How to apply for Fellowship

What assessors are looking for 

Assessors use a structured rubric that prioritises: 

• Advanced or expert-level clinical practice 

• Clear impact on improving clinical veterinary practice 

• Reach, adoption, and outcomes, not just activity 

Applicants are encouraged to focus on quality, significance, and impact rather than volume. 

Part A – Administrative details 

What this section is for: 

• This section confirms eligibility and contact information. 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Accuracy and completeness only (this section is not scored) 

Tips for applicants: 

• Ensure your MRCVS number is correct. 

• If you are reapplying, clearly and concisely explain how this application differs from previous submissions, focusing on new impact or development. 
    

Part B – Professional achievements 

Education and training 

What this section is for: 

• To provide context for your professional background and training 

• To allow for more detailed descriptions of the impact of your work in the next section, without having to list previous education and training 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Relevance of qualifications to your clinical discipline 

• Evidence of advanced or specialist training where applicable 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Postgraduate qualifications relevant to your clinical focus 

• Specialist or advanced practitioner status 

• Training that has directly influenced your clinical practice 
    

Career history and professional experience 

What this section is for: 

• To show progression, responsibility, and scope within your clinical career 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Evidence of increasing responsibility or specialisation 

• Roles that support your claim to advanced clinical practice 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Senior clinical roles 

• Development of specialist services 

• Leadership within a clinical setting 

Summary of professional achievements (up to 1,000 words) 

What this section is for: 

• To provide an integrated narrative of your clinical discipline, caseload, achievements, and impact 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Clear definition of your clinical discipline and scope of practice 

• Evidence of a substantial and sustained caseload at an advanced or expert level 

• Demonstrable impact on improving clinical practice 

• Clear explanation of your level of involvement, outputs, reach, and outcomes 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Description of your specialist or advanced caseload (for example, referral work, tertiary cases) 

• Development of new clinical services or techniques 

• Improvements to patient outcomes or standards of care 

• Leadership, mentoring, or service development activities 

Tips for applicants: 

• Focus on what changed because of your work. 

• Where possible, describe adoption beyond your own workplace. 
    

Part C – Professional contributions 

Impact on improving clinical practice (up to five examples) 

What this section is for: 

• To evidence how your work has led to tangible improvements in clinical practice 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Significance and reach of impact 

• Evidence that improvements have been adopted by others 

Examples of what you might include: 

• New clinical protocols adopted regionally or nationally 

• Guidance or tools used by multiple practices 

• Innovations leading to measurable patient benefit 

Tips for applicants: 

• Use clear before-and-after descriptions. 

• Explain who benefited and how widely. 
    

Publications and contributions to books (if applicable) 

What this section is for: 

• To provide supporting scholarly evidence relevant to clinical practice 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Relevance to clinical practice rather than academic volume 

• Evidence of uptake or influence 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Applied clinical research 

• Practice guidance or review articles 

• Chapters contributing to clinical education 

Note: Publications are supportive evidence and are not required for a strong MCCP application. 

Presentations to scientific meetings 

What this section is for: 

• To demonstrate communication of clinical expertise 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Reach and audience diversity 

• Evidence of influence on practice 

Examples of what you might include: 

• National or international conference presentations 

• Invited talks to professional groups 

• CPD with clear learning outcomes 
    

Prizes and awards 

What this section is for: 

• To recognise professional esteem 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Relevance to clinical practice or leadership 
    

Other CPD contributions 

What this section is for: 

• To capture additional educational contributions 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Online learning resources 

• Distance learning packages 

• Educational media with demonstrated reach 
    

Part D – Professional interests 

What this section is for: 

• To evidence leadership and professional contribution beyond clinical work 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Active contribution, not just membership 

• Leadership or influence within professional bodies 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Committee leadership 

• Advisory roles 

• Contributions to professional standards or policy 
    

Part E – Personal statement 

What this section is for: 

• To provide personal context and motivation 

Note: The Personal Statement is only scored in borderline scoring applications. 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Insight into your professional values 

• Understanding of the Fellowship’s role and responsibilities 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Why Fellowship matters to you 

• How you intend to contribute to the Fellowship and profession 
    

Part F – References 

What this section is for: 

• To provide external validation of your application 

Choosing referees 

• Include two references who can confirm the accuracy and integrity of your application. 

• Your chosen referees should reflect the breadth of your experience.  

• At least one referee should be an RCVS member. 

• Ideally, one of the selected referees should work in an area of practice, department, or field outside of your own.  

• A referee must be a professionally qualified person and should be able to make an informed assessment of your standing and expertise. The College reserves the right to approach any of your referees directly.  

The following people cannot act as referees: 

• Members of the Fellowship Board or Credentials Panels  

• Direct colleagues from the same department or institution  

• Relatives or partners (business or social) 

• Those with financial, social or professional conflicts of interest with you 

• Applicants for the Fellowship within the same round 

No more than one academic colleague at the same institute should provide a reference. 

