Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science

There will be around 60 places available each year.

There are no formal prerequisites for the Veterinary Science course at CSU but, as it is a science based course, we assume that students will have studied mathematics and chemistry at Year 12, as this reflects a student's interest in and aptitude for science. However, we understand that not all schools offer Year 12 chemistry. If you have not studied chemistry in Year 12 or if you studied maths at a general level and are accepted into the course, we strongly recommend that you undertake a STUDY LINK course before commencing - SSS010 Introduction to Chemistry, or SSS008 Mathematics for the Sciences.

Please refer to the admission requirements in the online course brochure.

If you have not completed Year 12 in the last 10 years or have not completed at least one full year of study at university, you are not eligible for selection into the course.

There is no special pathway for mature age students. You must have completed Year 12 or studied full-time at university within the past 10 years.

The aim of the supplementary application form is to find out about your interest in and commitment to animal production and rural and regional veterinary practice. You are required to provide evidence of this through your family background, work (including school work experience, part-time jobs or voluntary work) or special interests.

The aim of the interview is to validate the statements you made in the supplementary application regarding your interest in and commitment to animal production and rural and regional veterinary practice. The interview is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your communication skills.

The aim of the written communication task, which is held over the interview days, is to assess your written communication skills and your ability to think clearly and critically in a short period of time under test conditions.

No. Approximately 160 applicants will be selected for interview on the basis of their supplementary application form.

Not normally. Exceptions for medical reasons may be considered.

No. If you are unable to accept your offer of a place, you must apply again in subsequent years. Your subsequent applications will not be harmed by previously declining an offer.

Credit will be granted for only a limited number of subjects in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Under normal circumstances credits will only be considered for the following subjects: CHM104 Chemistry 1A (prerequisite for VSC226); BCM210 Foundations & Techniques in Biochemistry; ASC273 Animal Nutrition; ASC221 Animal Genetics.

Credit eligibility will be conferred by the Subject Coordinator for each subject. Awarding of credit will not result in the shortening of the degree.

No. STAT test scores are not considered.

First, you should make sure that veterinary science is the profession that you really want to pursue and seek career planning advice. If you have no Year 12 qualification or your ATAR was not high enough, you should concentrate on qualifying for admission to another course with a view to reapplying to CSU’s Veterinary Science course in the future. It is also important to recognise the emphasis placed on commitment to farm animal production in the selection process.

You should choose a course that you think you will enjoy and do well in, and be happy to complete, should your future applications to CSU Veterinary Science be unsuccessful

You can, however your application will be judged on its merits at the same time as applications from students at other universities. CSU students do not get preference in this competitive process. You will need to repeat the supplementary application form / interview process.

The six-year double degree enables us to provide a broader course that includes areas such as communication, business management and agriculture, and an increased emphasis on nutrition, epidemiology, public health and production animals, as well as the traditional curriculum for veterinary science courses. This additional study is recognised by the awarding of two degrees, the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the completion of the course.

You will attend lectures, tutorials and practical classes for approximately 26-28 hours per week. In the final year of the course, you are required to complete a number of extramural placements of three-week duration at veterinary practices remote to Wagga Wagga.

Clinical activities will be incorporated in each year of the course, starting with a few hours related to your subject content in first year. These will build throughout the course, and culminate in extensive clinical rotations in your final year. You will undertake your workplace learning in veterinary practices in regional and metropolitan centres, and in rural veterinary practices.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours), students must first attain a grade point average (GPA) of 5 or higher (Credit average or higher) from all 8 point subjects studied in Years 2, 3 and 4. Then they must satisfactorily complete a research project during Year 5 while maintaining a high GPA from subjects studied in Years 4 and 5.

Only Commonwealth supported places are available to Australian and New Zealand applicants. Australian residents and New Zealand citizens receive Commonwealth subsidies but are not eligible for HECS-HELP (must pay HECS fees by the census date each session). For further information, visit the Study Assist website.

Australian residents pay the student contribution fee (HECS). In addition, you will need to buy prescribed textbooks, and may purchase additional books to help with your studies. Scientific texts can cost between $100 and $150 each. Protective clothing (laboratory coat, overalls, boots) are also required from the first week or two of the course. There are also additional costs associated with travel to veterinary practices for workplace learning components of the course. The University does not contribute to these costs. Scholarships are available to assist with costs.

Yes. A limited number of international students will be accepted on a full-fee paying basis. Information about international student fees is available here.