1. So you want to be a vet! Bachelor of Veterinary Science

2. Overview Life as a veterinarian Who can work as a veterinarian?
Why become a veterinarian?
What makes a good veterinarian?
Areas of veterinarian work
Where veterinarians work

3. Overview (cont) Becoming a veterinarian Can I become a veterinarian?
School subjects needed
Eligibility criteria for Vet School
Selection criteria for Vet School

4. Overview (cont) Becoming a veterinarian (cont) About the BVSc degree
Veterinary degree cost
Life after graduation
Related study options at Massey
Find out more

5. 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

6. 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

7. What makes a good veterinarian?
Outstanding interpersonal skills
Good analytical skills
Common sense
Experience with handling animals
Realistic job expectations

8. Areas of veterinarian work
Clinical practice
Treating sick or injured animals
Diagnosis of cause of disease
Surgery
Anaesthesia
X-rays
Disease prevention
Vaccination
Design health programmes for farm animals

9. Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
Clinical practice (cont)
Different types of clinical practice
Dogs and cats
Horses
Farm animals
cattle
sheep
deer
pigs
poultry
other, eg. alpacas, ostriches
Zoo animals

10. Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
Other
Food safety
overseeing production of food from animals, eg. meat
Biosecurity
making sure exotic animal diseases don’t get into New Zealand
Laboratories
finding causes of diseases in animals
Animal health companies
developing and marketing veterinary medicines

11. Where veterinarians work
Veterinary clinic
companion animals (dogs and cats)
Farm visits
horses
dairy cattle
sheep
beef cattle
deer
pigs
poultry

12. Where veterinarians work (cont)
Zoo or SPCA
Specialist hospital or referral centre
Government
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

13. Can I become a veterinarian?
Definitely! So long as you...
have common sense and lots of determination
are relatively smart
have a great work ethic
like people as well as animals
can communicate well

14. School subjects needed
Chemistry
Physics
Biology (minimum of 14 credits across the 3 sciences)
Mathematics (Calculus or Statistics)
English (minimum NCEA Level 2 or English-rich subject)

15. Eligibility criteria for Vet School
University Entrance or equivalent (info for 2011 University Entrance at
Sit an ‘IQ type’ test called the Standard Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT type F) (more info
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

16. Selection criteria for Vet School
School Leavers
Must be eligible for selection
Weighted grade point average counts for 80%
Recommendation of approximately an A- average to have a chance of being near the cutoff for selection.
STAT F test counts for 20%

17. Selection criteria for Vet School (cont)
Graduates or part-graduates
Must be eligible for selection
No limit on number of times you can apply for selection
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 full-time 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

18. 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
Selection at end of first semester (pre-selection papers can be completed at campus in Albany or Palmerston North)
Professional Phase of course in Palmerston North
Extended final year of 40 weeks duration

19. About the BVSc degree (cont)
Pre-selection (semester one) – 4 compulsory subjects
Chemistry and living systems
Physics for life sciences
Biology of cells
Biology of animals

20. About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Normal structure, function and management (Anatomy and Physiology)
Abnormal structure and function (Pathology)
Causes of abnormality
Microbiology
Parasitology
Toxicology
Return to normal
Medicine
Surgery
Pharmacology

21. About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Preventive medicine and enhancement of performance
Personal wellbeing and self-care
Veterinary professional studies
Law
Business
Ethics
Management

22. About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Must pass all papers each year to move to the next year
Course includes lectures, seminars, practical classes and working in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Practical work
14 weeks of practical farm work
6 weeks of practical veterinary work

23. Veterinary degree cost
University fees are approximately $9,054 for each year of BVSc degree (2010 figures)
There are other associated course costs
Practical work must be done which limits earning potential during holidays
Scholarships are available

24. Life after graduation
Can sit registration exams in United States and Japan
Graduates are automatically registerable in
New Zealand
Australia
United Kingdom
South Africa
Papua New Guinea

25. Life after graduation (cont)
Job prospects are good
Worldwide shortage of veterinarians
Baby boomer generation retirement
Starting salary package – approx $55,000
Great future earning potential (six figures +)

26. Related study options at Massey
Bachelor of AgriScience
Equine Studies
Agriculture
Bachelor of Science
Animal Science
Zoology
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

27. Related study options at Massey (cont)
Bachelor of Food Technology (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Veterinary Technology
Diploma of Veterinary Nursing

28. Find out more Veterinary school website Veterinary Teaching hospital
Veterinary Teaching hospital
Massey University website