Fully accredited by: AVMA CVMA RCVS New Zealand Australia
Potential Students - VMCAS Applicants click here
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
Massey University is one of only a few vet schools outside North America that have received American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) accreditation for their veterinary degree. This means that in addition to our graduates being able to work in New Zealand, UK, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong they can also work in Canada and the USA. The Massey University veterinary degree is a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree (BVSc) which is recognised by the AVMA as being equivalent to a DVM from an accredited North American university. The MAJOR advantage of this to you is that it will allow you to work in the USA/Canada as if you had graduated from one of the North American veterinary schools/colleges and you will NOT have to complete the US Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduate (ECFVG) programme requirements (either a 4 day practical or 1 year of supervised training).
The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), is a 5 year or 10 semester programme. The first semester beginning in February of each year, is referred to as the “pre-selection” semester and is a trial semester for domestic and Group 1 international students competing for entry into the professional phase of the program.
The professional phase of the degree is 9 semesters or 4.5 years in length, and begins in semester 2 (July) of each year. Selection for entry into semester 2 of the BVSc programme is competitive and students are selected on the basis of academic merit. More details on the selection process can be found here. Successful Group 1 students from the pre-selection semester will be joined by Group 2 International students at this stage.
The Course
Years 1 and 2 of the program focus primarily on instruction in the core medical sciences tailored for veterinary students to learn normal form and function. In year 3 classes help the student recognise abnormality and introduce clinical studies. Year 4 focuses on the medicine, surgery, health management, diagnostics and treatment of companion and agricultural animal species. The fifth year is a semi-tracked clinically based year. Each student will choose a track from the following options: small animal, production animal, equine, mixed animal, or other areas as approved (i.e wildlife, research). All tracks share a core of 18 weeks of clinics covering all species areas, Then depending on the track a further 7-9 weeks will be prescribed. The student will then have a further 7-9 weeks where they can choose to do externships (within New Zealand or overseas), or further clinics at Massey University. The semi-tracked, individualised final year curriculum allows students to further explore their area of interest while ensuring wide coverage of the main veterinary species.
The classes in veterinary degree at Massey University are listed below. Course content descriptions can be viewed by clicking on the title of each class.
Year 1 - Semester 1 (aka Pre-selection semester)
123.101 Chemistry and Living Systems
162.101 Biology of cells
124.111 Physics for Life Sciences
199.101 Biology of Animals
Year 1 - Semester 2
227.102 Biochemistry for Veterinary Science
227.103 Veterinary Anatomy I
227.104 Veterinary Physiology I
227.105 Animal Behaviour, Handling and Welfare
Year 2
227.201 Animal Science for Veterinarians
227.202 Veterinary Genetics and Breeding
227.203 Veterinary Anatomy II
227.204 Veterinary Physiology II
227.205 Comparative Veterinary Anatomy
227.206 Integrative Veterinary Physiology
227.207 Mechanisms of Disease
Year 3
227.301 Veterinary Pathology I
227.302 Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology
227.303 Veterinary Parasitology
227.304 Poultry, Fish and Wildlife Management and Disease
227.305 Veterinary Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology
227.306 Veterinary Clinical Studies
Year 4
227.401 Veterinary Pathology II
227.402 Equine and Clinical Studies
227.403 Health and Production in Deer, Sheep and Goats
227.404 Cattle Health and Production
227.405 Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
227.406 Pig and Poultry Health Production and Management
227.407 Veterinary Biometrics and Epidemiology
Year 5
227.501 Law, Ethics, Practice Management and Personal Care for Veterinarians
227.502 Veterinary Public Health, Food Safety and Quality Management
227.503 Veterinary Clinics
Practical Work Requirements
Candidates who commenced the BVSc after 2003 must complete a period of not less than 20 weeks of approved practical work experience and associated reports to the satisfaction of the Veterinary Science Programme Committee, including:
- not less than fourteen (14) weeks practical farm work and
- not less than six (6) weeks veterinary practical work.
All students selected into the BVSc program should read the Practical Work Guidelines Booklet for the BVSc in its entirety as only small excerpts from the booklet are provided here. To download a copy of the Practical Work Guidelines Booklet go to this page and select Vet Guidelines “full”.
