Study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science – BVSc

By studying at Massey you’ll join a highly ranked, world-class veterinary science qualification that will open up career options in a wide variety of rewarding areas relating to animal and human health. Massey’s veterinary degree is highly ranked globally and widely accredited. Our graduates work in many countries including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Asia.

Great facilities

Massey University is the veterinary school for the whole of New Zealand. So it is a key focus for Massey University and we have some of the best facilities in Australasia. You can see some of them in our Behind the Scenes virtual tour. We’re also currently building more great facilities that will make our future veterinary students’ learning experience even better.

Degree structure overview

Our Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), is a five-year (10 semester) qualification offered solely on the Manawatu campus in Palmerston North. The first semester (starting in February) is referred to as the ‘pre-selection’ semester. Depending on your performance in the pre-selection semester courses and selection assessments, you may be selected to the ‘professional phase’ (4.5 years long) beginning in July. Selection is competitive so it pays to come well prepared for the pre-selection semester. Make sure you work on your communication and interpersonal skills and get a good background in the sciences before joining us.

Professional veterinary training

If you’re selected into the professional phase, you’ll be well trained in a broad range of animal species. You’ll get hands-on experiences from day one and develop problem-solving skills, while learning everything you need to work as a veterinarian. You’ll spend the final year on clinical placements and have the opportunity to focus more in an area of interest. In line with the international recognition of this degree, you will find the study rigorous, challenging and interesting.

International students

Many international students study veterinary science with Massey. We understand it takes a special kind of person to choose to complete their veterinary degree abroad and we welcome you to join us.

Fast track your veterinary career

In New Zealand, professional training qualifications (like medicine, vet and law) are undergraduate degrees, so you don’t need a previous degree to study. Whether you’ve recently completed high school or have already done a couple of years or even a degree at university, you can join us to become a veterinarian in a total of five years or less.

The Massey veterinary degree is one of the fastest paths to becoming a fully qualified veterinarian, who is accredited to work in many countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, NZ, South Africa and others). By spending fewer years at university, you can start your veterinary career sooner and save on tuition fees.

Renowned for an excellent lifestyle, New Zealand is a great place to study abroad for your American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary degree.

A note for Canadian and American applicants

An undergraduate veterinary degree is a different educational model than you would be used to. However, as our degree is accredited by the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Associations, you can be confident that it is recognized as the equivalent of a DVM degree from a North American vet school. This means you can return and work in the same way as if you had graduated from a vet school there.

A BVSc is a good fit if you:

do well in science and mathematics

like solving problems and are self-motivated

want a challenging and rewarding career working with animals.