Veterinary education

Veterinary education in Sweden

Sweden trains about 100 veterinarians every year, at the veterinary programme at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU. The education lasts 5.5 years and provides broad skills in veterinary medicine and biology, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in various forms of veterinary activities.  You need a veterinary degree in order to work as a qualified veterinary practitioner.

Veterinary education within the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway

Veterinary education in EU countries is regulated by an EU Directive. This Directive lays down guidelines for the education and also recognizes equivalent titles from other EU countries and from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, that is the EEA countries. This ensures that the various countries offer education of similar quality, which allows free movement of veterinarians within the EEA countries.  

Specialist competence for veterinarians

A veterinarian needs to fulfil special requirements if he or she is to be allowed to claim special skills within a certain branch of veterinary medicine.

Specialists are currently trained in diseases that afflict dogs, cats, horses, bovine animals, and pigs. It is also possible to get specialist education within food hygiene.

You apply for specialist education by completing a certain form that you can obtain from the Swedish Society of Veterinary Medicine (SVS) and submitting it to them.

Specialist education is to be carried out at an education facility approved by the Board of Agriculture and by an instructor approved by the SVS. Specialist education comprises both basic and special training. When you have completed your education you will be examined by an examiner appointed by the SVS.

You can find details about various forms of specialist education in the right-hand column. However, this information is only available in Swedish.