Emma's fund for veterinary school

My name is Emma Bergès, I am a 21-year-old French student and I need your help to fund the remaining 3 years of my veterinary curriculum.

I am a graduate from McGill University (Canada) and in August 2015 I have been accepted into the Graduate Entry Program of the prestigious veterinary school of Edinburgh University (Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies). I have completed my first two years (in one year) and still have three to go before I can graduate. Unfortunately, the tuitions fees for GRADUATES are £29000/year (34000€) for the 4-year duration of the program. As it is a lot of money to find, I intend to take it year after year. I managed to find funds for my first year, and found solutions for the first two instalments of my second year, 
I am here trying to raise funds for MY LAST INSTALMENT OF THE YEAR. I need £7250 (8500€) that I owe ON THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY 2017.

I am also looking for funding for my last two years, and I need to find £58,000 (66,000€). 

- My background

I have always wanted to be a wildlife veterinarian, but after obtaining my French Baccalauréat in 2012, I had to put aside French vet schools for several reasons. First, none of the schools integrated the wildlife specialization in their course. Second, none had accreditations that would allow me to work outside of Europe. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is accredited in North America which will come in handy to work in conservation.

Furthermore, I did not apply to UK vet schools right after my Baccalauréat because I lacked the necessary animal/veterinary experience.

Therefore, I decided to study Environmental Biology at McGill University with a specialization in Wildlife Biology, in order to further my understanding of the principles and mechanisms that shape ecosystems, species and resources, as well as to reinforce my case for Anglophone vet schools. Passionate about animal welfare, I conducted a research project as part of my Honours Thesis on the evolution of this concept in scientific research to try and elucidate its correlation with public concern.

During my summers, I interned at zoos, vet clinics and volunteered at an elephant conservation camp all of which to reinforce my experience in conservation and vet medicine.

During my last year of study in McGill, I applied and got accepted into the Graduate Entry Program of Edinburgh University’s veterinary school. Despite a lack of financial guarantee, I decided to go forth with the program, because my family and friends convinced me to not let finances prevent me from accomplishing my dream.



- My financial situation

As a French student, there are practically no options to fund a degree abroad, and since I am a graduate studying in a second undergraduate curriculum there are very few bursaries/scholarships (and I applied to the few I was eligible for). I was able to take a non-renewable student loan from a French bank which almost covered my first year, and found a very generous sponsor that paid for the remaining fees. My father is deceased and my mother has to take care of two young children and is therefore unable to help me in my studies. I have therefore no choice but to look for sponsors that would agree to fund my studies, and as this route also appeared to be fruitess, I decided to crowdfund as a last resort.



- Why fund my studies?

After I graduate, I intend to dedicate my career to the protection of endangered species and the preservation of biodiversity. Besides the obvious passion for animals, I have come to recognize the crucial importance of biodiversity as a fundamental necessity for the survival of humankind. It worries me that so few politicians and businessmen have pushed for true action to be conducted in regards to the protection of our biodiversity, given the predicted demographic pressure and its equivalent strain on resources.

NOW IS THE TIME to support our workforce dedicated to protect our environment.

I have seen how the actions of veterinarians, both in the field and in an urban setting, fit into successful conservation programs. I have the ambition to graduate from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, because they are at the forefront of veterinary education and research (research institute having successfully cloned the 1st mammal, a sheep named Dolly), and combined with my ecological background, it will give me all the tools necessary to have a leading voice in debates surrounding the protection and management of wildlife as well as the ecosystems in which they reside, for the long term benefit of humankind.

Please help in any way you can by making a donation towards my goal to become a wildlife vet and protect our biodiversity ! Receiving any portion of this amount would be a blessing! I will be forever grateful for any help you can give.

Thank you for helping make this dream a reality!