education for the 2020 cohort, in terms of clinical placements for extra-mural studies as well as teaching.

“This survey aims to gauge whether this has, in turn, had a deleterious impact on their confidence with both clinical and non-clinical skills as well as their resilience, for example, in asking for help and support from colleagues, managing their time effectively, and managing complex and stressful situations.”

The survey will also gauge the pandemic's impact on employment for veterinary graduates, as some anecdotal reports have suggested a change to employment prospects across 2020.

“We are mindful that the pandemic is having a significant impact on all students and we are keen to understand how best we can support them moving forward,” Dr Prescott-Clements continued.

“I would strongly encourage those graduates who have received the survey, which should only take around ten minutes to complete, to take part, because the results will help the RCVS and the VSC inform future policies on how we can better support veterinary graduates in 2021 and subsequent years.”

The deadline for completing the survey is Wednesday 16 December 2020. All responses will remain anonymous.

Any graduates who have not received the survey or require further information can contact the RCVS Education Department at education@rcvs.org.uk