Australian Veterinary Schools in Australia

University of Queensland Veterinary School in Australia

Program Overview - Bachelor of Veterinary Science

University and Faculty:	The University of Queensland Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science
Program:	Bachelor of Veterinary Science
University Location:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
City Population:	2 million
Student Population:	37,700
Campus Location:	Gatton campus (Lockyer Valley; about a one-hour drive west of Brisbane)
Program Duration:	Five years
Semester Intake:	February each year
Next Intake:	February 2013
Est. Annual Tuition:	$48,150 AUD (2012 fee)
Est. Total Tuition:	$240,750 AUD (estimated over five years based on 2012 fees; fees subject to increase)

The University of Queensland's Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) program is one of the most sought after in Australia, attracting the very best students and producing veterinarians that are in high demand, both domestically and internationally.

The Veterinary Science program at UQ 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 program will equip you with knowledge of veterinary science--the branch of medicine which deals with the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and injuries in animals. It covers the care of healthy and sick animals and the prevention, recognition, control and treatment of diseases in animals, as well as the welfare and productivity of livestock and production animals. Throughout the five-year program, you will undertake a large component of practical work and will also be expected to work on farms and in other animal enterprises during holiday periods.

Your first-year courses will provide foundation knowledge of animal structure and function, chemical principles and animal husbandry. The structure and function of the normal animal, and its nutrition, breeding and management, are studied in greater depth in second and third years. In your fourth- and fifth-year studies you will develop knowledge and skills in the prevention, diagnoses, treatment and control of diseases in domestic animals and birds.

About the Gatton Campus

The University's Gatton campus delivers excellence in agricultural, natural resource, and veterinary sciences. Just under a one-hour drive west of Brisbane, the campus offers a unique blend of modern teaching facilities, state-of-the-art laboratories and historic buildings.

UQ Gatton operates commercial production units including dairy, poultry, piggery, beef herd, equine precinct and wildlife facilities to support teaching, research and hands-on training. The programs offered in the areas of agribusiness, agriculture and horticulture, animal studies and environmental management, and veterinary science are internationally recognized as the best in Australia.

Unique Features of the Program

UQ's BVSc curriculum is designed for students to develop skills and confidence in handling animals from first year onward.

The school manages and utilizes in teaching a 720-acre farm at Pinjarra Hills, 13 km from the St. Lucia campus, which contains a Droughtmaster beef cattle stud of 55 cows, as well as replacements and sale bulls. Access to dairy cattle, pigs, and horses is provided at the university's Gatton campus. Most practical classes involving animal handling and teaching are held at Gatton.

The Small-animal Clinic and Veterinary Teaching Hospital provide a learning environment for veterinary education. State-of-the-art medical and surgical services for the people of Queensland and for practicicing veterinarians are provided through UQ's clinic and hospital. These include high-tech amenities for x-ray, ultrasound, CT scanning, scintigraphy, intensive care, cardiology, ophthalmic surgery, and intensive care. Each year, nearly 5,000 patients are examined in the teaching hospital. More than 60 employees work in the hospital, including veterinary specialists, veterinarians in advanced training programs, nurses, radiographers, pharmacists and support staff. Over 180 veterinary students at various stages participate in patient care.

In Year Five, students obtain clinical experience by being rostered to the school's companion animal practices at St. Lucia, and its rural practices at Goondiwindi (beef, sheep) and Dayboro (dairy cattle); Goondiwindi is in a pastoral zone located 350 km west of Brisbane; Dayboro and Kenilworth are in prime dairying areas located 90 to 150 km from Brisbane. Equine clinical experience is gained at the Oakey Veterinary Hospital.

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

Graduates of the program qualify for registration with Veterinary Boards in all Australian states. The School is accredited by the Australian Veterinary Schools Accreditation Committee and the BVSc degree is recognized by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Thus, UQ BVSc graduates can register to practise in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

With respect to North America, UQ has not applied for AVMA accreditation as a Veterinary School. However, the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science is an AVMA-listed college, whose graduates are eligible for registration to undertake the National Examining Board Examination in Canada, and to enrol in the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates Certification Program in the United States.

Scholarships

Every student who applies (and accepts) via OzTREKK and commences his/her studies at an OzTREKK Australian university will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK. Click here for more information about the OzTREKK Scholarship!

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians

Applicants must have a secondary school diploma and have fulfilled Grade 12 prerequisites of Chemistry, Physics or Biology, Mathematics and English for admission into this program. Generally, a B average is required for admission. Please note that the MCAT is not required for entry.

UQ's Bachelor of Veterinary Science program is five years in duration. Regardless of whether an applicant has completed only high school studies, some post-secondary subjects, or a undergraduate degree, the entry pathway is the same for all applicants. If a student has completed previous studies in university, it will still take five years to complete the UQ Veterinary Science program.

Total Number of Places in the Program: 130

Number of Places Available for International Students: 40

Application Deadline for the February 2013 intake: Nov. 1, 2012; however, OzTREKK recommends that students from Canada apply earlier as places in the program may be filled by November.

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Nicole Buchanan