Accreditation and rankings
Massey University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme was first accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.
Massey’s Veterinary programme is accredited by:
- AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Associations
- CVMA | Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations
- RCVS | The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Veterinary Council of New Zealand
- Australia Veterinary Board Council
Facilities
A new wildlife hospital opened in 2016 – the only such facility at a New Zealand university, where we treat many of our endangered species. A 24-hour pet emergency centre and an equine hospital complement the existing veterinary clinic for companion and production animals (e.g. sheep, dairy and beef cows).
Undergraduate programmes
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Massey is the only university in New Zealand that offers veterinary training, and the degree is widely recognised internationally. The Massey University BVSc programme is fully accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The BVSc is also recognised through reciprocity by the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA).This means you could work as a veterinarian not only in New Zealand, but also Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA and many other countries.
The BVSc is a 5-year (10 semester) degree that is divided into a pre-selection phase and a professional phase. The first semester (beginning in February) is referred to as the “BVSc pre-selection” semester. Depending on your performance in this first semester, you may be selected to the ‘professional phase’ of your qualification, beginning in July (4.5 years long). Selection is highly-competitive so focussing on great results for your first semester is vital.
In your fifth and final year you get to choose an area of interest (track), and will do lots of work placements while you are studying. This gives you invaluable on-the-job experience. This individualised final year curriculum allows you to further explore your area of interest while ensuring wide coverage of the main veterinary species.
Bachelor of Veterinary Technology
The Bachelor of Veterinary Technology is a diverse degree that will provide you with a variety of transferable skills, including how to effectively collect evidence, analyse it and develop appropriate solutions. These skills open up opportunities to work in various different industries.
As a veterinary technologist, you could work with veterinary specialists in a veterinary referral hospital, or with government and private organisations to help maintain and protect the health and welfare of wildlife, as well as exotic, companion, and production animals.
There is also a high demand for the skills you gain in the areas of public health and food safety.
Veterinary technologists work with pathologists, as animal behaviourists, production animal consultants, and senior advisers in regulatory industry bodies. The study of veterinary technology will teach you how to be relevant to contemporary veterinary practice.
The Bachelor of Veterinary Technology is unique in New Zealand and is only one of four that are available internationally.
Real world experience
Veterinary Technology students are trained alongside Massey University’s veterinary science students in a clinical setting in the state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
As one of the only universities in New Zealand to offer a specialised course in zoology, our programme is unique.
You’ll learn about land-based animals and environments. You will also develop a strong foundation including the latest thinking in genetic and physiological processes, animal development, anatomy and behaviour. You’ll explore freshwater and marine systems, and our wide range of speciality fields including conservation of biodiversity.
A zoology major offers you a wide range of specialisations in interest areas, as well as in mainstream zoology. The core zoology qualification looks at animals on a variety of scales.
You will gain skills in a broad range of related sciences including ecology, conservation diversity and evolution.
It is not just about land-based animals and environments – you will also explore freshwater and marine systems.
Bachelor of Animal Science
Massey has a number of internationally recognised animal-based research centres including: AL Rae Genetics Centre, Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Centre for Feline Nutrition, Equine Parentage Genetic Services Centre, Equine Research Centre, International Sheep Research Centre, Monogastric Research Centre and the Working Dog Centre. These centres are used to enhance the learning experience throughout the degree.
The production and companion animal industries, government departments and agencies, iwi-owned agribusinesses recognise the importance of animal science in what they do and employ our graduates. Our rigorous programme is supported by industry and provides you with the valuable skills employers are looking for.
Massey University’s animal, agricultural and veterinary science professionals are among the best in the world and they will teach you about the latest developments in animal science. You will obtain expertise in genetics and breeding, nutrition and growth, and animal welfare. The Bachelor of Animal Science degree also offers a speciality in equine.
Majors
- Bachelor of Animal Science (Animal Genetics and Breeding)
- Bachelor of Animal Science (Animal Nutrition and Growth)
- Bachelor of Animal Science (Animal Welfare)
- Bachelor of Animal Science (Equine Science)
Postgraduate programmes
Master of Veterinary Studies
The Master of Veterinary Studies is an internationally recognised veterinary degree, most suited to veterinarians who are focused on professional development and progressing their career.
Massey’s Master of Veterinary Studies can be built around your particular and personal academic needs. You may choose from endorsements in epidemiology, pathology, public health and conservation veterinary medicine, or develop your skills across any area of veterinary science by choosing a MVS with no endorsement. Within the MVS the range of research opportunities is wide and includes most fields of veterinary science from anatomy to animal welfare.
There are a wide range of taught courses for you to choose from, depending on your area of interest and endorsement that you choose. These include pathology, epidemiology, parasitology, conservation medicine, surgery, medicine, physiology, ruminant livestock feeding, dairy, sheep, beef, deer or poultry production, animal welfare science and much more.
The classroom experience is interactive and there is opportunity for research at an entry level.
Master of Veterinary Medicine
Admission to the Master of Veterinary Medicine requires you to have a completed a veterinary degree. If you have completed a Massey University Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), or have a veterinary qualification that can be registered by the New Zealand Veterinary Council or is considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent to the Massey University BVSc, you can enrol into the Master of Veterinary Medicine.
Courses in the Master of Veterinary Medicine programme are not designed as retraining tools for veterinarians wanting to return to practice. They assume a base level of knowledge of that achieved in the veterinary degree, and they aim to extend veterinarians to a higher level of knowledge and skill. All courses have some assessments that require reporting of clinical material a student has managed.
In order to enrol directly into the Master of Veterinary Medicine programme you must have obtained a B grade average in your veterinary degree. If you are not eligible to enrol directly into the Master of Veterinary Medicine but have the appropriate background, and are approved for entry into an alternative qualification, you may complete Master of Veterinary Medicine courses towards a Certificate of Proficiency, Postgraduate Certificate of Science and Technology (PGCertScTech) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Science (PGDipVSc) and then may switch your enrolment to the Master of Veterinary Medicine programme if you obtain minimum B grades in at least two Master of Veterinary Medicine courses.
Master of Science (Zoology)
When you study towards the Masters of Science (Zoology), you will be able to take advantage of Massey’s expertise in animal-related disciplines. We have a wide and relevant group of expertise within the university, from zoology, veterinary science, ecology, wildlife health and conservation biology, to agriculture, physiology, animal science, environmental management and social sciences.
You will learn from, and research with, highly-skilled internationally recognised and active researchers in these fields, with a huge depth of knowledge and experience. Whatever focus you’d like to have in your postgraduate study and research, there is likely to be an expert at Massey who can help you dig deeper into your area of interest.
The programme also works across related majors within the MSc – for instance if you major in zoology, you can also still take courses from across the other complementary Master of Science majors of conservation biology and ecology, giving you an in-depth knowledge of those most closely related programmes.
When you graduate with a Master of Science (Zoology) you will have learned how to work at a high level of academic achievement, work to deadlines under pressure and communicate effectively.
Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Foundation Studies – High Achiever Scholarship | NZ$3,000 |
| College of Humanities and Social Sciences International Excellence Scholarships | NZ$5,000 per year |
| New Zealand Scholarship for Asian | TBC |
| Massey University Creative Arts International Excellence Scholarships | up to NZD $20,000 |
| Scholarship Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| College of Humanities and Social Sciences International Excellence Scholarships | NZ$10,000 per year |
| New Zealand Pacific Scholarship | TBC |
| New Zealand Scholarship for Asian | TBC |
| Massey University Doctoral Scholarship | TBC |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | TBC |
*Note: The indicated course fees is per annum based and based on completing a standard full time study load. Fees may increase yearly.
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