Part A – Administrative details 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Accurate and complete administrative information to confirm eligibility and allow efficient processing of your application 

Tips: 

• Ensure your MRCVS number and contact details are correct and up to date. 

• If you are a re-applicant, clearly explain how this application differs from previous submissions, focusing on new achievements or strengthened evidence. 
    

Part B – Professional achievements 

Education and training 

What this section is for: 

• To provide context for your professional background and training 

• To allow for more detailed descriptions of the impact of your work in the next section, without having to list previous education and training 

What we are looking for: 

• Evidence of relevant academic and professional training underpinning your contribution to knowledge 

What to include: 

• Degrees and postgraduate qualifications relevant to your field 

• Doctoral-level qualifications where applicable, or training that supports equivalent scholarly achievement 
    

Career history and professional experience 

What we are looking for: 

• A clear career narrative that provides context for your achievements 

What to include: 

• Your current role, responsibilities, and start date 

• Previous roles that demonstrate progression, leadership, or increasing responsibility 
    

Principal publications or impacts (up to 10) 

What we are looking for: 

• Your most important original contributions to knowledge 

What to include: 

• Peer-reviewed publications or equivalent impacts 

• For each item, briefly explain your direct contribution (e.g. study design, analysis, leadership, implementation) 

• If work is unpublished due to IP or confidentiality, clearly describe the concept and your role 
    

Summary of achievements (500 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• A coherent narrative explaining how your work has advanced knowledge in the profession 

What to include: 

• A structured summary linking your publications/impacts together 

• Clear explanation of originality, leadership, and collective contribution 

• Explicit cross-referencing to your numbered publications or impacts 
    

Supervision experience (250 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• Evidence of your role in developing others through supervision 

What to include: 

• Numbers and levels of students or researchers supervised 

• Your role (primary or secondary supervisor) 

• Outcomes such as completions, publications, or career progression 
    

Mentoring experience (150 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• Evidence of mentoring beyond formal supervision 

What to include: 

• Participation in mentoring schemes or informal mentoring 

• Examples of how your mentoring has supported professional development 
    

Part C – Publications, prizes and presentations 

ORCID and publications 

What we are looking for: 

• A complete and verifiable record of your peer-reviewed outputs 

What to include: 

• A correct ORCID iD linked to your publication 

• A PDF of peer-reviewed publications listed in reverse chronological order 

• Clear contribution statements for multi-author papers where relevant 
    

Contributions to books (250 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• Scholarly contributions beyond journal articles 

What to include: 

• Book titles, chapters contributed, and extent of your contribution 

• Only accepted or published works 
    

Presentations (up to 10) 

What we are looking for: 

• Evidence of dissemination and recognition of your work 

What to include: 

• Scientific meetings and conferences 

• Whether presentations were invited, keynote, or peer-reviewed 
    

Prizes, awards, and funding 

What we are looking for: 

• Recognition of excellence and competitiveness 

What to include: 

• Awards and prizes with brief explanations 

• Research funding, your role, funding value, and project outcomes 
    

CPD and other contributions (250 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• Contribution to professional development of the wider profession 

What to include: 

• CPD activities, electronic resources, or distance learning materials 

• Your role in development and delivery 
    

Part D – Professional interests 

What we are looking for: 

• Contribution to the profession through professional bodies and networks 

What to include: 

• Membership of committees, panels, or societies 

• Roles held and how these activities advanced the subject 
    

Additional relevant experience (250 words) 

What we are looking for: 

• Any further evidence that strengthens your case 

What to include: 

• Experience not covered elsewhere that demonstrates impact or leadership 

• Avoid repetition of earlier sections 
    

Part E – Personal statement (250 words) 

What this section is for: 

• To provide personal context and motivation 

Note: The Personal Statement is only scored in borderline scoring applications. 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Insight into your professional values 

• Understanding of the Fellowship’s role and responsibilities 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Why Fellowship matters to you 

• How you intend to contribute to the Fellowship and profession 
    

Part F – References 

What this section is for: 

• To provide external validation of your application 

Choosing referees 

• Include two references who can confirm the accuracy and integrity of your application. 

• Your chosen referees should reflect the breadth of your experience.  

• At least one referee should be an RCVS member. 

• Ideally, one of the selected referees should work in an area of practice, department, or field outside of your own.  

• A referee must be a professionally qualified person and should be able to make an informed assessment of your standing and expertise. The College reserves the right to approach any of your referees directly.  

The following people cannot act as referees: 

• Members of the Fellowship Board or Credentials Panels  

• Direct colleagues from the same department or institution  

• Relatives or partners (business or social) 

• Those with financial, social or professional conflicts of interest with you 

• Applicants for the Fellowship within the same round 

No more than one academic colleague at the same institute should provide a reference. 

General principles of assessment: 

• Assessors are looking for impact, not effort alone. Wherever possible, explain what changed, who benefited, and why it mattered. 

• Evidence may sit across multiple sections. Do not worry if the same activity supports more than one criterion. 

• Be specific. Named roles, dates, scale (local/national/international), and outcomes help assessors judge your contribution. 

