Student Perceptions of Preparation and Competency Development During Extramural Clinical Rotations in Germany: An Online Survey

Extramural clinical rotations (ECR) are an integral part of veterinary education in Germany and give students the opportunity to practice and deepen their knowledge and skills. In this study, students from all five veterinary schools in Germany who completed their practical year between the years of 2022 and 2025 were surveyed online regarding their perceived preparedness, their evaluation of teaching during ECR, and what aspects were relevant to them when choosing ECR. Data records of 386 students were analyzed. Being assigned a direct supervisor and feedback meetings were among the five most important aspects for students when choosing their ECR, underlining the importance of a clear structure and constructive feedback for successful learning. More than half of the students reported feeling insufficiently prepared, both theoretically and practically, for surgery. Although the students already passed their propaedeutics exams years before, only 46% of respondents stated having felt (very) well prepared in terms of propaedeutics knowledge going into their ECR, 59% felt (very) well prepared in terms of performing general examinations (routine clinical examinations) and 20% in terms of specific examinations (e.g., neurological or rectal examinations). Meanwhile, 75% of students rated the quality of practical teaching during their ECR positively. However, in some areas—such as specific examinations and diagnostic imaging—there was still room for improvement. Overall, the results suggest that ECR are generally perceived positively. Concerning the feeling of mostly insufficient preparation, further studies are needed to elaborate whether teaching should focus more on practical skills.