International Students | College of Veterinary Medicine

DVM Program

UTCVM welcomes applicants for admission from the United States and all other countries. Please visit our Admissions Page for listed admissions criteria and other information. Language requirements and other international student requirements can be found on the UTK Graduate School Website.

Please take a look at the UTCVM Admission Guide below.

Download the UTCVM Admissions Guide

Externships

Are you a US Citizen? Learn more about the externship information for Domestic Students.

International Student Externs

UTCVM welcomes any DVM student in their clinical year to apply for an externship experience in one or more of our clinical rotations. We accept external students for clinical rotations from May to December each year.

Use this International Externship Student Request Form to submit a request for a clinical externship experience. Please thoroughly read through our FAQ and the information below before submitting your request.

Immigration Updates: Please visit the UTK CGE’s Immigration Updates page with updated information about entry into the US from certain countries. All other updates pertaining to travel for student externs will be posted here if any critical regulations or restrictions are posted.

What type of visa should I use?

If you are a citizen of a participating country, you should use the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) and ESTA. All other applicants should apply for B-1/B-2 business / tourism visa.

Do you have on-campus housing available for visiting students?

No, there are no accommodations available for externs. Visiting students will be responsible for finding their own housing and transportation.

Can I apply for clinical experience if I am in the PAVE Program or taking the NAVLE?

No, externships are offered to clinical year DVM students only. If you are a foreign postgraduate DVM practitioner, you are not eligible to apply for clinical experience at UTCVM.

Applicants should be DVM students in their clinical year of study. Students must be in good academic standing at their home institution.
- We cannot accept current DVM practitioners or others requesting clinical experience for continuing education purposes. This is an experience offered to clinical year DVM students only.
- We are not accepting evaluated clinical experience (ECE) applicants for the PAVE Program or foreign applicants taking the NAVLE at this time.
Applicants should submit an initial request form as early as possible; no less than 2 months in advance of the requested dates.
All applicants regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English.
All applicants must be able to provide proof of health insurance and rabies vaccination.
All international DVM students will be expected to complete the same rotation responsibilities as UTCVM students.

Fees: Visiting international students will be charged a fee based on the length of their externship period. Payment will be accepted through an online portal via Credit Card ONLY.
- 4 Weeks or less (2 rotation periods): $200 USD
- More than 4 Weeks (12 weeks maximum): $400 USD
Students will be solely responsible for all housing, food, transportation, personal materials, and other expenses during their stay.

Students accepted for an externship will be contacted throughout the application process to complete necessary paperwork and will be asked to provide all necessary documents.
Visa Information: International externship students should apply for a B-1 / B-2 business / tourism visa to cover their short-term visit. You can find information about the B-1 / B-2 visa here.
Waiver Program (VWP): Citizens of participating countries may also travel to the US using a valid Electronic System for Travel authorization (ESTA). You can find requirements and additional information about the VWP here.
Housing & Transportation: Visitors will ultimately be responsible for finding their own living and transportation accommodations. Be sure to book living arrangements in advance in preparation for your visit to UTCVM. See the document below to find additional information and resources.
- Housing and Transportation Resources

Clinical Information

Clinical rotations for visiting students interested in small animal (dog and cat) medicine and surgery will be available based on the number of spaces remaining after UT students have been placed on service.
Each rotation lasts two weeks in duration.
Rotations begin at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays and will finish two weeks later.
- Internal Medicine offers 4-week rotations.
The extern will be graded, if requested by the visitor’s home institution. The extern must request to be graded before the start of the rotation and should provide the forms needed for grading. Students must schedule arrival to attend the beginning of each clerkship rotation and day-1 orientation.
We prefer that externs schedule visits for the full length of the clinical rotation in which they want to rotate.
Externs are expected to participate in evening and weekend emergency and on-call activities.
All other services share in the evening and weekend emergency services.

For more information about SACS rotations, please contact our Clinical Placement Coordinator, Ashley Dalton, at adalto20@utk.edu.

Clinical rotations for visiting students interested in equine medicine, equine surgery and performance/rehabilitation, equine podiatry, and farm animal medicine and surgery will be available based on the number of spaces remaining after UT students have been placed on the service.
Each rotation lasts two weeks in duration.
Rotations begin at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays and will finish two weeks later.
- Large Animal Emergency and Critical Care is an overnight rotation.
The extern will be graded, if requested by the visitor’s home institution. The extern must request to be graded before the start of the rotation and should provide the forms needed for grading. Students must schedule arrival to attend the beginning of each clerkship rotation and day-1 orientation.
We prefer that externs schedule visits for the full length of the clinical rotation in which they want to rotate.
Externs are expected to participate in evening and weekend emergency and on-call activities.

For more information about LACS rotations, please contact our Clinical Placement Coordinator, Ashley Dalton, at adalto20@utk.edu.

Contact

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us to receive more information about completing an externship at UTCVM as an international student.

Abby Nicole Herrell

Admin Assistant, Outreach & Global Engag, Veterinary Medicine Administration

865-974-3597

cvmoge@utk.edu