Brooksby College Alumna Excels in Veterinary Medicine Degree
Friday 9th January 2026
Nat Clarke, Brooksby College alumna who graduated in summer 2025, is excelling in her Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree at Harper and Keele University.
Completing her Level 3 Animal Management course at Brooksby in 2025 with D*D*D*, 19 year old Nat has since commenced her studies at University, following her passion to achieve her dream career as a veterinarian.
Nat has now completed her first term at Harper and Keele, stating: ‘My first term has been hectic and challenging but honestly so much fun alongside some lovely likeminded friends. We've focused on anatomy of the dog and cat including some fascinating dissections and histology, as well as the management systems of domestic species, with livestock handling and some insightful offsite trips.
“I'm particularly enjoying our behaviour and welfare lectures and really appreciate the focus the Vet School places on shaping us into well-rounded, ethical and compassionate professionals. I'm so glad that I have persevered to this stage and so excited for the next 5 years and beyond, perhaps one day working in welfare or with exotic species.”
When reflecting on her previous studies at Brooksby College, Nat said: “When I started my course at Brooksby, I wasn’t sure I’d ever make it onto my dream degree, especially with the health challenges I was facing. But once I told my lecturers I was serious about becoming a vet, they couldn’t have been more supportive and encouraging. They supported me to learn at my own pace, through my more difficult moments as an autistic and disabled student, and always gave constructive feedback and advice for how I could improve further. I’m so glad I chose Brooksby because of how well prepared I now feel for higher education and work.
“The opportunities that Brooksby provided to gain hands-on experience with the various onsite animals, as well as through industry work experience, were hugely valuable and so much fun. My placements in a rescue centre and small animal veterinary practice also helped me to develop my passion for the veterinary field.
“An extra bonus for me was getting involved with the marketing team to help out on open days. Developing my transferable work skills, such as communicating with members of the public and working in a team, made me feel much more prepared to begin my training as a vet. If you get involved as much as you can, Brooksby’s practical courses will give you a huge advantage in terms of your ability to apply your knowledge, and develop confidence in your own skills, to be ready for whatever comes next, whether that’s further training or straight into work.”
Brooksby College, part of Loughborough College Group, is a specialist Land-based college with a rich history of offering high-quality education across the Agricultural, Animal Management, Equine and Land Management industries. With continuous investment across the campus, including an £18million Agri-tech development due to open in Autumn 2026, there’s never been a better time to study at Brooksby College.
