Frequently Asked Questions About the Massey University
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) Degree

A. General Questions

Why should I do my veterinary training at Massey University?

• A 40 year history of producing graduates who excel in all aspects of the profession
• A world-class faculty who put their teaching and their students first
• A high quality programme externally accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
• An unsurpassed pastoral animal production teaching programme
• Modern facilities and equipment
• Very competitively priced, high quality education and a low cost of living
• Ability to enter the veterinary programme without a pre-requisite undergraduate degree.

Accreditations of the Massey University Bachelor of Veterinary Science Degree

The programme at Massey University is accredited by:

• The school has full accreditation by the Council of Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association, with the next re-accreditation visit due in 2014
• The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC)
• The Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and
• by a reciprocal agreement between AVBC and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

The last accreditation visit for each of these bodies was in 2007 and re-accreditation is due in 2014.

How do Massey University veterinary students perform in the NAVLE exam?

Massey University candidates for the National Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) in the USA achieved the following pass rates:

November/December 2009 and April 2010 – 96%
November/December 2010 and April 2011 – 100%

The NAVLE pass mark required for continued accreditation is 80%.

Where in New Zealand can I obtain a qualification to practise as a veterinarian?

Only at Massey University. To practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand you must have a qualification which is registrable with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. The Massey University BVSc is the only qualification available in this country which is recognized by the Veterinary Council for registration. A number of veterinary nursing qualifications (diplomas or certificates) are available at NZ tertiary institutions (including Massey), but these are for people providing assistance to veterinarians.

If I obtain a Massey BVSc will I be able to work as a veterinarian overseas?

In a number of countries. Massey graduates are eligible to register as veterinarians in New Zealand, USA, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa and Papua-New Guinea. In addition they are able to sit registration exams in some countries in Europe and Asia. AVMA and CVMA accreditation means that veterinary students graduating from Massey University will now be treated in the same manner by registration authorities in North America (USA and Canada) as students qualifying from accredited North American veterinary schools.

Is it really necessary for the BVSc degree to be 5 years long?

Yes. There is an enormous amount of knowledge and many skills to be learned and assimilated, that are increasing all the time. It is a requirement for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand that the applicant hold a veterinary degree with a minimum training duration of 5 years. While it is true that graduates from most North American veterinary programmes hold 4 year degrees, they are given credit for the fact that admission to most of these degrees is granted only after at least 2 to 3 years of pre-vet university study in which much pre-clinical material is covered.

I can understand that as it is such a long degree Massey BVSc graduates probably are well trained theoretically, but are they generally well trained in practical aspects of Veterinary Science?

They are well trained in both these aspects and in practical areas probably better trained than graduates from many other veterinary programmes. A requirement for them to undertake at least 14 weeks practical farm work and another 6 weeks veterinary practical work, in addition to that gained at vet school, contributes in this regard. Also New Zealand's animal welfare legislation allows veterinary undergraduates to undertake a lot of procedures (under veterinary supervision) which are not possible in some other countries. With this practical experience our graduates are generally highly sought after, particularly in the UK, because of their practical abilities.

I understand that veterinary students have to do a lot of veterinary and farm practical work during their studies. Can you tell me about that?

As just mentioned they have to do a minimum of 20 weeks of such practical work, divided into 14 weeks farm practical work and 6 weeks veterinary practical work. That is in addition to the 10 days which they must do prior to coming to Massey University in order to be eligible for selection into the BVSc programme. The farm practical work is required to increase their experience and knowledge of farming and animals. In order to be counted towards the 6 week veterinary practical work requirement that aspect of the practical work must be done after the mid year break of BVSc 3. That is so that the student will have reached a level of veterinary knowledge sufficient to derive maximal benefit from the practical work. In BVSc 4 and 5 the students second semester timetable is specifically varied from that which applies for the rest of the university, to allow veterinary practical work experience during the height of the lambing and calving seasons. All of this veterinary and farm practical work must be done outside of the academic teaching periods.

Will admission of International students reduce the number of places available in the BVSc for Kiwi students?

No, the number of places available to New Zealanders, as government subsidized students in the BVSc degree, will remain unchanged. International students will be admitted in addition to the number of NZ government subsidised students.

If I am successful in becoming a veterinarian, I want to practice with horses. Why should I have to learn all that material about other species? Why can't BVSc undergraduates restrict their training to areas of particular interest?

