About the vet schools

The eight veterinary schools of Australia and New Zealand offer different degree options, but all provide a pathway for graduates to practice as a veterinarian in Australia and New Zealand (as well as the United Kingdom and some other countries, depending on the school). The list below shows the courses(s) offered by each school. Click on the school name to learn more about it.

  • Massey University: 5-year course leading to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
  • James Cook University: 5-year course leading to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
  • University of Queensland: 5-year course leading to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
  • University of Sydney: 6-year course leading to Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (BVetBiol) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); 4-year DVM can be undertaken with other suitable undergraduate degree
  • Charles Sturt University: 6-year course leading to Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (BVetBiol) and Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVetSc)
  • University of Melbourne: 6-year course leading to Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); 4-year DVM can be undertaken with other suitable undergraduate degree
  • University of Adelaide: 6-year course leading to Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) (BSc (VetBiosc)) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); 3-year DVM can be undertaken with other suitable undergraduate degree
  • Murdoch University: 5-year integrated course leading to Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

History

The first veterinary school in Australia, Melbourne Veterinary College, was established by William Tyson Kendall in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (Melbourne) in 1888. Melbourne Veterinary College would become part of the University of Melbourne in 1909. The University of Sydney opened its Department of Veterinary Science a year later in 1910.

The University of Melbourne Veterinary School closed after 1928 and only re-opened in 1963. So, between 1928 and 1940, all Australasian veterinary graduates were from the University of Sydney.

Veterinary schools were subsequently established by:

  • University of Queensland (1936)
  • Murdoch University (1975)
  • Charles Sturt University (2005)
  • James Cook University (2006)
  • University of Adelaide (2008)

Budding veterinarians from New Zealand had to travel to Australia to undertake their training until 1963 when Massey Agricultural College (now University) established its veterinary school.