This study sought to identify and to evaluate triggering factors of stress in graduate students of different areas of Veterinary Medicine. Sixty six students from the FMVZ/Unesp-Botucatu and from the FCAV/ Unesp-Jaboticabal were interviewed. Data were analyzed using distributions of absolute and percentile numbers. The symptoms most referred to were anxiety, irritability, anguish, discouragement, and concentration difficulty. The implementation and write-up of an experimental project and/or the process of obtaining a scholarship or financial resources were considered to be the most stressful factors. Disagreement with some organizational aspects of graduate study was observed, but, on the other hand, the degree of professional satisfaction was high. Based on these findings, it is possible to conclude that the main stress factors associated with graduate study are organizational and not related to personal, professional or academic aspects.