What is Veterinary Science (VET)?
The Basics of Veterinary Science
Veterinary Science basically means the study of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders and injuries in animals. The generalised notion is very wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with specific conditions which only affect specific species. Veterinary medicine is often practised by a veterinary physician (vet), assisted by veterinary nurses and technicians. Though there are certainly more specific fields of veterinary, such as physiotherapy or dentistry.
What are the Various Fields of Veterinary Science?
As mentioned before, there are various specialities within Veterinary Science, just like human medical practices. Here are some different areas within Veterinary Science which are well-known:
| Vet Vocabulary | Explanation |
| Anaesthesiology | Pain relief for animals |
| Dentistry | Dental care for animals |
| Dermatology | Diseases and conditions of the skin |
| Internal Medicine | Diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, such as cardiology (heart), neurology (brain) and oncology (cancer and tumours) |
| Nutrition | Ensures animals’ diets meet their body’s requirement for nutrients |
| Pathology | Deals with causes & nature of diseases through lab examinations (e.g. autopsies) |
| Physiotherapy | Restore and maintain mobility, function, independence and performance |
| Surgery | Deals with injuries and disorders that require surgical intervention |
| Zoological Medicine | Care of zoo animals, wildlife and aquatic animals |
Why Should You Study Veterinary Science?
Veterinary Science can be extremely rewarding for those who have a passion for animals. Here are some reasons that set Veterinary Science from other degrees and careers.
| Interest & Love for Animals | As a vet, your job role consists of treating animals and ensure their welfare. As a result, you have to possess a great love for animals to pursue this career. Plus, there is no other career path as a vet, you get to examine different animals, treat a variety of diseases, and reap the satisfaction of doing good for the world! |
| Rewarding Salary | It certainly pays well to practice such a highly regarded profession. Though you need to consider the education costs of earning that veterinary degree! Furthermore, your salary can certainly go higher if you’ve received additional speciality training or hold board certificates. |
| Professional Independence & Flexibility | Although you may start off working for an established clinic, there is a future possibility for you to open up your own practice. Or you may even consider using your veterinary background to enter distinct industries, such as veterinary pharmaceutical sales companies, wildlife agencies, laboratories, academic institutions, etc. Hence, it is a degree filled with many bright futures! |
What are the entry requirements to study for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
In order to pursue a degree in Veterinary Science, the institutions are generally looking for qualifications like:
| (1) SPM / O-Level / IGCSE / Year 10 or equivalent qualification (Minimum of 5 credits, including Chemistry, English, Mathematics and Additional Mathematics) |
AND/OR
| (2) Entry from STPM / GCE A-level / Foundation of Science / Matriculation (Australia, Canadian, American) / Diploma or equivalent qualification (STPM or Matriculation: At least CGPA 3.6, with minimum B in Biology AND one advanced science subject (eg. Chemistry or Additional Mathematics) |
Entry requirements may vary depending on the university, so make sure you check with us (click here) before submitting your application!
How long is the study duration of Veterinary Science degree?
A Veterinary Science degree usually takes about 5 – 7 years depending on the curriculum and syllabus of the university.
Let us use the pathway from the University of Melbourne as an example, upon completion of pre-university equivalent qualification (eg. STPM, GCE A-level, Foundation in Science (from the G8 Universities), SAM and IB), the student can enroll into either Bachelor of Bio Medicine, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Agriculture. Following satisfactory completion of all subjects in the Veterinary Bio-science specialisation, the student can progress into the Doctor Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with one year of credit exemption (first-year units). Otherwise, Students not selected into the Veterinary Bio-science specialisation may apply for graduate entry into the DVM following completion of their Bachelor of Science.
Duration: Bachelor of Science (three years) plus the DVM with one year of credit (three years) = six years.
What Would You Study in a Veterinary Science Degree?
A Veterinary Science degree will give you the knowledge and skills required to diagnose and treat animals. Some of the subjects that you may learn include:
- Animal Anatomy
- Animal Biochemistry
- Animal Diseases
- Animal Genetics
- Animal Nutrition
- Anaesthesiology
- Bacteriology and Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- General Surgery
- Pathology
Throughout your degree, you will be required to carry out practical training. This could involve being situated at various places, such as livestock farms, zoos, SPCA and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as vet clinics. Remember that studying for a Veterinary Science degree is requires a lot of hard work, involving keen analytical skills accompanied with practical labour.
Career Options with a Veterinary Science Degree
A degree in Veterinary Science will allow you to pursue the following career options:
- Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Scientist
- Veterinary Pathologist
- Livestock Inspector
- Livestock Veterinarian
- Laboratory Animal Veterinarian
- Marine Biologist
- Pharmaceutical Researcher
- Zoological / Wildlife Veterinarian
Where Can You Study Doctor Veterinary Medicine other than Malaysia?
Once you have completed your degree in Veterinary Science, you can apply to be a registered veterinary surgeon through the Malaysian Veterinary Council. You will also need to apply for an Annual Practicing Certificate which cost about RM20. This is a required process in order to practice veterinary medicine in Malaysia.
Below here are the lists of Veterinary Universities overseas that are recognised by the Veterinary Council of Malaysia
Veterinary Universities in Australia
University | Qualification | Annual Indicative Fee 2023 |
University of Melbourne | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (1st – 3rd year) | AUD $43,520 (Bachelor) |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (4th – 6/7th years) | AUD $68,736 (Doctor) | |
University of Queensland | Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) | AUD $66,592 (Bachelor) |
University of Sydney | Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (1st – 2nd year) | AUD $49,500 (Bachelor) |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (3rd – 5th year) | AUD $64,000 (Doctor) | |
Murdoch University | Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Veterinary Biology (1st year) | AUD $32,803 |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Veterinary Biology (2nd – 3rd year) | AUD $51,360 | |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (4th – 5th years) | AUD $86,760 |
Veterinary Universities in Canada
University | Qualification | Annual Indicative Fee 2023 |
University of Saskatchewan | Bachelor of Science in (Animal Bioscience) (2 years) | USD $18,391 (Bachelor) |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (4 years) | USD $10,737 (Doctor) | |
University of Guelph | Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) (5 years) | USD $20,840 |
Veterinary Universities in the United Kingdom
University | Qualification | Annual Indicative Fee 2023 |
University of Bristol | BVSc Veterinary Science (D100) (5 years) | £29,100 |
University of Cambridge | Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) (5 years) | £ 55,272 |
University of Edinburgh | Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) (5 years) | £ 31,450 |
University of Glasgow | Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) (5 years) | £ 29,250 |
University of Liverpool | BVSc Veterinary Science (5 years) | £ 34,550 |
University of London: Royal Veterinary College | Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVetMed) (5 years) | £ 35,010 |
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About Post Author
Jude Chong
A content writer & a freshman of the University of Nottingham studying Bachelor of Communications. I like indie bands and meet new people.