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 5-year (10 semester) qualification offered solely on the Manawatū 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 1 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 5 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.

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) is a 5-year degree divided into 2 phases:

• Pre-selection phase (a minimum of 1 semester). Entry into the pre-selection semester is open to anyone who meets the Massey University admission requirements.
• Professional phase (9 semesters – 4.5 years). Entry to the professional phase is by selection based on academic performance, non-academic performance, and relevant experience.

Expected high school preparation

Successfully completing the following NCEA subjects (or equivalent in Cambridge International Examinations, International Baccalaureate etc) should give you the background knowledge to pass the prerequisite courses.

• At least 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Biology.
• At least 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Chemistry.
• At least 14 credits of NCEA Level 2 Physics
• At least 14 credits of NCEA Level 2 Mathematics

However, the more science and maths experience you have, the better prepared you will be to do well enough in the prerequisite courses to meet the requirements for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc. If you haven’t done this level of science, contact us through the “Get advice” button on this page and we can discuss ways to help you get ready for the prerequisite courses. Put “vet selection advice” as the first line of your enquiry.

Phase 1: Pre-selection semester

The pre-selection semester for the BVSc is offered at the Manawatū Campus in Semester One beginning in late February each year. It is your opportunity to show us you have what it takes to become a veterinarian. You’ll complete the prerequisite courses and a range of selection assessments. You’ll need to do well in these to be selected into the professional phase, so work on your communication and interpersonal skills and get a good background in the sciences before joining us for the pre-selection semester.

Phase 2: Professional phase

The professional phase of the BVSc is essentially ‘vet school’. It starts in Semester Two (mid-July) at the Manawatū Campus. There are usually more applicants than the number of places available in the professional phase (domestic students ~3-4 times, international students ~2 times), so there is a selection process. Selection is competitive, so make sure you come prepared.

If you are selected into the professional phase, over the next 4.5 years you will take courses which cover everything needed to become a qualified veterinarian. Please refer to the ‘Courses and Planning’ tab to see the courses in the professional phase.

Professional phase selection – finding the right group for you

You’ll apply for selection in 1 of 4 application groups. There is some guidance below about the groups, but ultimately the university will determine the correct group for you based on whether you are a domestic or international applicant and your university study history.

How do I know if I am a domestic or international student?

Do you have NZ citizenship or residency, or are you an Australian citizen or permanent resident who will be living in New Zealand when you study? If yes, then you are a domestic student (even if you have citizenship in another country). If not, then you are an international student.

Selection overview by Group

The selection process for each group is summarised below. The full details are outlined in the Veterinary Student Selection Rules, which are confirmed annually by the Veterinary Student Selection Committee.

Eligibility for selection into the professional phase

For each group, you must meet the eligibility criteria which are:

• Submit all applications by the specified due dates
• Complete 40 hours of pre-entry veterinary practical work experience. (Please refer to the “Before you start” section for more information.)
• Pass all of the prerequisite courses. (Please refer to the “Courses and Specialisations" section to see the prerequisite courses.)
• Complete all selection assessments required for your Group (STAT, Casper, MMI, Science test).
• Have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 or greater (B Grade).
• Have a science test result of B average or better.

For international applicants - if you are from a country where English is not the first language you must show evidence of English language competence that meets the requirements of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (see below).

Domestic Students

Have you already studied, in New Zealand or Australia, at least 1 full time semester of tertiary study in a level and area in which you could gain a university degree (eg excludes classes taken in high school or sub degree/foundation/prep level classes)? If not, you are considered a 'new to university' applicant. If you have, then you’re a 'prior university' experience applicant.

Group A. Domestic new to university applicants

A1 – New to university - General pathway. You will complete the pre-selection semester and take the 4 prerequisite courses on the Manawatū campus. There are 2 stages in the selection process. In Stage One, you’ll sit the Casper and STAT assessments (see below) and your results in these assessments will determine if you’re invited to Stage Two. If you’re invited to Stage Two, you’ll participate in the multiple-mini-interview ('MMI'; see below). Your final selection will be based on whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (Grade Point Average, GPA ≥ 5) and passed all the prerequisite courses, and you’ll be ranked on the basis of your MMI and Casper results. The general pathway is the default for domestic students.

