Extra Mural Studies (EMS) – information for providers

EMS is a compulsory element of all veterinary degree programmes taught in the UK, mandated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Thank you for helping and supporting our students with their EMS. 

Students undertake placements in real workplace settings at various stages throughout their studies. They must complete a specified number of animal husbandry placements before progressing to clinical placements as they advance. In total students must complete a specified number of placements in each category.

Year One, Year Two and GEP (Graduate Entry Programme) 

Students focus on Animal Husbandry EMS (AHEMS). They have learned the basic principles so placements are an opportunity to gain real-world experience and improve their husbandry, handling and knowledge. 

Please ensure students have adequate direction and supervision at all times. At this stage of the degree students should not be expected to learn or perform veterinary clinical techniques.  

Suggested skills to be gained during AHEMS:

  • Animal handling and moving animals safely 
  • Assisting with husbandry tasks, eg. milking, grooming, mucking out, feeding 
  • Assisting with front desk tasks, eg. client bookings 
  • Identifying breeds, estimating weights and ages of animals 
  • Learning about how the business runs and the annual cycle of events 
  • Assisting with lambing or calving, if trained/suitably competent 
  • Visiting livestock markets 

In these years, students have the following topics as part of their degree: 

  • Anatomy, physiology, basic sciences 
  • Animal Life and Food Safety – including basic elements of safe animal handling and an awareness of food production and animal care industries 
  • Professional skills – including communication skills, professional behaviour and simple animal care tasks 

Year Three and Year Four 

In line with the vet school curriculum, students have a growing knowledge of clinical practice and now focus on Clinical EMS (CEMS). While observation is very helpful in some contexts, the expectation of CEMS is that students should get involved with all aspects of the case, proportionately to their level of training and competence. 

Students should always have adequate direction and supervision.  

Suggested skills to be gained during CEMS – Year Three students:  

  • Performing basic physical examinations 
  • Assisting nursing staff with morning theatre checks 
  • Helping to clip/prep patients for theatre 
  • Basic inpatient care on wards – similar to level of animal care assistant 
  • Assisting with client evenings, puppy parties etc 
  • Observing consultations and surgeries 
  • Assisting with anaesthetic monitoring of stable patients 
  • Simple front desk queries, eg. appointment bookings 
  • Assisting with stocking up/stock checks 
  • Administering medication 
  • Assisting with basic diagnostic procedures, eg. blood sampling, setting up for x-rays, blood pressure monitoring 
  • Setting up fluids 

Suggested skills to be gained during CEMS – Year Four students:

  • Performing a physical examination 
  • Practising consultation with an owner, where appropriate 
  • Scrubbing into theatre 
  • Performing simple surgical skills, with direct and continuous supervision and if suitably competent, eg. suturing/closing, assisting with cat castrations or lump removals, dental procedures 
  • Suggesting treatment plans (pre-checked by a vet!) 
  • More complex in-patient care, eg. management of drains/tubes, intensive care nursing, management of CRIs 
  • Performing simple diagnostic tests, where appropriate eg. pregnancy check on ultrasound, setting up for x-ray and comment on findings, blood sampling with the interpretation of results 

In these years, students have the following topics as part of their degree: 

  • Clinical conditions of common species – including history taking, patient handling, examination, diagnostics and treatment 
  • Pathology and Veterinary Public Health 
  • Theatre practice, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia and basic surgical skills 
  • Professional and clinical skills – including communication, professional behaviour and veterinary clinical tasks 

Year Five 

Students are in final year. They are close to graduating and joining the profession but skill levels can vary.   

They should achieve RCVS Day One competencies by the February of their final year (the end of their core rotations), but please assess each individual’s capability before entrusting them with tasks. 

Please ensure students always have adequate direction and supervision.


Day One 

Ask the student for: 

  • Name, university name and year of study – to make sure it’s who you are expecting! 
  • Level of experience/exposure to the work 
  • Emergency contact details 
  • Relevant health information, eg. allergies 
  • Learning outcomes/goals for the placement – discuss to make sure they are suitable 

Make note of: 

  • University contact details, so you can contact us easily if required 
  • Out-of-office-hours contact details  

Let the student know: 

  • Who their supervisor is 
  • Where to find toilets and handwashing facilities 
  • Where to keep their belongings 
  • Location of break rooms/where they can eat  
  • Daily routine or timetable 
  • Fire procedures 
  • First aid procedures, where the first aid box is and who the first aider is 
  • Any relevant health and safety information specific to the tasks students will be doing

During placement 

Please check in regularly with students. You should review the student’s progress towards their learning goals and make any adjustments required. 

If you have any concerns, please let us know. 

Final day 

  • Complete the student's Certificate of Attendance with as much detail as possible and return to us
  • Closing chat – discuss progress and, if possible, help plan learning goals for future placements

Q: What do I do if the student does not turn up, or leaves without notice? 

A:  Contact the EMS team as soon as possible. 

Q: What do I do if a student becomes unwell, is injured or has an accident while on placement? 

A: Seek medical advice if required and inform the EMS team as soon as possible. 

Make sure any statutory reporting obligations are fulfilled. Students have been advised what to do in this situation and have a protocol to follow, please encourage students to speak to us if they have any concerns regarding their ability to complete their EMS. Students should not be working unless fit to do so.  

Please record the details on the student's certificate of attendance so it reflects the time on placement and your feedback for them. 

Q: What do I do if a student’s skills do not meet my expectations? 

A: Student skill levels are variable and they can pick up new information/skills at different speeds. We advise that you speak to the student, so they are aware of your concern and make sure any tasks that you delegate are appropriate, understood and have been clearly demonstrated. Please check the Overview section and refer to the stage of learning they are at and ensure they have appropriate supervision. 

If you are still concerned or you think the student is unsafe, please inform the EMS team so we can discuss your concerns. 

We appreciate your help in supporting our students to learn and grow. 

Q: What do I do if I have concerns about a student’s behaviour? 

A: Firstly, speak to the student. Make them aware of your concerns, outline the issue and how you feel it could be addressed, as this may not be obvious to them.  

If you remain concerned, please inform the EMS team so we can discuss the matter and provide the appropriate support to all parties.  

Please record the details on the student's certificate of attendance so it reflects the time on placement and your feedback for them. 

Q: Can I ask a student to leave? 

A: Yes. If possible we encourage you to discuss your concerns with the student before they go and check they have travel plans in place.  

Please inform the EMS team so we are aware of the situation. We are keen to discuss the matter and provide the appropriate support to all parties.  

Please record the details on the student's certificate of attendance so it reflects the time on placement and your feedback for them. 

Q: What should I do if a student asks to terminate the placement early? 

A: We expect students to fulfil placements, however there may be times when this is not possible. Students should communicate appropriately with you and, where possible, we expect them to complete their shift before leaving.  

Please inform the EMS team so we are aware of the situation. 

Please record the details on the student's certificate of attendance so it reflects the time on placement and your feedback for them.


During office hours:

Email: ems2admin@ed.ac.uk  

Telephone: 0131 651 7300, and ask for the EMS admin team 

Office hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday-Friday, except between Christmas and New Year when the School is closed.  

In an emergency outside office hours, or during the Christmas break: 

Telephone: 0131 650 2257 for University of Edinburgh Security

You can also find useful information online on the support in a crisis page.


Useful links

Certificate of Attendance (27.29 KB / DOCX)
Conduct during EMS (19.32 KB / DOCX)

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