The veterinary school of the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute is the first veterinary school to be part of the private higher education system in France. It completes the range of French veterinary education, which until now has consisted of only 4 National Veterinary Schools, commonly known as ENVs.

In order to obtain the authorization to teach and train veterinarians (Order of March 4, 2022 relating to the provisional approval of the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute to deliver a certificate of fundamental veterinary studies and to organize a year of deepening reserved for the holders of this certificate, the validation of which makes it possible to reach the State diploma of veterinary doctor), The UniLaSalle veterinary school is obliged to comply with all of the highly selective, qualitative and restrictive criteria of the AEEEV (European Association of Veterinary Teaching Establishments), the CNOV (National Council of the Order of Veterinarians) and the HCERES (High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) by virtue of articles R. 813-70-2 et seq. of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, which it is required to respect.

The UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute is a private school under contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

UniLaSalle has been labeled EESPIG (Private Higher Education Institution of General Interest) since July 7, 2016. This label awarded by the State guarantees that UniLaSalle:

• Participates in the public service missions of higher education ;   
• Is a not-for-profit establishment with independent management;   
• Is periodically evaluated by a national body;   
• Clearly identifies the training courses leading to diplomas conferring a degree approved by the State.

Semi-distributed clinical training is an innovative scheme, unique in France and already widely tested in Great Britain.

In concrete terms, the clinical training of veterinary school students is enriched

• both through the clinical rotations followed within the UniLaSalle CHEV   
• and within the semi-distributed system. The latter is articulated around privileged partners whose objective is to :       
  • diversify the pool of healthy animals (farms, shelters, animal communities, animal parks, dispensaries) for the propaedeutic years of study (1st to 3rd year),       
  • diversify experiences by approaching all species,       
  • training in different clinical practices (hospital, referral, generalist, ambulatory, prophylaxis).

For the clinical rotations, a specific and strict schedule of conditions between the veterinary school and the clinics of the semi-distributed system defines the partnership so that the clinical training is entirely managed by UniLaSalle, through the Institute's teachers.

Therefore, the portion of the training conducted outside of the school's physical premises is provided and supervised by UniLaSalle veterinary school personnel and is not outsourced in any way.

The clinical experience within the CHEV and within the partner clinics will be similar, with a very high level of requirement and excellence, based on evidence-based medicine in order to respect the AEEEV standards on teaching (including the training of teachers in clinical teaching), infrastructures, the quality system, biosafety, respect for the fitness to practice charter, taking care of clients, learning to work in a team, learning ethics, learning to practice clinical practice, and evaluation of skills.

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) was developed by the European Union to facilitate the comparison of study programs within the same country or between different European countries, and thus the mobility of students from one European institution to another.

In concrete terms, it consists of assigning points (ECTS credits) to all the teaching units (EUs) in a course of study.

The teaching provided by the UniLaSalle veterinary school follows this system and is divided into teaching units with ECTS credits to be validated in order to access the next year.

UniLaSalle veterinary training does not include a preparatory class in its curriculum; it requires 6 years of study to obtain the State Diploma of Veterinary Doctor.

Veterinary studies last 6 years: 5 years to acquire the "first day skills" of the veterinary profession, registered in the national referential and validated by the obtaining of the Certificate of Fundamental Veterinary Studies; and a year of deepening which also makes it possible to carry out a thesis of veterinary practice necessary to obtain the Diploma of Veterinary Doctor.  

Even if UniLaSalle has a predisposition for the rural environment, its veterinary school will deliver a final diploma with the same recognition as that of the ENVs and presenting multiple outlets not restricted to the agricultural environment. This is a legal obligation since the veterinary profession is regulated and veterinary training is also regulated: it must include all common species. Moreover, the shortage of veterinarians is present in all branches of the profession.

However, it should be noted that at the end of the 5th year Certificate of Fundamental Veterinary Studies, among the professional fields of the advanced year defined by the decree of December 3, 2020 relating to veterinary studies, UniLaSalle has chosen to offer only the 3 advanced sectors:

• production animal sector or mixed production animal/companion animal sector   
• research sector,   
• business sector, in particular agri-food and health safety.

