Hospital Externship Program

The extern programme has been running since we opened purpose built, on site residential accommodation for visiting students and vets in 2008. The extern scheme caters for final year veterinary students, who wish to focus their veterinary studies on equine surgery and medicine.  Our externs work alongside the established intern programme and will be given responsibilities for in-patient care under the supervision of our clinicians and interns. Externs are invited to spend two weeks with us for any one booking.

  • We can accommodate up to 3 externs at once and expect everyone to participate in the out of hours rota at the hospital alongside our interns
  • Accommodation is provided on the hospital premises in the form of individual bed-sits, each with its own bathroom and kitchen facilities. We provide bed linen, but not towels and a charge (currently £75 per week) is made to cover costs.
  • No pets or smoking are allowed on site.
  • What to bring: Work wear should be suitable for stable yard situations, i.e. appropriate for the season to include waterproofs and clean protective clothing, such as coveralls. Scrubs and clogs are provided for wearing in theatre. Respectable jeans are allowed. Sensible protective shoes must be worn at all times and trainers are not permitted
  • All students are asked to bring their college name badges to be worn at all times whilst working here. If you do not have one please ask the secretaries to provide you with a badge on arrival.

We have specific links with certain universities who sent their final year students to Bell Equine as part of their equine clinical training, these students have priorty over booking. The programme has become very popular and the waiting list can be long as these opportunities are a very beneficial part of equine veterinary training. 

If you would like to apply for an externship, please contact WorkExperience@bellequine.com from December the year before you would like to book, giving a list of the dates that you are available. Your application should be supported by one referee who should be a veterinary surgeon and we would ask that this reference is sent with your application, together with two up to date photographs.