One in three veterinary students are in severe financial straits, more than half are suffering from stress, and over a fifth say they are depressed, according to a new poll.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned that rising graduate debt is creating mental health problems among students and said poorer students will be shut out of the profession.
The latest survey of nearly half of UK veterinary students – carried out by the BVA and the Association of Veterinary Students – found that one in every 14 of the mostly female students have an eating disorder.
Like medicine, veterinary degrees take two years longer than average undergraduate courses, and over a third of students surveyed (35%) reported difficult or severe financial problems.
Graduate debt has shot up 17% since the last survey in 2005, averaging £22,300 in 2008. Current students will leave with even more debt, as higher tuition fees were introduced in 2006. Those graduating in 2011 are expected to leave university with debts of £29,400.
Graduates can look forward to relatively high earnings, however – £30,000 a year for a new vet plus accommodation and car. Senior partners can earn more than £50,000 depending on the size of the practice.
Medics face similarly high levels of debt, on average £19,000, according to the British Medical Association.
The veterinary student population is still overwhelmingly female, with the number of women students rising 3.4% to 78.8% since 2005.
Some veterinary schools have almost doubled their intake of overseas students since 2005, the survey found. Overseas students make up 11.8% of the overall population.
Veterinary students' prospects in practice are no less gloomy.
They are four times more likely to be a suicide risk than those in other professions because they tend to be high achievers – therefore susceptible to stress – with ready access to and knowledge of the means to kill themselves.
The BVA's president, Nicky Paull, said: "Some of whatever is affecting the working vet will be mirrored in the undergraduate population. The course structure is stressful and they have to do night rotations and long hours, but we are most concerned about spiralling debt. We believe average graduate debt will be nearer £40,000 in five years' time – and that's assuming university fees stay the same."
Only those from relatively affluent backgrounds would be able to choose the veterinary profession in future, contrary to the government's aims, she warned.
"It would be sad to see such a vitally important undergraduate course become one which can only be undertaken by talented young people from families who feel they can afford to help with the long-term costs," she said.
"The veterinary undergraduate course is not only training future veterinarians on animal health and welfare, but also in the essential role vets play in food safety and the health of the nation."