A2 – New to university - VetMAP pathway. You will complete the pre-selection semester and take the 4 prerequisite courses on the Manawatū campus. Your selection has 1 stage and your final selection will be based on holistic consideration of all your selection assessments (the multiple-mini-interview, STAT and Casper assessments), whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (GPA ≥ 5) and passed all the prerequisite courses, engagement with VetMAP and feedback from the VetMAP staff. The VetMAP pathway may be chosen by Indigenous domestic students (i.e. Māori whakapapa or Indigenous Pacific ancestry).

VetMAP applicants must complete this application form ideally by November 1 to allow time for early assessment. The absolute deadline is February 1 of the year they are applying for selection.

Group B. Domestic prior university experience applicants

As a prior uni applicant, you may be a graduate from any university, or an undergraduate student at Massey University. You can only apply as an undergraduate student in your second or subsequent years if you are progressing in an appropriate, set of full-time courses that will enable you to complete your specified major in the minimum time (e.g. 3-years for most bachelor degrees). We can only make that determination for students at Massey, hence the restriction to Massey undergraduate students.

B1 – Prior university - General pathway. There are 2 stages in the selection process. In Stage One, you’ll sit the Casper and STAT assessments (see below) and your results in these assessments will determine if you’re invited to Stage Two. If you’re invited to Stage Two, you’ll participate in the multiple-mini-interview (MMI) (see below). Your final selection will be based on whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (GPA ≥ 5), and passed all the prerequisite courses, and you’ll be ranked on the basis of your MMI and Casper results. The general pathway is the default for domestic students.

B2 – Prior university - VetMAP pathway. Your selection has 1 stage and your final selection will be based on holistic consideration of all your selection assessments (the multiple-mini-interview, STAT and Casper assessments), whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (GPA ≥ 5) and passed all the prerequisite courses, engagement with VetMAP and feedback from the VetMAP staff. The VetMAP pathway may be chosen by Indigenous domestic students (i.e. Māori whakapapa or Indigenous Pacific ancestry).

VetMAP applicants must complete this application form, ideally by November 1 to allow time for early assessment. The absolute deadline is February 1 of the year they are applying for selection.

International students

Group 1. International Applicants

Group 1 international students complete the pre-selection semester at Massey University in order to prove their capability for the professional phase. Group 1 students either do not meet all the eligibility criteria for Group 2 or met the criteria but were not ranked highly enough to be offered a Group 2 position.

As a Group 1 applicant, you will complete the pre-selection semester and take the 4 prerequisite courses (or alternate science courses if you have credit for the prerequisite courses). There are 2 stages in the selection process. In Stage One, you’ll sit the Casper and STAT assessments (see below) and your results in these assessments will determine if you’re invited to Stage Two. If you’re invited to Stage Two, you’ll participate in the multiple-mini-interview (MMI). Your final selection will be based on whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (Grade Point Average or GPA ≥ 5) and passed all the prerequisite courses, and you’ll be ranked on the basis of your MMI and Casper results.

If you are not selected into the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) at your first attempt, you can continue to study sciences at Massey University and reapply for selection.

Group 2. International applicants (includes VMCAS applicants)

Group 2 international students apply for entry into the professional phase of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) based on their academic performance in an appropriate undergraduate or postgraduate science degree at a university or college overseas.

You may be eligible for Group 2 if you are an international student who has:

• Completed at least 1 year of full-time largely science-based study overseas at the time of applying, AND
• Completed the equivalent of our prerequisite courses AND
• A GPA ≥ 5 (equivalent to a B average or GPA ≥ 3 in North America).

There are 2 stages in the selection process as a Group 2 applicant. In Stage One, you will be assessed for eligibility for selection to the professional phase. If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria you’ll be declined for Group 2, and have the option to apply for Group 1. If you meet the eligibility criteria your application will be reviewed, with a strong emphasis on GPA, to decide if you’ll be invited to complete the asynchronous multiple-mini-interview (MMI). The final stage is a zoom interview with a Massey representative. Following this, applicants will be ranked for offers based on their GPA and interview scores..