• Quality matters more than quantity. A small number of high-impact contributions is often stronger than long lists. 
    

Part A – Administrative details 

What this section is for: 

• This section confirms eligibility and ensures we can administer your application correctly. It is not scored. 

What to include: 

• Accurate personal and contact details 

• Your MRCVS number 

• If you have applied previously, a brief, honest explanation of how this application differs 

Tips: 

• If reapplying, focus on new evidence, progression, or impact since your last application. 

• Keep within the word limit. 
    

Part B – Professional achievements 

What this section is for: 

• To provide context for your professional background and training. 

• To allow for more detailed descriptions of the impact of your work in the next section, without having to list previous education and training. 

Education and training 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Evidence of advanced training that underpins your expertise 

• Relevance of qualifications to your contribution to the profession 

What you could include: 

• Veterinary degrees and postgraduate qualifications 

• Diplomas, certificates, fellowships, or equivalent professional training 

• Dates and fields of study 

Tips: 

• List qualifications clearly and accurately 

• Use later sections to explain how you applied this training for professional impact 
    

Career history and professional experience 

What this section is for: 

• To show progression, responsibility, and scope within your career. 

What assessors are looking for: 

• A coherent professional journey that supports your Fellowship claim 

• Roles that demonstrate increasing responsibility, influence, or specialism 

What you could include: 

• Clinical, academic, policy, industry, educational, or leadership roles 

• Roles inside and outside traditional practice, if relevant 

Tips: 

• Focus on relevance rather than completeness 

• Use your summary narrative to draw out why these roles mattered 
    

Summary of outstanding contribution (up to 1,000 words) 

What this section is for: 

• To provide an integrated narrative of your achievements and impact 

What assessors are looking for: 

• A clear, compelling account of your meritorious contribution 

• Evidence of original innovation or application, leadership, and impact 

• National and/or international influence where appropriate 

What you could include: 

• The problem or need you addressed 

• What you did that was distinctive or original 

• How your work was adopted, disseminated, or influenced others 

• Evidence of outcomes (policy change, practice change, improved understanding, uptake by others) 

Tips: 

• Structure helps (for example, challenge/action/impact). 

• Avoid CV-style lists; explain significance. 

• Make leadership explicit – do not assume it is obvious. 
    

Part C – Professional contributions 

This section provides evidence to support the claims made in Part B. 

ORCID iD 

What assessors are looking for: 

• A verified and transparent publication record 

Tips: 

• Ensure your ORCID profile is up to date and accurate. 
    

Publications or significant bodies of work (up to 10) 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Scholarly or professional outputs that have influenced the profession 

• Evidence of relevance, reach, and impact 

What you could include: 

• Peer-reviewed journal articles 

• Book chapters or authoritative reports 

• Major professional guidance or standards 

Tips: 

• Use the 1 to 2 sentence impact statement carefully. 

• Explain how the work was used, cited, adopted, or influenced practice. 
    

Key presentations (up to 10) 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Effective dissemination of knowledge 

• Scale and audience of influence 

What you could include: 

• Scientific congress presentations 

• Invited lectures 

• Policy or stakeholder briefings 

Tips: 

• Clearly state whether events were local, national, or international. 

• Describe outcomes (for example, follow-up activity, adoption, policy discussion). 
    

Other CPD contributions (up to 10) 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Broader educational influence beyond publications and conferences 

What you could include: 

• Online learning resources 

• Distance learning packages 

• Blogs, podcasts, or digital tools with professional uptake 

Tips: 

• Focus on reach and sustained use, not just creation 
    

Part D – Professional interests 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Leadership, influence, and contribution through professional bodies 

• Active engagement rather than nominal membership 

What you could include: 

• Committee or council roles 

• Advisory panels or grant bodies 

• Editorial boards or working groups 

Tips: 

• Explain what you did, not just what you joined. 

• Highlight outcomes or changes you helped achieve. 
    

Part E – Personal statement 

What this section is for: 

• To provide personal context and motivation.  

Note: The Personal Statement is only scored in borderline scoring applications. 

What assessors are looking for: 

• Insight into your professional values 

• Understanding of the Fellowship’s role and responsibilities 

Examples of what you might include: 

• Why Fellowship matters to you 

• How you intend to contribute to the Fellowship and profession 
    

Part F – References 

What this section is for: 

• To provide external validation of your application. 

Choosing referees 

• Include two references who can confirm the accuracy and integrity of your application. 

• Your chosen referees should reflect the breadth of your experience.  

• At least one referee should be an RCVS member. 

• Ideally, one of the selected referees should work in an area of practice, department, or field outside of your own.  

• A referee must be a professionally qualified person and should be able to make an informed assessment of your standing and expertise. The College reserves the right to approach any of your referees directly.  

The following people cannot act as referees: 

• Members of the Fellowship Board or Credentials Panels  

• Direct colleagues from the same department or institution  

• Relatives or partners (business or social) 

• Those with financial, social or professional conflicts of interest with you 

• Applicants for the Fellowship within the same round 

No more than one academic colleague at the same institute should provide a reference.