Large Animal Medicine Dept, University of Georgia

Additional information about the internship program

Interns will have primary case responsibility for first-opinion and emergency cases. As their clinical skills improve, they will continue to take the lead on cases, with faculty providing appropriate supervision and support.

Interns will serve as the primary doctor for performing entry-level procedures. They are expected to become proficient and comfortable with foundational clinical skills such as medication administration, joint injections, and basic diagnostic imaging (e.g., ultrasound and radiography), under appropriate supervision.

Interns will gain exposure to common field surgeries, including dental extractions, laceration repairs, castrations, enucleations, and cesarean sections in ruminants. Participation will be progressive based on skill development and faculty supervision.

Interns will hold primary case care responsibility for complex cases, working under the direct supervision of faculty. The level of supervision will be tailored to the complexity of the case and the intern’s demonstrated competency.

Interns are directly supervised the majority of the time, with increasing independence as clinical judgment and skills progress.
Patient rounds occur on a continual basis, with case discussions taking place in real time as patients are seen in the field (truck rounds) and as cases progress. This ongoing dialogue supports clinical learning and collaborative case management.

Fees and Cost
The Internship salary for 2027-2028 is $48,058. Interns will also receive access to approximately $1000 in professional funds to use on CE, conferences, etc.
Interns and Residents are considered part of the UGA Graduate School and will be required to register for classes, pay tuition, and pay student fees. While graduate school tuition rates can range from $5,172 to $15,912, our Interns and Residents receive a tuition waiver, making their tuition $25 a semester ($75 a year).
Current student fees, including parking, are approximately $1022 a year.
UGA pays 60% of Internship and Resident insurance premiums, meaning the student pays the remaining 40% of the premium. For example, for Fall 2026, the health insurance premium is $1317.00 but with a 60% waiver, the student pays the remaining 40%, which is $526.80. The estimated insurance cost to the student is $1256.80 for the year. Domestic students can apply to waive insurance coverage but the UGA insurance is required for international students.
If you’re an international student, you are also subject to the International Scholar Compliance fee, which is $83 a semester.

Fee breakdown:

Health insurance $ 1,256.80 [Fall 2026 ($526.80) and Spring/Summer 2027 ($730)]
Technology fee $ 304.00 [Fall 2026/Spring 27 ($114 per semester) and Summer 2027**estimate ($76)]
Green fee $ 8.00 [Fall 2026/Spring 27 ($3 per semester) and Summer 2027 ($2)]
Connect fee $ 80.00 [Fall 2026/Spring 27 ($30 per semester) and Summer 2027 ($20)]
Parking $ 300.00 [Average $100/per semester]
Transportation Fee $ 330.00 [Fall 2026/Spring 27 ($125 per semester) and Summer 2027**estimate ($85)]
Tuition $ 75.00 [$25/per semester with waiver]
International Scholar Compliance Fee $ 246.00 [$82/per semester]

TOTAL $ 2,599.80
**Summer 2027 estimate based off Summer 2026 amount; official 2027 amount not released yet.

For all applicants:

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals as well as people. The college benefits pets and their owners, food-producing animals, and wildlife by offering the highest quality hospital and diagnostic laboratory services. Equipped with the most technologically advanced facilities located on a university campus, the college is dedicated to safeguarding public health by studying emerging infectious diseases that affect both animal and human health.

The College of Veterinary Medicine values all members of the university community, recognizing that differences in experience and culture can only lead to a more well-rounded, accepting academic environment as embodied in our Principles of Community.

The successful candidate will be licensed to practice by a faculty license. This license, obtained without examination, permits veterinarians from non-AVMA-accredited veterinary schools to practice within UGA programs only. Whereas the regular Georgia state veterinary license requires graduation from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school or successful completion of the ECVFG program, this is not a requirement for the faculty license. Professional liability insurance is provided only for work performed as a UGA resident. If the resident desires to work outside of UGA and the residency program, it is the resident’s responsibility to acquire professional liability insurance.

Proof of medical insurance coverage and proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, tetanus, hepatitis B, and rabies are required. Health insurance is required and is the financial responsibility of the individual. Medical insurance is available through the Graduate School at a reasonable rate but may be waived if the resident provides proof of alternative acceptable medical insurance. Medical insurance through the Graduate School will be available beginning August 1, 2027.

If accepted, applicants are required to provide two official/certified copies of their academic records from each institution of higher education that the applicant has attended. These records must include all course work. Photocopies are not acceptable. Separate proof of degrees is also required.

Subject to budgetary constraints, residents will have access to funds which can be used to help subsidize payment for ACVIM certification, credentials, and exam fees. Residents receive 10 days of vacation leave for every 12 months of training and 12 days of sick leave. Residents for each specialty, along with working faculty, cover service responsibilities during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break. Leave does not carry forward from year to year. Vacation and sick leave will renew on July 1 each year.

The residency is a non-degree graduate program, leading to an official University certificate of completion. A one-time graduate school application fee of $75 ($100 for international students) , as well as tuition and student fees, are the responsibility of the individual selected for the program. Student services are accessible once the fall semester begins. Residents must pay parking fees (approximately $300/year) that can be payroll deducted (monthly or yearly).

The University of Georgia classifies residents as graduate students; thus, for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, residents are not considered to be full-time employees. This makes the residency years at the University of Georgia ineligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Please consider this information if you desire to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness or other loan repayment programs.

International Applicants

International candidates must consider application processing times well ahead of the program start date.

When applying to the UGA Graduate School, international applicants must provide two official/certified copies of their academic records from each institution of higher education that the applicant has attended. These records must include all coursework. Photocopies are not acceptable. Separate proof of degrees is also required. If the original language of the academic record is not English, a certified English translation must be attached to the original. Applicants who graduated from a non-English language veterinary school must submit official TOEFL scores (see http://www.toefl.org for details). These scores must not be more than two years old. Foreign applicants who have completed a year of academic study in the US can provide a university transcript instead of TOEFL scores. A valid US driving license is required. International applicants must arrive three weeks before the residency start date to obtain a social security number, veterinary licensure, and driving license.

International students matching to our program must participate in a mandatory health insurance program provided by the University of Georgia (find information at: https://hr.uga.edu/students/Mandatory_Plan/student_mandatory_plan_home/). Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, chicken pox, hepatitis, and rabies is required.

More detailed information for international candidates is available through the Office of Global Engagement (https://globalengagement.uga.edu). Offers to international applicants are contingent upon successful application for the appropriate visa.

Additional Information

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability or veteran status in its programs or activities.

Athens, Georgia captures the true essence of a college town, with its focus being the university's approximately 43,146 students. It is a friendly place that blends the small town feel with many of the amenities offered by Atlanta, which is only 65 miles away. Athens has a vibrant cultural and music scene, being home to R.E.M. & Wide Spread Panic among others. The weather is relatively mild most of the year, although during July & August, the heat and humidity are very apparent.

For more information on Athens, GA, visit: http://www.visitathensga.com/

Please refer to the following website, which includes answers to the most frequently asked questions and additional information about our program: https://vet.uga.edu/education/intern-residency-programs/large-animal-intern-residency-programs/

Please email for further information on this program or refer to the Department’s website
https://vet.uga.edu/education/academic-departments/large-animal-medicine/