Information about why I choose to study in Budapest
UCD is the only university in Ireland to offer Veterinary Medicine and there are only 5 places allocated to mature students. Generally these places go to students already qualified in a scientific field and the faculty indicated to me during a preliminary meeting that my background and academic qualifications were not suitable.
My next option was the UK where there are 280 places for mature students. I got offered places in Liverpool & Edinburgh, but the fees are €25,000 per year for 5 years.
Budapest was my only other option. The Szent Istvan University offers a Veterinary Medicine Degree in English which is fully accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London. This states which Universities hold full accreditation, whereby students whom qualify are registered as Veterinary Surgeons and therefore eligible to practice throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe Australia & New Zealand. An extra board exam however is need by all the stated RCVS Universities to practice in the United States.
This can be seen at:
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/templates/internal.asp?nodeid=92537
If you have the above qualification and you are national of an EU or EEA member state (including Switzerland) then you are eligible to register under the Registration of EU and EAA agreement.
If you are not a national of an EU or EEA member state you will be required to take the Statutory Membership Exam .
The main attraction is that the fees are substantially lower than in the UK at €14,020 per year for five years. Budapest is now a popular an alternative to UCD and there are currently over 80 Irish students enrolled in the programme.
Whilst it is not as readily recognised as UCD and the UK universities, I could not ignore that it is almost €15,000 cheaper per year to go to Budapest. However, the fees are still by no means insubstantial.
I hope this has explained my decision to go to Budapest. As you have probably realised by now, I am not fussed where I learn to become a vet, as long as I CAN become a vet!
Please also see article in the Irish Times in relation to Irish sudents studying in Budapest.