A Federal Law of 1899 required veterinarians to have the same preparatory training as physicians. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the first such university faculty in the world, was added to the University in 1900. The opportunity to earn a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine in Berne produced a flood of candidates, most of who came from outside Switzerland. Today the most important task of the Faculty is the education of future veterinarians, who receive a broad education in preparation for their profession, which focuses on the clinical study of diseased animals. This cannot be achieved without modern, well-functioning clinics.
Research also means keeping up with the latest developments in biomedical technology.
In order to solve future problems, the Faculty is trying to reform its curriculum and to work closer with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Z rich.