So you want to be a vet!
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Overview
 Life as a veterinarian
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Who can work as a veterinarian?
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Why become a veterinarian?
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What makes a good veterinarian?
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Areas of veterinarian work
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Where veterinarians work
Overview (cont)
 Becoming a veterinarian
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Can I become a veterinarian?
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School subjects needed
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Eligibility criteria for Vet School
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Selection criteria for Vet School
Overview (cont)
 Becoming a veterinarian (cont)
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About the BVSc degree
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Veterinary degree cost
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Life after graduation
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Related study options at Massey
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Find out more
Who can work as a veterinarian?
 By law, must be registered with the
Veterinary Council of New Zealand
 Must have a degree in veterinary
science recognised by the Veterinary
Council
 Veterinarians can also become
registered specialists with more study
Why become a veterinarian?
 It’s an awesome lifestyle
 Worthwhile contribution to society
 Highly respected and trusted profession
 High earning potential
 Broad range of work
 Travel opportunities
What makes a good veterinarian?
 Outstanding interpersonal skills
 Good analytical skills
 Common sense
 Experience with handling animals
 Realistic job expectations
Areas of veterinarian work
 Clinical practice
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Treating sick or injured animals
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Diagnosis of cause of disease
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Surgery
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Anaesthesia
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X-rays
Disease prevention
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Vaccination
Design health programmes for
farm animals
Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
 Clinical practice (cont)
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Different types of clinical practice
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Dogs and cats
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Horses
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Farm animals
 cattle
 sheep
 deer
 pigs
 poultry
 other, eg. alpacas, ostriches
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Zoo animals
Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
 Other
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Food safety
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Biosecurity
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making sure exotic animal diseases don’t get
into New Zealand
Laboratories
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overseeing production of food from animals, eg. meat
finding causes of diseases in animals
Animal health companies
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developing and marketing veterinary
medicines
Where veterinarians work
 Veterinary clinic
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companion animals (dogs and cats)
 Farm visits
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horses
dairy cattle
sheep
beef cattle
deer
pigs
poultry
Where veterinarians work (cont)
 Zoo or SPCA
 Specialist hospital or referral centre
 Government
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Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
Biosecurity New Zealand
Government veterinarians can be
based in office, food processing
plant, port, other or combination
 Animal health industry
 Laboratory
Can I become a veterinarian?
Definitely! So long as you...
 are relatively smart
 have a great work ethic
 have common sense and lots of determination
 like people as well as animals
 can communicate well
School subjects needed
 Chemistry
 Physics
 Biology
 Mathematics
 English (or English-rich subject)
Recommendation that applicants have studied at least 20 credits at NCEA Level 3 in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics and achieved a minimum of 14 credits.
Also recommended to take one mathematics subject
(either Calculus or Statistics).
English is also an important subject, but must have minimum of
NCEA Level 2 to meet University Entrance requirements.
Eligibility criteria for Vet School
 University Entrance or equivalent (info for
2011 University Entrance at http://vet-school.massey.ac.nz)
 Sit an ‘IQ type’ test called the Standard
Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT type F)
test (more info www.acer.edu.au/stat)
 Passed all four pre-selection papers of
BVSc 1 Semester 1 (or equivalent from a
NZ University)
 Complete at least 10 days veterinary
work experience
Selection criteria for Vet School
 School Leavers
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Must be eligible for selection
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Weighted grade point average counts for
80%
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Recommendation of approximately an Aaverage to have a chance of being near the
cutoff for selection.
STAT F test counts for 20%
Selection criteria for Vet School (cont)
 Graduates or part-graduates
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Must be eligible for selection
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No limit on number of times you can apply
for selection
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Two-year rule (grades obtained over last
four full-time semesters of study count
towards GPA)
Three-year rule (if an applicant has had a
break from university study for 3 years, then
only grades obtained since re-starting fulltime study are used in the GPA calculation)
STAT F test - can be carry forward result or
re-sit. If re-sit, then the new score is used;
not the highest score
About the BVSc degree
 Massey is the only NZ University offering
the bachelor of veterinary science degree
 Limited number of places and competitive
 Five-year duration
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Selection at end of first semester (preselection papers can be completed at campus
in Albany or Palmerston North)
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Professional Phase of course in Palmerston
North
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Extended final year of 40 weeks duration
About the BVSc degree (cont)
 Pre-selection (semester one) – 4 compulsory subjects
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Chemistry and living systems
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Physics for life sciences
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Biology of cells
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Biology of animals
About the BVSc degree (cont)
 Post-selection
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Normal structure, function and management (Anatomy and Physiology)
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Abnormal structure and function (Pathology)
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Causes of abnormality
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Microbiology
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Parasitology
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Toxicology
Return to normal
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Medicine
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Surgery
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Pharmacology
About the BVSc degree (cont)
 Post-selection
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Preventive medicine and enhancement of performance
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Personal wellbeing and self-care
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Veterinary professional studies
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Law
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Business
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Ethics
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Management
About the BVSc degree (cont)
 Post-selection
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Must pass all papers each year to move to the next year
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Course includes lectures, seminars, practical classes and working in the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
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Practical work
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14 weeks of practical farm work
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6 weeks of practical veterinary work
Veterinary degree cost
 University fees are approximately $9,054
for each year of BVSc degree (2010figures)
 There are other associated
course costs
 Practical work must be done which limits
earning potential during holidays
 Scholarships are available
Life after graduation
 Can sit registration exams in United States and Japan
 Graduates are automatically registerable in
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New Zealand
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Australia
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United Kingdom
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South Africa
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Papua New Guinea
Life after graduation (cont)
 Job prospects are good
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Worldwide shortage of veterinarians
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Baby boomer generation retirement
 Starting salary package – approx $55,000
 Great future earning potential (six figures +)
Related study options at Massey
 Bachelor of AgriScience
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Equine Studies
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Agriculture
 Bachelor of Science
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Animal Science
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Zoology
 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
Related study options at Massey (cont)
 Bachelor of Food Technology (Hons)
 Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
 Bachelor of Veterinary Technology
 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing
Find out more
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Veterinary school website
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Veterinary Teaching hospital
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http://vethospital.massey.ac.nz
Massey University website
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http://vet-school.massey.ac.nz
http://www.massey.ac.nz
Email vet@massey.ac.nz