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FAQs: working and volunteering abroad

1. I’m thinking of taking time out after qualifying to travel and volunteer as a vet abroad. Would you recommend this or do you think I should get some experience in the UK first?
2. I’m a recent graduate with a few months’ experience working in a small animal practice in the UK.  I’m keen to do some travelling but am concerned that it may affect my future career.  Would spending time abroad doing voluntary work - and perhaps the odd locum job - make it difficult for me to get a job when I return? 
3. Can I undertake locum work overseas as a new graduate?
4. I’m not British but have been studying at a UK vet school. Can I still receive help and advice from the BVA when I return to my home country? And can I still be a BVA member?
5. Are there companion animal opportunities in the developing world, other than neutering?
6. I’m thinking of volunteering abroad. Is it best to go with a well established organisation?
7. Are travel grants available to students to do clinical placements abroad?
8. Are there any travel grants available to qualified vets?
9. What is the Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA)?
10. What is the World Veterinary Association (WVA)?
11. What is the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)?
12. Do I need to be a BVA member to get assistance from the BVA Overseas Group?
13. If I move to Australia or North America, can I still do continuing professional development (CPD) that counts towards my CPD hours in the UK?
14. I’d like to work with wildlife abroad. What opportunities are there, and what is the best way to get in to this field?
15. Can I do my Professional Development Phase (PDP) abroad?

Q1. I’m thinking of taking time out after qualifying to travel and volunteer as a vet abroad. Would you recommend this or do you think I should get some experience in the UK first?

A. It depends on your circumstances.  If you feel you need a break, or you are very confident of your skills, a short-term position overseas might be appropriate.  Otherwise, it might be sensible to get some general practice experience – and earn some money, out of which you might later be able to fund some overseas work.[Back to top]

Q2. I’m a recent graduate with a few months’ experience working in a small animal practice in the UK.  I’m keen to do some travelling but am concerned that it may affect my future career.  Would spending time abroad doing voluntary work - and perhaps the odd locum job - make it difficult for me to get a job when I return? 

A. It partly depends on what you want to do when you come back.  Generally speaking veterinary employers like to employ people with a broad knowledge of the world and UK practices want competent, empathic UK trained vets.  Travel is rarely held against you as long as you can show you used your time wisely and appropriately.  The only slight reservation is that sometimes employers think you may want to go off again after a few months’ work (which you may very well - it gets in the blood! - but that will be for you to deal with should it arise).

If, however, you were hoping to undertake a more specialised internship/residency then more time in practice before you leave would be prudent as such positions are very competitive and attract people with considerable knowledge and experience. [Back to top]

Q3. Can I undertake locum work overseas as a new graduate?

A. We understand that most locum agencies usually recommend two years post graduate work – but it would be best to check with the agencies direct. [Back to top]

Q4. I’m not British but have been studying at a UK vet school. Can I still receive help and advice from the BVA when I return to my home country? And can I still be a BVA member?

A. Yes. As you will have studied for a degree entitling you to membership of the RCVS, you would be eligible to become a BVA member. There are many benefits of becoming a member.  For further information on membership visit the ‘Become a Member’ pages of this website.

Much of the help and advice BVA offers is for our members only, however you could keep in touch with overseas related issues by signing up to the Overseas Association - an informally structured networking group of veterinary surgeons, students, nurses and others who have an interest in overseas veterinary-related activities (mostly in developing countries).  As well as forming a core of expertise, members provide support and advice to others. Regular newsletters and updates are circulated to members by email. [Back to top]

Q5. Are there companion animal opportunities in the developing world, other than neutering?

A. Many opportunities with companion animals in the developing world will involve neutering, either through rescue organisations and sanctuaries or trap/neuter/release programmes.  Other medical and surgical skills may be required depending on the organisation; the levels of clinical services provided by the organisation will vary according to their policy and resources. Worldwide Veterinary Service is one organisation which organises placements for vets, vet nurses and students; it also runs Animal Birth Control (ABC) courses in India.

For qualified vets, salaried veterinary positions sometimes arise for street dog population control schemes. Assistance is also occasionally requested from the UK for surgical specialists for short term work; particularly in private veterinary practices in middle income countries interested in developing their services, or through university veterinary faculties.

Opportunities also increasingly exist for qualified vets to work in zoonotic disease epidemiology, especially rabies (e.g. salaried posts for vets sometimes arise with development organisations). [Back to top]

Q6. I’m thinking of volunteering abroad. Is it best to go with a well established organisation?

