Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Bachelor of Veterinary Science double degree is a six-year program that prepares graduates for a career in veterinary practice and other related fields.

CSU's Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science arose from the need of rural communities for more veterinarians who want to live and work in regional areas and who have the knowledge and skills to work with a broad range of animal species, from farm livestock to horses, companion animals and wildlife.

The course has been designed in close consultation with the veterinary industry to address these needs and aims to provide highly competent veterinary graduates with a strong commitment to animal health, welfare and research, and to the development and protection of animal industries.

Unique admission process

With the high demand for entry into this course we have developed an admission process that aims to ensure applicants with excellent academic achievements, as
well as a genuine commitment to animals, livestock industries and for working in rural communities, have the best chance at securing a place in the course.

Students are selected on their aptitude and the experience of each student is evaluated through additional criteria.

The admission process involves three steps:

• applying through UAC - you will be assessed on your academic performance. Australian Tertiary Academic Rank (ATAR) in NSW, which is usually greater than 90, or equivalent.
• a Supplementary Application Form - which gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to animals, livestock industries and rural communities.
• if selected based on the two criteria above, attendance at an interview, which is usually held at CSU in Wagga Wagga. 

More information about this is available on the Admission Requirements page.

Your course is recognised by industry

This course is fully accredited by the Australian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC), the Veterinary Council of New Zealand and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK. This means that graduates of CSU's Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science will have achieved the necessary graduate attributes and will be eligible for registration as veterinarians in all states of Australia, in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

To meet these professional expectations, CSU graduates must be able to demonstrate their ability to perform various animal handling, manipulative, therapeutic and diagnostic techniques. Graduates require the skills to practise veterinary medicine and surgery across all species of domestic and potentially native and wild animals, while demonstrating the ethical, physical and emotional capacity to participate in the full curriculum.

Credit

CSU does not usually expect students to repeat relevant study completed at an acceptable standard at university level, however, there are some subjects in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Bachelor of Veterinary Science for which credit will not be granted. Credit eligibility should be discussed with subject co-ordinators.

Honours stream

Completing an Honours degree provides you with the learning skills required to undertake research and develop enhanced critical thinking. It provides a stepping stone for further postgraduate study such as a PhD or animal health research, as well as an edge when presenting your CV for employment.

If you achieve a high academic grade (a grade point average (GPA) of 5 or higher across all subjects studied in second, third and fourth year) you have the opportunity to transfer into the Honours stream at the beginning of fifth year.

Successful students will be included in a special program of Honours workshops and tutorials and you will have the opportunity to produce your own research contributing to the veterinary profession through a supervised research project, which may be published and provide opportunities to speak at professional conferences.