These are in line with the Institute's sector of anchorage and with its concern to value rural/mixed practice, while delivering to students a state diploma enabling them to work in a wide range of activities.

The choice of the theme and subject of the veterinary practice thesis is entirely free.

The choice of the area of study in the 6th year is free among the three professional fields proposed by the UniLaSalle veterinary school and defined by the decree of 3 December 2020 relating to veterinary studies:

• production animal sector or mixed production animal/companion animal sector   
• research sector,   
• business sector, in particular agri-food and health safety.

The entire curriculum has been designed and built to diversify the student's experience with animals while facilitating "hands-on learning", by having a number of cases (healthy or sick animals) required for each student, as required by the AEEEV standards.  

From the first year, the UniLaSalle veterinary student is trained in veterinary practice by integrating the charter of aptitude to practice. The first year therefore includes sessions with animals on UniLaSalle educational farms, in semi-distributed clinics, as well as on farms and farms (cattle, poultry, pigs, fish farming, beekeeping, etc.), stud farms, shelters, animal communities, museums, etc. .... These visits and internships are all supports for the teaching of zootechnics, ethnology and ethology in particular.

From a practical point of view, the objectives of the 1st year are

• to know how to deal with and contain pets, NACs, equines and production animals;   
• to know how to "read" an animal, i.e. to know how to observe and notice clinical anomalies (for example: to identify a lameness without diagnosing its location or causes);   
• to know how to define and recognize a healthy animal, to know the daily care and the environment necessary for its well-being;   
• know how to apply the basics of protection of the clinician against risks related to the veterinary practice and   
• approach the profession and practice in a responsible and ethical manner (fitness to practice).

Also, respecting the philosophy of 'never the first time on the animal', students are put in a stimulating, scripted and realistic situation with adapted simulation methods: on a physical model, digital with or without tactile feedback, 360° videos, immersive virtual reality, interactive video with decision tree, augmented reality.

More than 75% of the 5th year is spent in the clinic.

Finally, students must complete 36 weeks of internship throughout the curriculum and one full semester abroad is mandatory.

The CHEV is the Hospital Center of the UniLaSalle Veterinary School. It will be built in September 2025 on the Rouen campus.

The CHEV (veterinary school hospital) will be built in 2024. Until then, we will not have any animals in our facilities.

The UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute, on which the UniLaSalle veterinary school depends, is under contract with both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

In order to obtain the authorization to teach and train veterinarians (Order of March 4, 2022 relating to the provisional approval of the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute to deliver a certificate of fundamental veterinary studies and to organize a year of deepening reserved for the holders of this certificate, the validation of which makes it possible to reach the State diploma of veterinary doctor), The UniLaSalle veterinary school is obliged to comply with all of the highly selective, qualitative and restrictive criteria of the AEEEV (European Association of Veterinary Teaching Establishments), the CNOV (National Council of the Order of Veterinarians) and the HCERES (High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) by virtue of articles R. 813-70-2 et seq. of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, which it is required to respect.

At the end of the 5th year, the UniLaSalle veterinary school student will obtain a Certificate of Fundamental Veterinary Studies (CFEV) and the ENV student will obtain a Diploma of Fundamental Veterinary Studies (DEFV). These 2 diplomas are equivalent and give access to the same possibilities. They do not have the same title because one is from private higher education (CEFV) and the other is public (DEFV).

On the other hand, at the end of the defense of their thesis, the students coming from the private higher education of general interest as those coming from the public education, will obtain the same State diploma of Veterinary Doctor.

The first 5 years of study are sanctioned by the Certificate of Fundamental Veterinary Studies (CEFV). A final year of further study leads to the defense of a thesis in front of a jury constituted by the University of Rouen-Normandy, at the end of which the student obtains the State diploma of veterinary doctor, a national diploma identical to that delivered to students of the ENV, which allows the practice of medicine and surgery of animals in France and in the European Union.

Eligibility requirements

Students :

• French nationals,   
• in their final year of high school, not repeating a year,   
• from the general (including agricultural high schools) and STAV streams,   
• in a high school in France or abroad,

will be able to apply.