A. Generally, yes, especially if you have no personal experience of your destination country.  It is wise to check out any organisation carefully and to consult volunteers who have recently worked with the organisation. For a list of organisations and charities who sometimes seek voluntary veterinary assistance, visit the Overseas pages. [Back to top]

Q7. Are travel grants available to students to do clinical placements abroad?

A. Yes. While it is true that many travel grants are offered to undertake research projects abroad, or to attend educational courses, some permit students to do clinical placements overseas. The Zebra Foundation, for example, will award grants to vet students who wish to see practice at an institution specialising in zoological medicine. Details of grants available to vet students can be found in the Overseas pages. [Back to top]

Q8. Are there any travel grants available to qualified vets?

A .Yes. Details of grants available to qualified vets can be found in the Overseas pages. They include the BVA’s Harry Steele-Bodger Memorial Travel Scholarship, the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship and the RCVS Trust Travel Scholarships.  Please also note that BVA Overseas Travel Grants are open to final year students who would normally be qualified when they undertake their project. [Back to top]

Q9. What is the Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA)?

A. The CVA is an association made up of over 50 national veterinary associations from developed and developing countries.  Most are developing countries and within the Commonwealth but several are outside the Commonwealth.  New members this year (2010) include Rwanda and Afghanistan.  It exists to promote the veterinary profession, especially within developing countries, in order to advance animal (and human) health and welfare.  Most of the CVA’s practical help in villages is organised by the CVA but delivered by the national veterinary association.  More details are on the CVA’s website. [Back to top]

Q10. What is the World Veterinary Association (WVA)?

A. The WVA is a federation of over 80 national veterinary medical associations throughout the world, established in 1863. It is the internationally recognised representative of global veterinary medicine and is committed to unifying the veterinary profession worldwide. The WVA works in the best, long-term interest of veterinarians, clients and world society and it has collaborative agreements with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The WVA promotes animal and human health and wellbeing through sustainable and humane use and management of animals, and it contributes to the protection and sustainability of the environment. For further information, please visit http://www.worldvet.org/ [Back to top]

Q11. What is the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)?

A. The WSAVA's primary purpose is to advance the quality and availability of small animal veterinary medicine and surgery.  It fosters the exchange of scientific information, both between individual veterinarians and between veterinary organisations. WSAVA is an international network of 76 member associations and affiliated organisations, representing over 70,000 veterinarians globally.  For further information, please visit www.wsava.org

Q12. Do I need to be a BVA member to get assistance from the BVA Overseas Group?

A. No. The purpose of the Overseas Group is to link the BVA and its members with veterinary associations, organisations and individuals throughout the developing world, and we therefore rely on our wider network of contacts to enable us to:

• promote animal and human welfare in the developing world,
• encourage and facilitate the provision of veterinary services in the developing world, and
• facilitate transfer of knowledge and expertise to and from the developing world.

Whether a BVA member or not, you can keep in touch with overseas-related issues by signing up to the Overseas Association - an informally structured networking group of veterinary surgeons, students, nurses and others who have an interest in overseas veterinary-related activities (mostly in developing countries).  As well as forming a core of expertise, members provide support and advice to others. Regular newsletters and updates are circulated to members by email. [Back to top]

Q13. If I move to Australia or North America, can I still do continuing professional development (CPD) that counts towards my CPD hours in the UK?

A. Yes, CPD can be done anywhere and still count. For further information on CPD, and what counts as CPD, visit the Veterinary Surgeon Education pages at http://www.rcvs.org.uk/

Q14. I’d like to work with wildlife abroad. What opportunities are there, and what is the best way to get in to this field?

A. Be prepared to volunteer, or even to pay your way.  You are in competition with young vets from many countries including, increasingly, those that come from the countries where wildlife is found.  You will stand the best chance if you can show that you already have wildlife experience and training.  If you have no such experience, acquire some while you wait for an opportunity – for example, by working with your local wildlife rehabilitation centre.  In the longer term, and at a higher level, consider doing a postgraduate qualification such as the MSc in Wild Animal Health at the Royal Veterinary College/Institute of Zoology. [Back to top]

Q15. Can I do my Professional Development Phase (PDP) abroad?

A. Yes. You just log on, on-line, as you would in the UK. For further information about PDP, please visit the Veterinary Surgeon Education pages at http://www.rcvs.org.uk/ [Back to top]

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