Fully accredited by: AVMA CVMA RCVS New Zealand Australia
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Selection into the Professional Phase of the BVSc
Selection into the BVSc programme is competitive, and applicants can enter the programme in one of two ways depending on residency/citizenship. These are as a New Zealand government subsidised student or an international student.
A. New Zealand government subsidised places
New Zealand Permanent residents and citizens must apply for NZ government subsidised places. Australian citizens are considered the same as New Zealand permanent residents for the purposes of tertiary education in New Zealand.
For more information please see the BVSc section of the College of Science Website.
B. International Students (24 places)
In order to be selected into the veterinary program international applicants must first gain admission to Massey University. Applicants for selection require a minimum of ten (10) days veterinary work experience, certified by a veterinarian on their clinic letterhead. It is recommended that you complete your work experience before the start of the academic year.
There are a total of 24 places available for international vet students to apply for each year, via two methods of entry, Group 1 and Group 2. The exact distribution of these places between the two groups will be determined annually but will be between 10-14 places per group.
Group 2 - Competitive Selection directly into BVSc Semester Two
Group 2 is for applicants who have already completed or are completing an appropriate undergraduate or postgraduate science qualification in a country other than New Zealand. Please note that you DO NOT have to have completed your entire degree, but you do need to have completed at least 2 years of your degree by the time you apply to Massey University. Currently, ten to fourteen (10-14) places are reserved for these students. As a Group 2 student it would take 4.5 years (9 semesters) to complete your degree.
Selection criteria
There are 3 criteria for eligibility to apply for a Group 2 Position.
- A minimum science Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00
- Achievement of the minimum Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) score.
For tests taken between 1 Oct 2002 and July 2011 the minimum combined GRE score for all 3 parts (verbal, quantitative and analytical) is 1600 out of 2400. The verbal and quantitative sections are scored out of 800, while the analytical written score out of 6 will be converted to a score out of 800, and added to the other 2 sections. GRE scores are to be no older than 5 years. Minimum scores for the revised GRE test (offered from August 2011) are to be determined.
- Successful completion of university level classes equivalent to the 4 pre-selection semester (BVSc year 1 semester 1) classes:
- 123.101 Chemistry and Living Systems
- 124.111 Physics for Life Sciences
- 162.101 Cell Biology
- 199.101 Animal Biology
If you do not meet ALL of these criteria you will not be eligible for a Group 2 position and should therefore apply as a Group 1 applicant (see below for details on Group 1)
The science GPA will be calculated from all university level science classes taken in the most recent 2 years (or equivalent) of full time study prior to application. This studied must be, largely science based. Applicants who have been studying part-time are not eligible for Group 2. While the minimum science GPA to be eligible for selection is 3.0, the actual GPA for selection may be higher depending on the number of and academic ability of the applicants each year.
GRE scores are to be no older than 5 years and need to be sent to Massey University directly from ETS. The Institution code for Massey University is 3194 and the department code is 0622.
It is a pre-requisite for selection into semester 2 that all applicants have passed university level classes equivalent to the BVSc year 1 semester 1 (a.k.a. pre-selection semester) classes, including an associated laboratory class. The table below shows some basic guidelines for courses that will be considered equivalent to these pre-requisite courses.
Massey University Class |
Classes Required for Credit |
Chemistry and Living Systems |
General chemistry + Organic chemistry |
Physics for Life Sciences |
1 year of physics (i.e. first year physics series) |
Biology of Cells |
Cell (molecular) biology +/– First year biology series |
Biology of Animals |
Animal biology / vertebrate zoology |
To facilitate assessment of your application for credit for the pre-requisite classes, please include course descriptions for any biology, general or organic chemistry or physics classes you have completed at university level that might either partially or wholly be credited for any of the pre-selection semester classes. Please note, classes taken at high school are not eligible for credit for these pre-requisite classes. An exception to this is Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school that you have been given university credit for and that are shown as such on an official transcript.
A selection score will be calculated for each applicant from a formula combing the GPA and GRE score with equal weighting. Students will be ranked on the basis of their selection score and following ranking the successful students will be offered places in semester 2 of the BVSc. In the event there are unfilled Group 2 positions they will be added to the allocation for Group 1.
Selection Outcome
Ineligible Group 2 applicants will be notified as soon as their application has been assessed as ineligible. Ineligible applicants will usually be extended the option of a Group 1 position if they would like it.
Eligible group 2 applicants will be notified prior to December 25th whether or not they are being offered a position.
Closing Date for Applications for Group 2
The closing date for applications for selection into Group 2 is November 1 of the year prior to starting classes (i.e. to apply for Group 2 starting in July 2013 the deadline would be November 1, 2012). Applications will not be processed until the Massey University application forms, transcripts and GRE score have been received by the International Office.
Late applications may occasionally be considered from exceptional students if there is space available. For enquiries email the International Student Liaison Officer.