Casper

Casper is a 2-hour online assessment. In this assessment you will be presented with a set of written or video format scenarios that might be experienced by people in everyday life. For each scenario you will be asked to type or record open-ended responses to questions in a set period of time. You may find it helpful to develop your typing skills for this assessment and as a general skill. Casper is usually offered in March each year.

Casper is offered as an online test by an external provider on a fixed date and time, so you can complete this assessment anywhere you have access to a computer with a webcam and excellent internet access (broadband or fibre). Read more about Casper.

STAT

The STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test) is a 2-hour multiple choice question test designed to assess your ability to understand, analyse and think critically about written and numerical material. See STAT info and practice questions(PDF) for further information about the STAT and sample questions. The STAT test is usually offered in March each year. Group A and B domestic students and Group 1 international students sit the STAT test.

Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

The MMI consists of a round of 8 short structured interviews each lasting 8 minutes (for a total of 64 minutes). At each interview station, you will be presented with a hypothetical scenario that might be experienced by veterinary students during the course of their training and questions about the scenario. Before the start of each interview, you have a short time to read the scenario, prepare your thoughts, and make notes to help you respond to the scenario questions. You then enter the interview room and explain your responses to the scenario questions to the interviewer. When you are finished or at the end of 8 minutes, you move to the next interview station where the process is repeated. The MMI is usually offered in May each year.

We utilise the MMI format of interview as research demonstrates significant benefits of this format over traditional panel or 1-on-1 interviews. One benefit is that the MMI enables multiple assessments of an applicant’s abilities by different interviewers, which increases the reliability of the assessment.

BVSc Selection Science Test

This is a supervised test of science knowledge critical to your success in the BVSc Professional Phase. The test has 4 sections which are based on content from the 4 prerequisite courses. You will only attempt the section(s) that correspond to the prerequisite course(s) that you are enrolled in. You will be required to attain at least a B Grade average on the test.

Grade point average (GPA)

The grade point average (GPA) is a calculation that gives a number (0 - 9) representing an applicant’s average academic performance over time. Where an applicant has no prior university study, their GPA will be calculated from the 4 prerequisite courses. Where an applicant has completed any prior university study (including university courses taken while in high school), their GPA will be calculated following an extensive set of rules that take into account the applicant’s previous and current university study.

If you have prior university experience and want to know what your GPA is currently or what courses will be included in your GPA calculation, contact a specialist veterinary academic advisor using the “Get Advice” button and put “Vet Selection advice” in the first line of your query. To receive reliable written advice before the start of semester, applicants need to email the advisors by 1 February for Semester One and by 30 June for Semester Two.

Determining grades for courses is outside of the remit of the veterinary student selection sub-committee. Any questions or concerns regarding grades from Massey University courses should be directed to the course coordinator or examinations.

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

If you’re already a student in a veterinary degree elsewhere and you’re interested in transferring into our veterinary degree, contact us through the Get advice button on this page and note “vet selection advice” in the first line of your enquiry. Please note that transfer is not guaranteed and is subject to space being available in the appropriate class for you, your academic history, as well as other factors.

English language skills

International applicants who are from a country where English is not the first language must show evidence of English language competence that meets the requirements of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand as outlined in their Policy on English Competence. If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

Contact one of our veterinary advisors through the Get advice button on this page. They can talk to you about your options to get prepared for the pre-selection semester.

Special Consideration Application

The Special Consideration application allows for consideration of difficult personal circumstances outside of your control that are not adequately covered by the Aegrotat/impaired performance process (e.g. ongoing medical problems, multiple events in a semester etc). Special Consideration applications will not be considered where they relate to circumstances that are adequately covered by the Aegrotat/impaired performance procedure, such as acute personal circumstances that impair preparation for, attendance at, or performance in an assessment.

Complete and submit the Special Consideration Application form by 31 January or 30 June. Please click on the link to the form to view documentation required for your application.

More detail can be found on the BVSc applicants stream page which is for applicants in the year that they are applying.