One of the recognized strengths of the Massey University BVSc is the fact that it is a general veterinary degree and graduates are well trained across the major species. Graduates from specialized programmes know some aspects very well, but have rather restricted knowledge of other topics. The broader knowledge base of Massey BVSc graduates gives them much greater capacity to work in a wide range of different situations, which is desirable. If their interests change, as they often do, or if there is a change in availability of work in different sectors, that can be accommodated more readily than for graduates with degrees in which there is more specialization. The versatility of our graduates is another reason for their ready employability in New Zealand and overseas.

Can you tell me about the employability of Massey University BVSc graduates?

Almost without exception they readily find employment as veterinarians. In some years the availability of jobs in New Zealand is insufficient for all of those completing their studies while in other years there are insufficient graduates to fill the available jobs in New Zealand. Where gradute numbers exceed jobs available, graduates tend to head oversees with the UK, Australia and North America being common destintations.

What type of employment do they usually go into?

Particularly in the first year after completing at Massey, veterinary practice is the most common employment, with many having a preference for mixed (large and small animal) practice. After consolidating their clinical skills in that way many occupational opportunities may be taken up. Many stay in practice but that may include moving into specific practices such as small animal, equine, dairy, etc. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is a major employer of veterinarians in field services, meat processing plants and quarantine services. Some veterinarians go into academic positions at vet schools, polytechs or other tertiary institutions, while others go into research with academic institutions or private companies such as with AgResearch. Then the range becomes really diverse. It includes employment with pharmaceutical and animal feed companies, international disease control, working as editors and publishers and occasionally as TV presenters and in rock bands.

One present New Zealand government minister is a Massey BVSc graduate.

More extensive coverage of career opportunities for BVSc graduates is provide on the following Study at Massey page: http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/study/programme-course-and-paper-search/programme.cfm?prog_id=92611.

B. Questions about Student Selection into the BVSc Degree.

These notes should be read in association with the document Selection into the Professional Phase of the BVSc.

In order to maximize my chances of being selected into semester 2 of BVSc 1, what subjects should I take at high school?

Because selection is largely (80%) based on grades attained in the first semester of BVSc 1 and the papers in that semester are one each in Chemistry and Physics and two in Biology, New Zealand high school students should take Chemistry, Physics and Biology to NCEA level 3 in order to maximise their chances of selection. In addition we advise prospective applicants to take English and one of the Maths subjects.

I haven't done all of those subjects to NCEA Level 3; is there anything I can do to catch up?

You can take any type of preparatory study you wish as long as it is at sub-degree level (i.e. not as part of a bachelors). The amount and level of such preparatory work which is advisable will depend on your level of prior knowledge. Options include:

For domestic students you can take Foundation papers Extramurally (these are not available to non-New Zealand residents). Currently there are papers in:

Chemistry (123.103 Introductory Chemistry)
Physics (124.100 Foundations of Physics)
Biology (162.103 Introductory Biology)

If you are a potential International student, there also are Foundation Studies Courses available. These papers can be taken individually or as part of a Foundation Certificate offered by the English Language Centre. Please note that while these papers are offered through the English Language Centre and will really help students whose first language is not English, these papers also are excellent revision for fluent English speaking students who want a great preparation for the pre-selection semester, especially the Physics and Chemistry papers offered over the summer semester (Nov-Feb). The Physics paper offered is more theoretical and so some mathematics preparation would also help with the first semester paper Physics for Life Sciences. Papers available include:

123.001 Foundation Studies in Chemistry
124.001 Foundation Studies in Physics
160.001 Foundation Studies in Mathematics
162.001 Foundation Studies in Biology
192.007 Foundation Studies in Academic English and Study Skills

What is the usual level of grades required in order to gain selection into the BVSc?

All applicants (NZ government subsided or Group 1 International) need to have a minimum weighted grade point average of B, along with a STAT F test score at the same level, in order to be eligible for selection. This minimum grade level is required in order to ensure that those admitted to the BVSc programme are academically capable of completing the degree.

NZ Government subsidized students: Because of the highly competitive selection process for NZ government subsidised students, the minimum grade of successful applicants in recent years has been a high B+ to A- average.

