Transcript Slide 1
So you want to be a vet!
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Overview
Life as a veterinarian
Who can work as a veterinarian?
Why become a veterinarian?
What makes a good veterinarian?
Areas of veterinarian work
Where veterinarians work
Overview (cont)
Becoming a veterinarian
Can I become a veterinarian?
School subjects needed
Eligibility criteria for Vet School
Selection criteria for Vet School
Overview (cont)
Becoming a veterinarian (cont)
About the BVSc degree
Veterinary degree cost
Life after graduation
Related study options at Massey
Find out more
Who can work as a veterinarian?
By law, must be registered with the
Veterinary Council of New Zealand
Must have a degree in veterinary
science recognised by the Veterinary
Council
Veterinarians can also become
registered specialists with more study
Why become a veterinarian?
It’s an awesome lifestyle
Worthwhile contribution to society
Highly respected and trusted profession
High earning potential
Broad range of work
Travel opportunities
What makes a good veterinarian?
Outstanding interpersonal skills
Good analytical skills
Common sense
Experience with handling animals
Realistic job expectations
Areas of veterinarian work
Clinical practice
Treating sick or injured animals
Diagnosis of cause of disease
Surgery
Anaesthesia
X-rays
Disease prevention
Vaccination
Design health programmes for
farm animals
Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
Clinical practice (cont)
Different types of clinical practice
Dogs and cats
Horses
Farm animals
cattle
sheep
deer
pigs
poultry
other, eg. alpacas, ostriches
Zoo animals
Areas of veterinarian work (cont)
Other
Food safety
Biosecurity
making sure exotic animal diseases don’t get
into New Zealand
Laboratories
overseeing production of food from animals, eg. meat
finding causes of diseases in animals
Animal health companies
developing and marketing veterinary
medicines
Where veterinarians work
Veterinary clinic
companion animals (dogs and cats)
Farm visits
horses
dairy cattle
sheep
beef cattle
deer
pigs
poultry
Where veterinarians work (cont)
Zoo or SPCA
Specialist hospital or referral centre
Government
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
Biosecurity New Zealand
Government veterinarians can be
based in office, food processing
plant, port, other or combination
Animal health industry
Laboratory
Can I become a veterinarian?
Definitely! So long as you...
are relatively smart
have a great work ethic
have common sense and lots of determination
like people as well as animals
can communicate well
School subjects needed
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Mathematics
English (or English-rich subject)
Recommendation that applicants have studied at least 20 credits at NCEA Level 3 in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics and achieved a minimum of 14 credits.
Also recommended to take one mathematics subject
(either Calculus or Statistics).
English is also an important subject, but must have minimum of
NCEA Level 2 to meet University Entrance requirements.
Eligibility criteria for Vet School
University Entrance or equivalent (info for
2011 University Entrance at http://vet-school.massey.ac.nz)
Sit an ‘IQ type’ test called the Standard
Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT type F)
test (more info www.acer.edu.au/stat)
Passed all four pre-selection papers of
BVSc 1 Semester 1 (or equivalent from a
NZ University)
Complete at least 10 days veterinary
work experience
Selection criteria for Vet School
School Leavers
Must be eligible for selection
Weighted grade point average counts for
80%
Recommendation of approximately an Aaverage to have a chance of being near the
cutoff for selection.
STAT F test counts for 20%
Selection criteria for Vet School (cont)
Graduates or part-graduates
Must be eligible for selection
No limit on number of times you can apply
for selection
Two-year rule (grades obtained over last
four full-time semesters of study count
towards GPA)
Three-year rule (if an applicant has had a
break from university study for 3 years, then
only grades obtained since re-starting fulltime study are used in the GPA calculation)
STAT F test - can be carry forward result or
re-sit. If re-sit, then the new score is used;
not the highest score
About the BVSc degree
Massey is the only NZ University offering
the bachelor of veterinary science degree
Limited number of places and competitive
Five-year duration
Selection at end of first semester (preselection papers can be completed at campus
in Albany or Palmerston North)
Professional Phase of course in Palmerston
North
Extended final year of 40 weeks duration
About the BVSc degree (cont)
Pre-selection (semester one) – 4 compulsory subjects
Chemistry and living systems
Physics for life sciences
Biology of cells
Biology of animals
About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Normal structure, function and management (Anatomy and Physiology)
Abnormal structure and function (Pathology)
Causes of abnormality
Microbiology
Parasitology
Toxicology
Return to normal
Medicine
Surgery
Pharmacology
About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Preventive medicine and enhancement of performance
Personal wellbeing and self-care
Veterinary professional studies
Law
Business
Ethics
Management
About the BVSc degree (cont)
Post-selection
Must pass all papers each year to move to the next year
Course includes lectures, seminars, practical classes and working in the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Practical work
14 weeks of practical farm work
6 weeks of practical veterinary work
Veterinary degree cost
University fees are approximately $9,054
for each year of BVSc degree (2010figures)
There are other associated
course costs
Practical work must be done which limits
earning potential during holidays
Scholarships are available
Life after graduation
Can sit registration exams in United States and Japan
Graduates are automatically registerable in
New Zealand
Australia
United Kingdom
South Africa
Papua New Guinea
Life after graduation (cont)
Job prospects are good
Worldwide shortage of veterinarians
Baby boomer generation retirement
Starting salary package – approx $55,000
Great future earning potential (six figures +)
Related study options at Massey
Bachelor of AgriScience
Equine Studies
Agriculture
Bachelor of Science
Animal Science
Zoology
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
Related study options at Massey (cont)
Bachelor of Food Technology (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Veterinary Technology
Diploma of Veterinary Nursing
Find out more
Veterinary school website
Veterinary Teaching hospital
http://vethospital.massey.ac.nz
Massey University website
http://vet-school.massey.ac.nz
http://www.massey.ac.nz
Email [email protected]