According to current regulations (Decree no. 2020-1520 of December 3, 2020 on veterinary education), nationals of a member state of the European Union or a party to the agreement on the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation may also be recruited (Art. R. 812-53).

It will not be possible to admit students with one year of higher education in the first year; this is a constraint of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code (CRPM).

Students in their final year of high school can apply during the Parcoursup application process, online only, between January and March of each year.

This is a direct post-baccalaureate admission to the first year, subject to passing the entrance exam and obtaining the baccalauréat.

To move up to the next year, you must have validated all the ECTS of the current year. Repeating a year is only allowed in exceptional cases and is limited to one repeat between the first and third years and one repeat between the fourth and sixth years. In the event of repetition, the rules of study that apply are those of the new class. There is no problem with repeating a discipline because the teaching is entirely based on modules and skills.

If the results are insufficient to allow the student to continue the training under good conditions, he/she is excluded. The ECTS accumulated and validated can however be transformed into equivalents in another training.

The other causes for exclusion are disciplinary: fraud, breach of the charter of aptitude to practice, unacceptable conduct, etc. Generally speaking, within UniLaSalle, the disciplinary council of each establishment imposes sanctions in an educational context on all reprehensible behaviour observed.

There is no obligation regarding the specialties chosen in high school, only recommendations aimed at facilitating the follow-up of veterinary courses.

Thus, it is recommended to choose :

• in Première: SVT or biology-ecology + physics-chemistry + mathematics specialties   
• in Terminale : SVT or biology-ecology + physics-chemistry specialties + complementary math option.

It is not compulsory to have done an internship to enter the UniLaSalle Veterinary School.

On the other hand, internships are recommended because they allow the student to have had a first contact with the veterinary profession or with animals in general. They thus contribute to the professional discernment of the student applicant, especially if the experience has been diversified.

It is quite relevant to do an internship in the veterinary sector or in a farm/animal breeding operation during the compulsory observation internship in the 9th grade; some high schools also include internships during the first year of high school.

Particular attention is paid to the perception of the veterinary profession by the candidates and to their good visibility of the diversity of the profession: the informed motivation of the student applicant is a key point. The approach to the veterinary profession must be realistic and not idealized; it must include its different components (for example, very few veterinarians are at the bedside of dolphins or eagles).

UniLaSalle's veterinary school is also broadening its recruitment by opening a few places in the competitive examination to students in the STAV post-baccalaureate streams. Five places are reserved for this stream at the opening of the school; our wish is to gradually increase this number.

Finally, UniLaSalle is determined to improve the social and territorial diversity of the vet classes and to identify students who would not have had the chance or the means to express their full potential during their secondary school curriculum.

1st year access

Students can only apply via Parcoursup.

You'll need to fill in the application form with your marks from your Première and Terminale, then attach the "fiche avenir" provided by the lycée.

Finally, you must pay the registration fee.

2nd year access

Only students who meet the prerequisites can apply.

Students apply via a link on the UniLaSalle website, in the ADMISSION section.

Complete the online application form and submit the required documents.

Finally, the registration fee must be paid.

A registration fee of 150 € (80 € for scholarship students) must be paid online when submitting the application in order to validate the application.

The Parcoursup platform specifies each step.

These registration fees cover the costs and expenses related to the organization of the competition on the Institute's premises (reception, jury, materials, etc.).

The candidate can apply both to the UniLaSalle veterinary school and to the common post-baccalaureate competition of the ENV on Parcoursup.

The rule of applying to a veterinary school no more than twice applies only to the public ENV system.

All the information is given on PARCOURSUP (steps and calendar).

1. The student registers and adds his or her wish on Parcousup until March 29, 2022 included.   
2. He/she finalizes his/her file and validates his/her wish by submitting his/her registration file for the UniLaSalle veterinary training program, between March 30 and April 7, 2022 inclusive.

The school will obtain from Parcoursup the files of each of the applicants in the following days; they will be studied and classified on the basis of the academic results, the assessments provided by the high school and in accordance with the criteria for examining the wishes.

The jury will determine the list of eligible candidates who will be contacted by e-mail; they will receive their invitation in April. The test sessions will take place from April 25 to May 6, 2022 inclusive.

