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With data now coming in from this year’s round of recipients, IVC Evidensia are proud to have supported over 100 vet students in accessing their dream EMS placement, without needing to worry about financial limitations.
The scheme was set up to break down barriers for vet students and to enable access to the best possible EMS placement for their career goals. Offering financial support to empower vet students with more choices when deciding where to go for their EMS placement.
The topic of ensuring fair access to EMS placements has been widely discussed across the veterinary sector, with concerns raised by many that students must not be placed at a disadvantage in their careers because of personal circumstances.
IVC Evidensia is committed to developing the next generation of skilled and experienced veterinary surgeons. In addition to supporting clinical development while on placement in practices across the UK, this bursary program removes financial barriers that prevent vet students from following their dreams and gaining the experience they should be able to access.
Released in three stages across the year to allow for multiple application deadlines, this year’s bursary programme ensured vet students had every opportunity to apply and access this additional support.
IVC Evidensia’s Director of Veterinary Professional Development, Gayle Hallowell shared why increasing fair access to EMS placements is so important:
“We want to ensure that all students are not limited financially and can go and spend time somewhere that they deem important to their clinical development, be that at a farm practice that does lots of beef work, or to experience life as an exotic vet and everything in between.
We view EMS as incredibly important, both for veterinary student development, but also to ensure that they can experience the supportive environments offered by our teams at IVC Evidensia. Many of our EMS students return to work at their EMS practices when they qualify, because they know the quality of support and development they will receive there.”
Previous bursary recipient Sharna Walker found the fund helped her focus on her studies, and allowed her to prioritise the development of her clinical skills:
“It’s a great tool to relieve pressure. Vet students are already under a lot of pressure just from our studies alone, as well as travelling to placements, taking time away from work etc. – so the bursary really eases that burden and allows you to fully focus.
I feel much more confident in my skills and am more prepared and ready to handle anything that comes my way - including emergencies. I feel able to perform under pressure and have increased my familiarity with surgical procedures. It’s been a really valuable experience.”
Funding for next round of EMS bursary applicants
IVC Evidensia has committed a continued investment of £250,000 for the next round of EMS student bursaries. Providing valuable experience and financial support for the vets of tomorrow, applications for the next round of EMS placement bursaries will open soon.
• Applications will be open to all veterinary students in the UK undertaking clinical EMS from third to final year.
• Students must be undertaking EMS in an IVC Evidensia practice or Vets Now emergency clinic or hospital, and have either already arranged or be in the process of confirming the placement.
• Those demonstrating financial hardship will be prioritised.
• Bursaries will be released in three stages during 2024: the end of February, at the end of April and at the end of June.
• This will allow for multiple application deadlines and ensure students have every opportunity to apply
Applying is easy and can be done via the IVC Evidensia website: www.ivcevidensia.co.uk/ems-bursary. For any further questions please contact: employerbrandteam@ivcevidensia.com