Group 1 International students: The minimum grade will depend on the number of applicants, but all applicants who have completed the pre-selection semester will need to have a minimum weighted grade point average of at least a B, along with a STAT F test score at the same level, in order to be considered for selection.

In 2007 there were 30 students competing for 8 Group 1 places, while in the 3 years previous to that there have been between 24-26 students per year. In 2007, 19 of the applicants met the eligibility requirements for selection and 13 were offered places. In the 2006 intake 9 of the 25 students met the minimum GPA requirement for eligibility of a B average and therefore were eligible for one of the 8 positions. In 2004 and 2005 the number of places was not a limiting factor as in those years only 5 or 6 people actually met the minimum GPA requirement to be eligible for selection.

Group 2 - Competitive Selection directly into BVSc Semester Two : International students who have completed the pre-requisite classes may be able to apply for competitive entry directly into the second semester of BVSc I based on their overseas university level study. In order to be considered for one a Group 2 position, applicants will need to have achieved a minimum science GPA of 3.0, calculated from all science subjects taken in the most recent 2 years of full time university level study prior to application, and a minimum GRE score of 1600 total for quantitative, verbal and analytical written section. The analytical written section is scored out of 6, which is converted to a score out of 800 and added to the verbal and quantitative scores out of 800 each. These scores are to be no older than 5 years. The GRE and GPA will be given equal weighting in deciding students ranking. Please see the selection page for more details.

Can I repeat papers (aka classes) which I have passed already, or for which I am eligible for cross-credits, in order to increase my weighted grade point average?

No. In order to be fair all NZ Government subsidised students or Group 1 international students must be taking new classes (i.e. not repeating classes already completed) for their NZ based science GPA for selection. Also, should a student not be successful in being selected into the veterinary program repeating previous classes would mean they were essentially wasting time and not making academic progress towards obtaining a degree, which is not acceptable.

Can I take papers (aka classes) equivalent to those in the first semester of BVSc 1, at another New Zealand university?

Yes you can, but you need to check with the Programme Administrator to find out which papers cross-credit to those in semester 1 of BVSc 1. A problem with that approach is that most other NZ universities do not have all cross-crediting papers in the first semester of the year, hence your first opportunity to gain selection into the professional phase of the BVSc is delayed by a year, until the middle of your second year at university.

I have had a lot of experience with animals and feel that I would make a really good veterinarian, but haven't been able to gain high enough grades to gain selection. Why is the selection system weighted in favor of smart people whether or not they can handle animals?

The BVSc degree programme is academically very demanding, hence the people we select into the degree must be of high academic merit and capable of completing the programme in minimum time. All BVSc students are taught animal handling skills during their veterinary studies. That training is reinforced during required veterinary clinical and farm practical work.

Why is it necessary for applicants for entry to the BVSc to have 10 days veterinary work experience prior to coming to Massey University?

This requirement was introduced to ensure that potential veterinary students gained some appreciation of the tasks that vets have to undertake. These include not only many pleasant interactions with clients and their animals, but also dealing with less pleasant clients, and tasks such as having to euthanase healthy animals, substantial legal and ethical responsibilities, business management responsibilities, etc, all of which provide a down side to the profession. Hopefully this experience will mean that the decision to become a veterinarian is made from a better informed position. You should complete your 10 days veterinary work experience before the start of the academic year. You will need to supply a letter from a veterinarian on their clinic letterhead verifying that you have completed at least the minimum of 10 days work experience with them.

I already have a degree but didn't gain very good grades. Can these be ignored so I can have a fresh start at trying to gain selection?

If you finished that degree 3 or more years ago and have not studied at the university level since, you can have a fresh start. However, if the degree was completed more recently, your most recent 2 years (4 semesters) grades from full time study will be used in the selection process. Ignoring old grades is done because often students resuming study after a substantial break are highly motivated and perform at a much higher level than they did previously. Otherwise we use previous grades because we consider that the more grades used in assessment of academic merit, the more accurately academic merit will be judged.

I have a previous degree but not in the sciences. Will grades from that degree be used in the selection process?

If the previous university study was entirely in non-science subjects the previous grades will not be used. Only grades from science classes taken at the university level will be used in the calculation of your science GPA for selection into the BVSc program.

Can I use grades from another university in order to be considered for BVSc selection?

If they are from another NZ university, you may be able to but each case is judged separately.

