School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow Facts for Kids

The School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine is part of the University of Glasgow in Scotland. It is one of only nine special schools in the United Kingdom where you can study to become a vet. This school teaches students about animal health and how to care for animals.

The school started a long time ago, in 1862. It was first called the Glasgow Veterinary College. Later, in 1949, it became part of the University of Glasgow. It is known as one of the best vet schools. In 2015, it was ranked seventh in the world for veterinary medicine.

How the Vet School Started
- Early Beginnings in Glasgow
- Becoming a Royal College
Where the School Is Now
- Garscube Estate Facilities
- Cochno Estate for Research
What You Can Study
- Veterinary Degrees Offered
Famous People from the School
- Notable Alumni
- Notable Staff

How the Vet School Started

Early Beginnings in Glasgow

In 1859, a smart veterinarian named James McCall moved to Glasgow. He had been a professor at a vet college in Edinburgh. In Glasgow, he started his own animal practice. He also began giving informal lessons about how to treat animals.

By 1862, these lessons became more formal. McCall's practice moved to a bigger place. It was a set of stables on Parliamentary Road. This was the start of the official college.

Becoming a Royal College

In 1863, the college received a special permission called a royal warrant. This meant it was officially recognized as the Glasgow Veterinary College. Students who studied there could then take exams to become certified vets. The first student graduated in 1865.

This college was the second vet school in Scotland. The first was the Dick School in Edinburgh, where James McCall himself had studied. In 1873, the Glasgow college moved again to even larger buildings. Finally, in 1949, it joined the University of Glasgow. The current main vet school building was built in 1970.

Where the School Is Now

Garscube Estate Facilities

Today, the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine is located at the Garscube Estate. This estate is in Bearsden, just outside Glasgow. The university bought this land in 1948.

The Garscube Estate has many important facilities for the vet school. It has a farm where students can learn about farm animals. There is also a hospital for small animals, like cats and dogs. Plus, there is a special hospital for horses. The estate also has the James Herriot Library. This library is named after Alf Wight, a famous author and vet who studied at this school.

Cochno Estate for Research

The school also uses facilities at the Cochno Estate. The university bought this estate in 1954. It started as about 220 acres, including woodlands. Now, it is a large 850-acre area. It includes a farm and Cochno House. This estate is used for business and research related to veterinary medicine.

What You Can Study

Veterinary Degrees Offered

The school offers a special degree called the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS). This degree helps students become qualified veterinarians. It is a very respected degree.

This BVMS program is one of only six in Europe that is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This means if you get this degree, you can work as a vet in America. It is also automatically recognized by the South African Veterinary Council. This shows how high the quality of education is at this school.

Famous People from the School

Notable Alumni

Many talented people have studied at this vet school. Here are a few:

Laura Muir: A vet surgeon who is also an Olympic athlete in running.
James Herriot: His real name was Alf Wight. He was a vet and wrote many popular books about his experiences with animals.
Manda Scott: A writer who also studied veterinary medicine.
Eddie Straiton: Known as "the TV Vet," he was a vet, author, and TV presenter.
David Taylor: Known as "The Zoo Vet," he founded a special group for zoo vets and was also an author and TV presenter.

Notable Staff

The school has also had amazing teachers and researchers:

Sir James Whyte Black: A Nobel Prize winner who taught at the vet school in the 1950s.
Professor Andrea Nolan: She was the first woman to be the dean (head) of a British vet school.

School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow facts for kids

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