Your guide to extra-mural studies (EMS)

Ready to experience the reality of working with animals? Extra-mural studies (EMS) is where your veterinary degree comes alive. These work placements give you the chance to step out of the lecture hall and into the real world of veterinary medicine.

Why are Extra-mural Studies so important?

These placements will give you the chance to experience work across the different areas of veterinary work. You might find yourself:

Handling species of all types
Watching real surgeries and treatments
Talking to pet owners
Seeing how vet practices run behind the scenes
Working within different animal industries
Learning about animal welfare
Exploring areas your university might not cover

A day in the life of EMS placement students

Tara and Zoe are on an EMS placement at an equine horse charity. From mucking out to using a weigh bridge, find out how they boost their skills and knowledge while gaining hands-on experience with horses.

What's the difference between IMR and EMS?

Intramural rotations (IMR) are organised by your university. They're part of your official curriculum, with structured teaching and assessment.

EMS is different - you find and arrange these yourself, often during your holidays. There's no formal teaching or assessment - you're there to observe, learn, and actively participate in practical, hands-on work, gaining insight into the realities of day-to-day veterinary life.

EMS is your chance to see how your studies translate into the real world, and an opportunity to build on everything you've learned during the IMR lectures.

Types of EMS

The two types of EMS that you’ll need to complete as part of your studies are:

Animal Husbandry EMS (AHEMS)

During the early years of your degree, this experience will help you to get comfortable with handling animals in professional settings. You could be working at a:

Farm - learning different livestock behaviour and management techniques
Horse yards and stables - getting confident around horses
Kennel or catteries - understanding how boarding facilities work
Wildlife or rescue centre - seeing how wild and rescued animals are cared for
Vet practice - observing consultations and getting familiar with the environment
Zoos or wildlife park - learning about the care of exotic species

Clinical EMS

You’ll participate in these placements in the final years of study, once you've got more knowledge under your belt. Now you’ll really start applying what you've learned into real situations, such as:

Vet practices - the cornerstone of vet work
Animal welfare charities - seeing vet work with a different purpose
Zoos and wildlife centres - working with more unusual species
Government facilities - understanding veterinary regulations
Abattoirs - learning about food safety and animal welfare in food production

Professional EMS

While this one's optional, it’s worth considering if you're interested in the non-clinical side of veterinary work, such as:

Veterinary organisations - understanding how the profession is regulated
Research labs - seeing how veterinary diagnostics work
Public health organisations - learning about the bigger picture of animal and human health

How many weeks do you need?

This depends on when you started your degree.

If you started after August 2024:

You need 30 weeks total:

10 weeks of AHEMS (animal handling experience)
20 weeks of clinical EMS

Good news - there are no specific species requirements, so you can focus on what interests you most.

If you started before August 2024:

You need 38 weeks total:

12 weeks of AHEMS
26 weeks of clinical EMS

You'll need at least one week of AHEMS in each of these areas:

Equine (horses, ponies, donkeys)
Production animals (farm animals like cattle, sheep, pigs)
Small animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, and other pets)

The bottom line

EMS isn't just a requirement - it's your chance to explore different areas of vet work, figure out what you love (and what you don't), make connections in the industry, and build confidence before you graduate.

You’ll learn something new in every placement, and you may be surprised how much you gain from further practical experience, simply observing and asking questions. It also looks great on your CV when you're applying for jobs after graduation.

Ready to get started? Make the most of these great opportunities by arranging a chat with your EMS coordinator or tutor about your options - they're there to help you.