Successful Applicants
An offer of a place in the Massey University veterinary program will be sent to successful applicants. In order to accept the place, the student needs to return the acceptance of offer documents and acceptance deposit by the acceptance deadline. They will then need to pay the tuition fees for the semester before the expiry date. Once the tuition fees are received the student would then be sent a confirmed offer of a place document. This document is required by the New Zealand Immigration department as part of the application for a student visa.
Information on the GRE
More general information on the GRE and Computer Based General test can be found here.
Group 1 - Competitive Selection into BVSc via Semester One
Group 1 is for students who do not met the eligibility requirements for a Group 2 position. It is essentially an opportunity for those who do not meet the conventional requirements for veterinary school selection to prove their suitability for the rigours of veterinary school study.
There are currently ten to fourteen (10-14) places reserved for Group 1 students. If there are insufficient suitable applicants for Group 2, the additional places will be made available to applicants in Group 1.
Group 1 students complete one semester (beginning at the end of February of each year) of full- time science study (4 classes) at Massey University in order to develop a GPA for selection. The NZ based GPA will supersede any previous GPA in terms of selection. The minimum average GPA required for eligibility for selection is a B (5.0 on a scale of 9.0). The actual GPA for successful applicants may be higher depending on the number of and academic ability of the applicants each year. As such not all students who enrol in the first semester will be selected into the second semester.
Including this semester plus the 9 semesters in the vet program it will take 5 years (10 semesters) to complete the BVSc.
If you have not undertaken previous university study, you will enrol in the 4 standard semester 1 papers listed below. In New Zealand a paper is the same as a course or class.
- 123.101 Chemistry and Living Systems
- 124.111 Physics for Life Sciences
- 162.101 Biology of Cells
- 199.101 Biology of Animals
For details of the course content of these papers (aka classes) click here.
It is a pre-requisite for selection into semester 2 that all applicants have passed university level classes equivalent to the BVSc year 1 semester 1 (a.k.a. pre-selection semester) classes, including an associated laboratory class. The table below shows some basic guidelines for courses that will be considered equivalent to these pre-requisite courses.
Massey University Class |
Classes Required for Credit |
Chemistry and Living Systems |
General chemistry + Organic chemistry |
Physics for Life Sciences |
1 year of physics (i.e. first year physics series) |
Biology of Cells |
Cell (molecular) biology +/– First year biology series |
Biology of Animals |
Animal biology / vertebrate zoology |
If you have undertaken previous university level courses, the classes you would take in the pre-selection semester (aka semester 1) will be determined individually taking account of your previous study and must be approved by the Veterinary Academic Programme Administrator.
If you are given credit for some of these classes you will choose alternate class(es) to replace them. You will still be required to get a minimum B average over all of the classes you take in order to be eligible for selection. Guidelines for choosing alternate classes can be found here.
To facilitate assessment of your application for credit for the pre-requisite classes, please include course descriptions for any biology, general or organic chemistry or physics classes you have completed at university level that might either partially or wholly be credited for any of the pre-selection semester classes. Please note, classes taken at high school are not eligible for credit for these pre-requisite classes. An exception to this is Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school that you have been given university credit for and that are shown as such on an official transcript.
Selection Criteria
The criteria for eligibility for selection into semester 2 from semester 1 as a Group 1 student are:.
- A minimum science Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.00 (see below)
- A STAT-F score . The STAT-F test is a multiple choice test that examines problem solving ability and comprehension of written material.
- Successful completion of university level classes equivalent to the 4 pre-selection semester (BVSc year 1 semester 1) classes:
- 123.101 Chemistry and Living Systems
- 124.111 Physics for Life Sciences
- 162.101 Cell Biology
- 199.101 Animal Biology
A selection score will be calculated for each applicant from a formula combing the GPA and STAT-F score. The GPA based on grades attained at New Zealand Universities is worth 80% of the selection score, and the results of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT F) is worth 20% of the selection score.
For assessing academic grades, a grade point average (GPA) will be calculated from grades attained at New Zealand Universities, using the formula:
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The minimum WGPA required to be eligible for selection is 5.0 (B grade average) along with a STAT test score at the same level.
Closing Date for Applications for Group 1
The closing date for applications to enter semester one as a Group 1 student is November 1st of the previous year. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow yourself the most time to arrange to be here in time for classes starting in semester 1.
Selection Outcome
The top 10-14 students will be offered places in the second semester. However, if there are any unfilled Group 2 places these will be added to the allotment for Group 1. The selection committee meet in early July and applicants will be notified immediately of the results of their application.
Successful Applicants
Successful applicants will begin the professional phase of the degree in mid-July.
Comments:
This BVSc student selection system has been designed to be fair and equal for all applicants, yet simple to administer. These procedures have been approved by the appropriate Veterinary Programmes and Massey University Committees.