A high academic level is expected, based on the grades of the first and last year's specialties, as well as excellent personal qualities (empathy, listening, initiative, teamwork, etc.).

However, since this is a competitive examination and a very demanding level of study, it is not possible to give a threshold of marks required for the academic file: only the best files, including the motivation of the candidate and the recommendation of the school, will be retained for the eligibility stage.

Once admitted to the first year, there is no more entrance exam or selection during the 6 years of training. However, the student must of course validate all his or her ECTS in order to move on to the next year.

The first step is eligibility. Candidates are selected on the basis of their academic record (notably their grades in the first and last years of high school), their future file completed by the high school and their letter of motivation. Eligible candidates will receive confirmation of eligibility and an invitation to the competition.

The second stage is the competitive examination: This is the selection of candidates who are invited to take the competitive examination in person on the UniLaSalle Rouen campus. If the candidate is selected, an email will be sent directly to him/her to confirm his/her admission, subject to obtaining the baccalauréat. The classification of admitted candidates and those on the waiting list will be published only on Parcoursup.

The last step is the final admission. Those admitted must validate the school's admission proposal on Parcoursup and complete their administrative registration file online via a link sent to them by the school. 

There is no real way to prepare for the competitive exams, since they rely heavily on :

• the intellectual qualities of the candidate: agility of mind, qualities of observation, methodological skills...   
• human qualities: interpersonal skills, empathy, benevolence, ability to communicate and to invest in a project, sense of teamwork...

Particular attention will be paid to the candidates' perception of the veterinary profession, realistic and not idealized, and to their good visibility of the diversity of the profession.

You should not hesitate to ask for information on the subject, which will also allow the candidate to discern his future professional choices.

 The competition is composed of 4 tests that will take place over half a day:

• a "communication" test, which requires prior preparation; it will be sent with the invitation,   
• a "reflection and ethics" test,   
• an "observation, analysis and reasoning" test,   
• a "teamwork" test.

For the eligibility part, the jury determines the list of eligible candidates who are to be called on the basis of the academic results and in accordance with the criteria for examining the wishes of Parcoursup.

For the admission part, an evaluation grid based on objective criteria has been drawn up in parallel with each test.

The jury is composed of a veterinarian and a UniLaSalle teacher-researcher, all trained in the specific evaluation of the competition tests.

Test accommodations may be considered. For all requests for accommodations (third-party time, disability, other), on presentation of supporting documents, candidates are invited to contact: admissions.veterinaire@unilasalle.fr before April 11, 2023 inclusive.

Tuition fees are available on this page.

As an indication, for the 2023-2024 school year they amount to €13,550/year in years 1 to 3 and €18,600/year in years 4 to 6.

These tuition fees are linked to :

• the very high student-teacher ratio required by European authorities, and the high level of excellence required of our teaching staff,   
• the highly demanding veterinary infrastructures designed to receive healthy, sick, live animals and cadavers (CHEV, dissection room, autopsy room, etc.) and their maintenance/cleaning, which require costly processes to comply with bio-safety procedures in particular.

Find out more about financial aid

The 6th year students of the UniLaSalle veterinary school who hold the certificate of fundamental veterinary studies (CEFV) of the establishment may, outside of their compulsory school attendance, assist a veterinarian, i.e. practice animal medicine and surgery, as an employee of a veterinarian, and under his or her authority, on the animals usually cared for by the latter, under the conditions provided for by the regulations.

There are two university restaurants managed by the CROUS in the immediate vicinity of the Rouen campus, which students can walk to.

In addition to the veterinary school, the UniLaSalle campus in Rouen is already home to approximately 500 students (post-baccalaureate to baccalaureate+5) with a very rich and varied community life. Numerous interactions, on the same campus, will be organized to encourage common associative activities.

All students currently studying on the UniLaSalle Rouen campus will of course be able to continue and complete their training.

The arrival of the veterinary training is an addition to the existing training, it does not replace the training already in place. Eventually, the agronomy and agriculture training on the Rouen campus will evolve towards the international i-Safe curriculum.