Veterinary science

• UQ is ranked 44 in the world for veterinary science.
• You will train in purpose-built, modern facilities.
• You will be taught by dedicated professional and academic staff whose research programs and award-winning approaches to curriculum development and teaching will guide you to excellence in your career as both a veterinary student, and as a veterinarian.
• You will gain theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on experience and develop your expertise to deal with the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and injuries in animals.
• UQ’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) is accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, so graduates are eligible for registration with the various Veterinary Surgeons Boards in each of the states and territories of Australia, as well as New Zealand.
• The BVSc (Hons) program is also accredited with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s College of Education and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, meaning graduates are also eligible to for registration as a veterinarian in the UK, Europe and North America

Are you passionate about animal medicine? Are you interested in the health and welfare of dogs, cats, exotic pets, horses, production animals and wildlife? What if you could study veterinary science at an internationally accredited university with world-class teaching, hospital and research facilities?

UQ's Veterinary Science programs attract some of the highest achieving students from Australia and internationally and produces veterinarians who are in high demand around the world. Beyond a reputation for producing graduates of high clinical competency, UQ produces graduates who go on to highly successful professional careers in biomedical research, business, international development, and other fields.

Veterinary science is the application of medical, diagnostic and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals.

Beyond individual animal medicine, veterinarians are intimately engaged in the protection of animal production industries, animal health at the population level, and managing diseases at a global level. Veterinarians work within a One Health framework that aims to optimise human health and welfare through protecting public health, food security, and the human-animal bond.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program is UQ’s professional veterinary degree program. That is, it’s the program you undertake if you want to be a practising vet. This five-year degree will challenge you to become one of an elite group of professionals trained to become a companion animal clinician, an equine surgeon, a specialist in wildlife medicine, or a hundred other possibilities. If this is your passion, this is the program for you.

From day one, the BVSc (Hons) program provides you with a rigorous training in foundational biomedical disciplines such as biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, cellular and molecular biology, pharmacology, genetics, pathology, infectious diseases and immunology. These are complemented by courses that develop your competencies in animal handling and management, nutrition, animal welfare and related applied disciplines. All of this is underwritten by professionalism and non-technical skills development, and an authentic training approach that has you working with animals from first semester.

Clinical medicine and surgery become the predominant discipline training from mid-way through the program, with species-dedicated courses developing integrated knowledge and problem-solving skills, as well as the technical skills needed to manage animals clinically. In your final year, you will participate in an entirely hands-on clinical training experience, both in the Gatton Veterinary Teaching Hospital network and on external placements with practising veterinarians.This immersion experience hones all of the budding veterinarians’ ‘Day 1’ skills to make them practice-ready on graduation.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

Inherent requirements

The inherent requirements outline the physical and personal attributes expected of veterinary students and veterinarians. Prospective and current students are encouraged to read the inherent requirements statement and to reflect on these requirements.

Situational Judgement Test

You will need to take the Situational Judgement Test in the year of application and obtain a score which is higher than two standard deviations below the mean score for the test for that year.

The online test is designed to gauge your resilience, critical thinking and communication skills. 

Find out more about the Situational Judgement Test.

Watch our video

Learn about the BVetSc(Hons) program's structure and entry requirements, including the Situational Judgement Test (YouTube, 5m:52s).

Our higher degree by research programs provide research training in a way that fosters the development of independent research skills in candidates. Both the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy are offered in a large number of disciplines including but not limited to: Humanities; Social Sciences; Arts; Business; Law; Architecture; Science; Engineering; Agriculture; Medicine; Health and Behavioural Science; Biomedical Science; Information Technology.

The MPhil thesis provides evidence of significant research as the culmination of 1-2 years full-time equivalent study and research training. Whereas, the doctoral thesis provides evidence of a contribution to knowledge with a level of originality consistent with 3-4 years of full-time study and research training. The doctoral thesis also demonstrates a candidate's capacity for critical analysis and that he or she is capable of pursuing scholarly and programmatic research.

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)