For International students, grades from other Universities can be used for two purposes. One is to identify applicants who are eligible for selection as Group 2 applicants. As a Group 1 applicant if you have completed classes that are the same as those taken in the pre-selection semester then you would be given credit for those classes and other classes would need to be taken in their place. This will require review of the course content description, in order for a decision to be made about your eligibility to receive credits for these courses. You will then be required to take another paper in its place and the grade for this paper will also be used in calculating your weighted grade point average. This needs to be above a B average in order to be considered for selection. A policy document explains how you can select other papers.

Is there any upper age limit in the BVSc selection process?

No.

Is there any limit on the number of times I can apply for selection?

No, not at present.

Are people from overseas allowed to apply for selection into the BVSc?

Yes they can. How they apply depends on their background. If your country does not have a veterinary school and is one of those countries that the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) supports Undergraduate study in, then you can apply for one of the two available positions. Successful applicants still need to meet the minimum academic requirements (B average) to be considered for selection. This is outlined in the document Selection into the Professional Phase of the BVSc.Otherwise applicants for BVSc selection can enter the course via two routes.

1. As a New Zealand resident.
   To apply under this category, applicants will have to have permanent New Zealand residency status. These applicants then need to undertake university study in New Zealand, from which their GPA for selection will be calculated.
   
   or
2. As a International student.
   Up to 24 International students will be admitted into the programme. These students will compete within two separate groups for the 24 available places. More details are available in the Applying section.

What happens if I am not successful in being selected for a position in the second semester of the BVSc program?

We do not have any limit on the number of times students may apply for selection. Many stay at Massey hoping to raise their WGPA enough to gain selection in subsequent year. Also the first (pre-selection) semester of the first year of the veterinary degree at Massey is designed to allow students who do not gain entry to the professional years of the veterinary course to cross-credit to other degrees. Some of the many careers available from these degrees can be seen on our Careers with Animals website.

What are the semester starting dates at Massey?

Typically semester one starts on the last Monday in February and ends in early June. With the exam period running until approximately June 20-24 th. Semester two starts in mid-July, and finshed 14 weeks later. The semester 2 exam period runs from late October to mid November. The exact dates vary from year to year.. No classes in the veterinary degree are offered in the summer (3 rd) semester.

What is the closing date for applications for Massey University and selection into the BVSc?

Applications for admission to Massey University for international students close on December 1, of the year previous to when students want to start studying. For domestic (NZ resident) students the deadline is February 15 th of the year the student is applying to study.

Admission to Massey University does not guarantee admission to the veterinary program. NZ residents and Group 1 international students studying in semester 1 must submit a separate application for the BVSc to the Veterinary Program Administrator in the College of Science office by May 1 of the year they are hoping for selection into semester 2 of the BVSc program. Applications must be accompanied by the completed STAT test application, the STAT test fee and the veterinary work experience certificate. Late or incomplete applications WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

For Group 2 International students applying for competitive selection directly into semester two , the close-off date is December 1 of the previous year.

I am from USA (Canada) and not from a wealthy family. Is there any way I could obtain financial assistance to do a BVSc at Massey?

Most American Veterinary Students at Massey obtain US Federal Loans.Click here for information on Federal Aid: http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/students/international/scholarships/us-federal-loans/us-federal-loans_home.cfm

For Canadian students access is available to Canadian Government loans. The link to the website is http://canlearn.ca/English/contact/nslsc/index.cfm?var=contact.htm. Massey is also recognised by www.iefc.com which can provide funds via the CanHELP program for any Canadian student that may need additional funds. Our school participation code is 013153.

Who should I contact in order to obtain more information about the BVSc, admission procedures, etc?

New Zealand Citizens/residents and Australian Citizens should contact:

Mrs Sue Gribbin,
Veterinary Programme Administrator,
Science Tower B, Level 2, Rm 2.17,
Massey University,
Private Bag 11-222,
Palmerston North 4442

Phone 06-350 4170; Fax 06-350 5620;
Email S.J.Gribbin@massey.ac.nz or vet@massey.ac.nz

International Students should contact:

International Student Liason
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences,
Massey University,
Private Bag 11-222,
Palmerston North 4442
NEW ZEALAND

Email vetschool@massey.ac.nz
Phone +64-6-350 4473; Fax +64-6-350 5699;

Page authorised by the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences
Last updated on Friday 3rd February 2012