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Areas of interest

Study veterinary science , Te hauora kararehe

Study veterinary science to treat sick or injured animals. Massey vets support the health and wellbeing of pets, farm animals and wildlife.

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First-rate vet school

QS ranks us in the world's top 50 vet schools.

World-class facilities

Learn in top facilities such as our teaching hospital, equine clinic, pet emergency centre, and new hospital for farm animals.

Globally recognised

As one of our veterinary science graduates, you'll be qualified to work globally – in Australia, the UK, Canada, the US and more.

Learn by doing

Get hands-on experience in labs, field trips, and practical projects that focus on solving real-world problems.

Overview

Join a world-class veterinary programme – we rank in the world's top 50 vet schools.

Learn from lecturers and researchers with expertise in areas such as companion animal (pet) surgery, farm animal health and public health. Get hands-on experience at Massey vet hospitals, including specialist clinics for cats and dogs, farm animals, horses and native birds. Master new skills while working with a wide range of animals, using state-of-the-art equipment.

Gain experience in your preferred area of interest with final-year work placements. Graduate with a qualification recognised nationally and internationally.

Veterinary science is a good fit if you:

  • do well in sciences and maths
  • want a challenging and rewarding career working with animals – and the people who look after them
  • like thinking analytically and solving problems.

Vet courses cover:

  • animal behaviour and welfare
  • clinical examination, and medical and surgical treatment options, for a wide range of animals
  • diagnostic techniques and tools
  • normal and abnormal animal structure and function
  • preventing common diseases and optimising health for pets and farm animals
  • real-life veterinary cases and scenarios.

For qualified vets, we also offer further study in topics such as:

  • dermatology (skin)
  • epidemiology (spread and control of diseases)
  • oncology (cancer)
  • ophthalmology (eyes)
  • surgery.

How to study veterinary science

Discover what we offer if you’re interested in veterinary science – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.

Undergraduate study

An undergraduate qualification is generally the first thing you’ll study at university.

Bachelor's degrees

Degrees are the standard qualifications you do at university – the most common is called a bachelor’s. Degrees give you enough time to explore your interests, and also focus on specific subjects.

Postgraduate study

Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equivalent experience – you’ll be ready to take on postgraduate study.

Master's degrees

A master's degree normally builds on a main subject of study from your undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate diplomas are postgraduate-level qualifications that are longer than a postgraduate certificate. If you’re successful, you might be able to use the credits towards the longer master’s degree.

PhD and other doctoral degrees

Doctoral degrees, including PhDs, are the highest degrees we award. They’re very demanding and their entry criteria reflect this.

Relevant research areas at Massey

Discover research expertise, projects and initiatives relating to veterinary science at Massey.

Veterinary research

Global One Health programmes to help tackle epidemics and pandemics

EpiCentre – our veterinary epidemiology training and research centre

What our students say

“I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 year degree at Massey. I made lifelong friends while learning essential knowledge and skills which have helped me to start my new career.”
Shawn Chandrakumar

Bachelor of Veterinary Science

“The MVM team is highly supportive, friendly and professional and are eager to help you succeed at every stage.”
Raewyn Taylor

Master of Veterinary Medicine

Our facilities

You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities when you study with us.

Wildbase Hospital

A specialist hospital for wildlife, with equipment and facilities including:

  • five patient wards to separate prey from predatory species
  • intensive care and isolation wards
  • surgery suite
  • endoscopes
  • portable radiographic unit.

Students can assist with or observe procedures.

Location: Manawatū campus

Student and dog

Companion Animal Hospital

From cats and dogs to birds and reptiles, the hospital cares for sick and injured pets of all shapes and sizes. This includes:

  • health checks
  • spays and neuterings
  • vaccinations.

Large Animal Teaching Unit (LATU)

This is a dedicated facility to help train Massey veterinary students in aspects of large animal handling and examination across a range of species.

The facility includes a small working farm with horses, cattle, sheep and camelids. A range of veterinary procedures are taught as students progress through their course.

Location:  Manawatū campus

Equine Veterinary Clinic

The clinic offers a broad range of medical and surgical expertise. It includes:

  • patient boxes and paddocks
  • surgery
  • separate isolation unit.

Students can assist with or observe procedures.

Location: Manawatū campus

Farm Services Clinic

Expert care for livestock and lifestyle animals such as alpacas, goats and poultry. Our new hospital includes:

  • patient boxes and yards
  • surgery
  • separate farm animal isolation unit.

Students assist with or observe procedures.

Jobs in veterinary science

Massey vets work everywhere from clinics to farms, agribusiness companies to zoos, sanctuaries to the great outdoors. Some vets work with local or international charities, or become researchers with expertise in areas such as:

  • understanding disease transmission between animals and people
  • optimising animal health, welfare and production.

Jobs prospects are good, as farming and agribusiness are important to Aotearoa New Zealand, as are conservation and eco-tourism. Not to mention our household pets...

Veterinary careers include:

  • clinical veterinarians (also called vets), who work with a wide range of species
  • epidemiologists, who study the spread and control of animal diseases
  • pathologists, who study animal diseases and other health conditions
  • veterinarians who advise the government, assure the safety of food we eat, or develop animal welfare policies
  • veterinary researchers.

Annual salary ranges for jobs

New graduates can earn between $60,000 to $83,000 a year. Experienced vets, including those running their own business, can earn up to $200,000.

Vet – $60,000 to $200,000

Becoming a vet

Massey's Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) qualifies you to work as a vet. We're the only university in Aotearoa New Zealand to offer this degree.

Our BVSc is internationally recognised and accredited, so Massey vet graduates can work in countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, the UK and United States.

It's competitive to enter BVSc. Here are the steps involved.

1

Entry requirements: We recommend a good background in sciences and maths. For New Zealand students, this means 14 to 20 credits of NCEA Level 3 chemistry and biology, and 14 to 20 credits in Level 2 maths and/or physics. You also need to do work experience or observation time in a veterinary clinic before the pre-selection semester.

2

Pre-selection phase: Enrol in prerequisite courses in the first semester, also called pre-vet. This is open entry, so long as you meet university entrance requirements.

3

Professional phase: Based on your performance in the pre-selection semester, you may be offered a place in the remaining nine semesters of the BVSc.

Salary ranges disclaimer

Indicative pay rates are:

Which veterinary qualification?

Examples of where our qualifications may take you.

Table showing jobs and what you could study to enter them.
Jobs Examples of what you could study
Clinical veterinarian Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Master of Veterinary Studies for vets keen to specialise
Epidemiologist, also called animal disease investigator Master of Veterinary Studies
Pathologist Master of Veterinary Studies (Veterinary Pathology)

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Veterinary Science

The Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as 28th in the world for veterinary science.

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Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

Accredited via the mutual recognition process operating with AVBC. Last evaluation: 2021

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American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Accredited. Last evaluation: 2021. Next evaluation: 2028.

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Australasian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC)

Massey’s BVSc programme is accredited by the Australian Veterinary Boards Council with minor deficiencies; graduates can work in New Zealand and Australia. Last evaluation: 2021. Next evaluation: 2028.

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Get an information guide

Download our guide to find out more about studying veterinary science at Massey.

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