The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, as a public higher education institution, fulfils its mission in the system of higher education institutions in accordance with the Act No. 131/2002 of the Code on higher education and on the change and supplement to some acts. It is the only institution of its kind providing undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary education in the Slovak Republic.

The main mission of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice is to provide higher undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary education on the basis of creative scientific research in the field of veterinary science and pharmacy.

Veterinary medicine in the European Union belongs among 5 so-called regulated professions and the study must meet the EU regulations. On the basis of evaluation by the Education Committee of European Association Establishments for Veterinary Education, the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice was put on the EAEVE List and it was stated that the study programmes “General veterinary medicine” and “Food hygiene” comply with the requirements of EU Directive 2005/36/ES (previously Directives 78/1026/EEC and 78/1027/EEC).

The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice provides education within the framework of the study programme General Veterinary Medicine in English language in two different courses:

1. 6-year study.Applicants who graduated from general secondary school are admitted to the 1st year of this 6- year course on the basis of results of their respective entrance examination. They complete their study after successful passing of prescribed state exams and defense of diploma thesis in the 6th year of study, on the basis of which they are awarded the title DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine).

2. Post-bachelor study.Admission to this form of study is subject to successful completion of the Ist level of higher education of relevant orientation, i.e. bachelor study, for example bachelor of veterinary science, bachelor of life sciences, on the basis of which the applicants are awarded the title bachelor by the university which provided the 3- year bachelor education.

University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice provides education of the third level in 16 accredited study programmes for full-time and external postgraduate students, with the standard length of study 4 and 5 years (8 and 10 semesters).

During the study the profile of general veterinary medicine study branch graduate is aimed mostly at specific activities in the field of state administration, as a private veterinary doctor, in the field of laboratory practice, private sphere of agriculture, food industry, pharmacy, in education, scientific and research sphere and in environmental protection.

The study priority is obtaining theoretical and practical knowledge of specific clinical subjects according to animal species and from the point of view of internal, infectious, invasive diseases and toxic and metabolic disorders and impairment of organism by radiation and other unfavorable effects of the environment.

The graduate should have thorough knowledge about diseases common to both man and animals. This way they can contribute to protection of human health and lower incidence of zoonoses in human population.

The study course includes also food hygiene subjects. It enables the graduate to perform the state inspection in food production hygiene and control the state border protection from veterinary and hygiene aspects.

The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice has the following centres for the practical teaching:

• The Ridding Club where equestrianism is taught. (Both theoretical and practical lessons). Practical exercises related to the training and diseases of horses take place in the riding area, which holds racing horses. Of particular interest are the vaulting and dressage groups.
• The Aqua-Terra Club is situated in a separate part of the residence halls. This club is for students interested in the rearing of reptiles and aquarium fish. It is attractive and often visited by junior-school students.
• The Cynological Club is divided into two parts: guardian dogs training (obedience training, tracking, defence) and hunting dogs training. Students can train their dogs in the cynological club area. The number of people activities is rising rapidly every year.
• The Flora Club members deal with plant growing. The club is situated at the residence halls.