Top Universities for Veterinary Science in 2021

The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 features 50 of the top higher education institutions to study veterinary science, with two new entries this year. 

The QS University Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here. 

Read on to learn more about the best veterinary science schools in each region. Alternatively, if you would like to explore the veterinary science schools in further detail, click here to view the full table. 

Top universities for veterinary science in the US and Canada 

There are a total of 20 veterinary science universities in North America this year: 17 in the United States and three in Canada.  

In 2021, the US’ University of California, Davis (UCD) is overtaken by the UK’s Royal Veterinary College, University of London, with UCD falling to second place. UCD has shaped the field of veterinary medicine, developing veterinary treatments and making key discoveries related to animal, human and environmental health. The school is investing US$500million in its new UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center. 

The US has two new entries in the index this year: Kansas State University (48th) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (50th).  

Canada’s highest-ranking university for veterinary science, University of Guelph, places in fifth and earns near perfect scores in the H-index and research citations per paper indicators. Researchers at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary School conduct research to improve the health and well-being of animals, humans and ecosystems. Their research focuses on a wide range of topics, from cancer biology to infectious diseases to reproduction biology.  

Canada’s other two universities, University of Calgary and Université de Montréal place in 37th and 42nd respectively.   

Top universities for veterinary science in Europe 

There is a total of 22 European universities featured in this year’s veterinary science rankings.  

Eight of Europe’s best veterinary schools are found in the United Kingdom, including four in the global top 10. Amongst these is the world’s best university to study veterinary science, Royal Veterinary College, University of London: the largest and longest-established veterinary school in the English-speaking world. It earns a perfect score for academic reputation this year. 

Outside of the top ten, other UK universities performing well this year include the University of Bristol (13th) and University of Liverpool (joint 21st). 

The Netherlands, Germany and Spain each have two entries in this year’s veterinary school rankings. The Netherlands’ Wageningen University places in 17th, rising two positions this year, whilst Utrecht University falls 36 places to joint 40th.  

Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Belgium and Austria each have only a single veterinary school entering the rankings this year. Of these, Denmark’s University of Copenhagan and Switzerland’s Vetsuisse Faculty Bern and Zurich are the top two universities, both ranking in joint seventh. Belgium’s University of Ghent follows close behind in 12th. 

Top universities for veterinary science in Australia and New Zealand 

Australia has four universities in the subject ranking for veterinary science this year. The University of Sydney is the top-ranked veterinary science school, falling four places this year to 16th place. Other notable universities include the University of Melbourne (18th), The University of Queensland (UQ, rising two places to joint 26th) and the University of Adelaide (49th). 

New Zealand only has one entry in this year’s ranking: Massey University, in joint 28th after rising nine positions this year. Massey University earns a high score in the research citations per paper indicator, reflecting the quality of the research produced by the institution’s faculty. 

Top universities for veterinary science in Asia 

Asia is home to two ranked veterinary science schools. Japan’s University of Tokyo places in joint 29th, rising an incredible 14 positions in the rankings. The University of Tokyo’s veterinary medicine courses cover a wide range of life sciences including medicine for animals and biology of mammals and higher vertebrates.  

Asia’s other entry, South Korea’s Seoul National University (SNU), places in 45th. 

Top universities for veterinary science in Latin America 

Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is Latin America’s sole entry this year. USP climbs eight places this year to 40th, earning its highest score in the employer reputation index.