The School was ranked first in the UK in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 – Veterinary Sciences,[1] second in the UK by the QS World University Rankings 2023 for Veterinary Science,[2] first in the UK for the sixth year running by the Guardian League Table 2022,[3] and second in the UK for the second year running by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide ranking for Veterinary Medicine.[4]
History
Originally called the Highland Society's Veterinary School,[5] Edinburgh, the Dick Vet, as it came to be known, was established by William Dick, a former student of the anatomist John Barclay of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.[6] The first regular classes at the school were begun in November 1823,[7] although lectures to small groups of students had been provided for four years prior to this date. That first session of regular classes was financed by student fees and a grant from the Highland Society of Scotland at Edinburgh,[8] of which John Barclay was a director. Mary Dick, William's elder sister, was reputed to have been instrumental, from the early days, in the administration of the school.
Clyde Street
In 1833, William Dick, who was by then a successful veterinary practitioner and teacher, paid for construction of purpose-built accommodation near the site of his father's forge in a Clyde Street courtyard. William lived adjacent at 15 Clyde Street.[9] (Today Multrees Walk is approximately where Clyde Street was.[10]) This was the base for the school until it moved to its next site at Summerhall in 1916. In 1839, his school officially became a college and William Dick was given the title professor. By the time of Dick's death in 1866, the over 2000 students he had taught were to be found throughout the world. Among them were the founders of veterinary schools in Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United States.[citation needed] On his death, Dick bequeathed his college in trust to the Burgh Council of Edinburgh.
It was officially named Dick's Veterinary College following a request made by his sister, in 1873, in response to a crisis caused by the establishment of the rival New Veterinary College set up by alumnus and former Principal William Williams. Williams had taken with him the majority of the students, and the library. The two schools existed amicably within 100m of one another in Edinburgh's New Town until 1904, when the Williams' school moved to Liverpool, England, forming the basis of the University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Science. The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1906.[citation needed]
Summerhall
University of Edinburgh (Royal (Dick) Veterinary College) Order Confirmation Act 1951
An Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936[a] relating to the University of Edinburgh (Royal (Dick) Veterinary College).
Orlando Charnock Bradley was principal of the Dick Vet when it moved in 1916 to the south side of Edinburgh, to another purpose-designed building, at Summerhall.[11]
On 10 May 1951 the college was reconstituted as The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,[12] and officially became part of the University of Edinburgh, and became a full Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1964. Reorganisation of the university in 2002 resulted in the abolishment of Faculties, and the Dick Vet once again became The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, one of the four Schools within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Main Building, Easter Bush Campus
In 2009, Scottish Television filmed a five-part documentary at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.[13] Some of the cases shown on the documentary follow a wild swan needing an endoscopy, a horse in emergency colic surgery, a skunk being neutered, a chameleon with an eye infection, and the removal of a tumour near a cat's heart.[14]
William Dick Building
The William Dick Building, was opened for teaching in September 2011 by Anne, Princess Royal[15] and sits on the Easter Bush Campus. It contains purpose-built facilities for veterinary teaching, including a clinical skills laboratory, anatomy facilities and two lecture theatres. It holds a canteen which is open to staff, students and the general public. The Scottish figurative sculptor Andy Scott (sculptor) created the original artwork Canter for the facility's opening.[16]
National Avian Research Facility
In September 2013, the National Avian Research Facility was opened on the Easter Bush campus[17] in partnership with the Pirbright Institute. NARF's mission is to improve the productivity, health and welfare of poultry through research on host-pathogen interactions, avian genetics, development and physiology using state-of-the-art technologies.
Charnock Bradley Building
The Charnock Bradley Building is a hub for the Easter Bush Campus, providing a home for the Roslin Innovation Centre, Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre (EBSOC) and the Easter Bush Gym. Opened in May 2018[18] by the Princess Royal the building contains office and laboratory space. Located in front of the building sits Canter a sculpture by Andy Scot, who is best known for The Kelpies. it was unveiled in May 2018 at the same time as the building opened[19] and the 15ft steel statue of a horse's head forms the centrepiece of the entrance plaza.
Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre
The Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre (EBSOC) was opened on 1 May 2018[20] by the Princess Royal. EBSOC is a purpose-built teaching laboratory, which offers interactive curriculum linked learning experiences for school pupils and community groups.
People
Notable alumni
Joseph Henry Carter (1857–1930), President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1920
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