The University of Queensland

Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

Undergraduate

Details

University Location Brisbane, Queensland
City Population 2.5 million
Student Population 55,044
Int'l Student Population 21,000
Main Campus St Lucia
Program Campus Gatton (approximately 1 hour west of Brisbane)
Program Duration 5 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $75,347 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake February
Next Available Intake 2024
Application Deadline November 29 each year*
International Places 40 (130 total)

Overview

Since its first intake of students in 1936, the UQ School of Veterinary Science has been recognized for the quality of its research and for its sustained record of excellence in teaching and learning across the veterinary disciplines. The school and its programs are fully accredited with the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) allowing graduates direct entry to practice in North America.

Based at the university’s rural Gatton Campus with a staff of approximately 150, the school also operates a Veterinary Teaching Hospital for small animals, equine, exotic pets, production farm animals, and injured wildlife.

Some key features of UQ veterinary school include its

  • first-rate facilities purpose-built in 2010, and recognized as the best veterinary school facilities in the Southern Hemisphere;
  • small-group clinical teaching;
  • strong focus on animal handling and development of “first day” competencies (ability to be job-ready from day one);
  • thorough final-year, which is all “hands on” in veterinary clinics;
  • high-quality teachers who have been recognized through nationally accredited awards;
  • highly active student special interest groups; and
  • accreditation with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA COE), the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC), and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), UK.

Program

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program at the University of Queensland is a fully accredited undergraduate course which you can enter directly from high school or after completion of university studies. It provides the broadest base in the biological sciences of any undergraduate course and provides a very wide range of career options as well as its professional qualifications, enabling graduates to practice veterinary medicine and surgery.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) commences with three years of foundational training in the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, and behaviour of healthy domestic and wild animals. It includes more than 600 hours of practical training, where you’ll develop your animal handling and husbandry skills, and acquire detailed knowledge of animal pathology and diagnostic skills.

In your fourth year, you’ll undertake dedicated medicine and surgery courses for each of the major animal species, plus population and public health training, and complete 130 hours of clinical practical work.

The final year includes more than 1,400 hours of lecture-free training within university- and privately owned practices.

Practical Placements
Industry placements provide UQ Veterinary Science students with authentic experiences that complement coursework learning, and are an integral component of the degree. You’ll undertake a range of preclinical placements in Years 1–3, during vacation periods, through which a broad foundational appreciation of animal enterprises and production systems is acquired.

In Year 5, clinical placements are undertaken, contextualizing the clinical curriculum in a range of settings that include small animal, large animal and mixed practice. Core elements of preclinical and clinical placements (EMS) are augmented by elective opportunities, whereby you can explore areas of interest in general practice, specialized clinical practice, zoological work, government work, research, or other aspects of the vocation. Students are required to undertake 10 weeks of preclinical vacation work (in their own time) by the end of their third year of study, and undertake a further 10 weeks of clinical placements (EMS) during fifth-year rotations.

Hear from a UQ Veterinary School graduate!

Admission Requirements

1. Completed high school diploma
You must have a secondary school diploma with an average of 88% in your top 4–6 Grade 12 courses (as below) and have completed the following prerequisite subjects at the Grade 12 level: chemistry, calculus, English, and either physics or biology.

  • Alberta – Grade average of best 5 Level 30 Provincial Diploma Exams.
  • BC – Grade average of best 4 Grade 12 4-credit provincially examined subjects which must include a Language Arts 12 provincially examined subject (e.g., English 12, English 12 First Peoples, Communication 12, English Literature 12)
  • Ontario – Grade average of best 6 University (U, 4U) and/or University/College (U/C, 4M) courses.

Please note, UQ tends to be quite strict when it comes to the calculus prerequisite. Due to the course content covered in the Australian high school math course, Canadian students must take a full calculus course to meet this requirement. Pre-calculus subjects will not suffice.

  • BC – Calculus 12 or Mathematics will satisfy the Math B prerequisite
  • Alberta – Mathematics 31 (Mathematics 30 & lower are not acceptable)
  • Ontario – Calculus and Vectors

Completed some post-secondary
If you have a year or more of post-secondary studies (university or college), you must have at least 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70% – 72%) cumulative average to be eligible to apply. All students who meet the minimum GPA, English, and SJT requirements receive an offer for this program. With previous university studies, it is possible to request credit to lighten course load for one or two semesters; however, it will still take five years to complete the UQ veterinary science program.

2. Situational judgement test
UQ Bachelor of Veterinary Science Honours applicants must complete an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) via CASPer. UQ recognizes that skills and attributes such as resilience, critical thinking, and communication are essential for veterinarians, but are not always reflected in academic performance alone. The situational judgement test will be used to select and identify applicants who are best suited to the rigours of veterinary science and the profession.

Please note we will need to submit your application to UQ before you will be able to write the CASPer test.

CASPer dates and times

Please contact OzTREKK to learn more about this test.

Admission Timeline

*UQ Veterinary School has a general application deadline of November 29 each year; however, you are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline. The earlier you apply, the better!

1/6

“It is hands on right away”

I love the closeness of the student body.... It is hands on right away.

Kennedy J
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2022

“[I love] the amount of handling I get to do with animals”

[The amount of work] is as expected. [I love] the amount of handling I get to do with animals. The courses and practical aspects of the program is great. Just expect to be working with a lot of animals and be prepared to get your hands dirty! There's a lot of studying that is involved with the program but also a lot of hands on! It's quite a heavy load, but very rewarding when you get through a semester.

Jessica T
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2017

“The teachers are all professionals in the industry”

I love the quality of my program. The teachers are all professionals in the industry, we have a fully functioning dairy, piggery, poultry and equine unit on campus so all the resources we need to become the best vets are at our fingertips.

Lia B
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2017

“UQ provides students with a lot of practicals and clinical experience”

UQ provides students with a lot of practicals and clinical experience during the degree. Which allows us to interact with animals we perhaps never have before. For example, students from cities likely don't know how to properly handle and provide adequate husbandry for cows or sheep. This degree and UQ specifically is one of the only in Australia that has all of their teaching animals on 1 campus. Other unis require you to move to a different location during your final 2 years ... Read More

Reiko Y
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2015

“I chose The University of Queensland because of their excellent standing”

I chose The University of Queensland because of their excellent standing. At the Gatton campus, there are dedicated facilities on hand besides UQ Veterinary School’s small animal and equine hospitals.  The program so far has been more challenging than I expected. The hours are long and you have to give a 100% commitment. That being said, there is a great camaraderie and support from your course mates who are in every single class with you, and their high motivation pushes me to keep striving.

Nur S
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2014

“I like how much the professors at the vet school want us to succeed.”

The weather, the people and I am really loving my program. I like how much the professors at the vet school want us to succeed. I dislike not having a car and being on a fairly rural campus. But there are lots of events on campus to fill up your week. Friends always offer to take me into town, so I don't feel that isolated. 10 out of 10!

Julia C
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2014