Animal health and veterinary science

Make a difference in animal health and veterinary science

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Why study animal health and veterinary science with us?

Studying animal health and veterinary science will give you an all-inclusive appreciation of the multidisciplinary sciences involved in the veterinary and allied animal science industries, including companion animals and wildlife.

Your animal health and veterinary science studies will be in the One Health framework, ensuring you understand the linkages between veterinary health, human medicine and the environment at local, national and global levels.

If you choose to study the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, you can become a practising veterinarian.

You can choose a specialist animal health or veterinary science degree, or choose to undertake animal health or veterinary science related program, major, minor, or electives within one of our other degrees.

Study animal health and veterinary science

Programs and majors available in these courses:

Most of these majors are also available as minors.

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Study to become a registered veterinary practitioner in this four-year degree.
  • Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies This combined master's by coursework and research degree is for veterinarians who want to enhance their clinical skills and/or seek to become veterinary specialists in a range of areas.

Accredited programs

The veterinary degrees at the University of Sydney are accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc. (AVBC Inc.) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK). Graduating from an accredited veterinary school is essential before graduates are able to practice as a licensed veterinarian.

The University of Sydney was ranked first in Australia and 26th in the world for veterinary science by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc.

The veterinary degrees from the University of Sydney are recognised by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc., allowing graduates to be eligible for registration with the Veterinary Surgeons' Board in all states and territories of Australia and in New Zealand.

American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education

Following its global accreditation site visit in 2019, the Sydney School of Veterinary Science has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Last Site Visit: 2019
Next Site Visit: 2026

Accreditation by the AVMA allows our graduates to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), which is a prerequisite for all veterinarians seeking to practice in North America.

University of Sydney NAVLE Results

  N Number passing Percent passing
November/December 2009 and April 2010 4 3 75%
November/December 2010 and April 2011 5 4 80%
November/December 2011 and April 2012 17 16 94%
November/December 2012 and April 2013 16 14 88%
November/December 2013 and April 2014 8 6 75%
November/December 2014 and April 2015 16 13 81%
November/December 2015 and April 2016 19 15 79%
November/December 2016 and April 2017 13 10 77%
November/December 2017 and April 2018 9 7 78%
November December 2018 and April 2019 11 6 55%
November December 2019 and April 2020 17 16 94%
November December 2020 and April 2021 23 15 65%
November December 2021 and April 2022 22 16 73%
November December 2022 and April 2023 34 23 68%%
Cumulative results 2009 - 2023 214 164 77%

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK)

The veterinary degrees at University of Sydney are recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK) through a mutual recognition agreement with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council. This allows graduates to apply to practice veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom and certain countries in Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong.

South African Veterinary Council

The veterinary degrees at University of Sydney are recognised by the South African Veterinary Council. This allows graduates to apply to practice veterinary science in South Africa.

Where can animal health and veterinary science take you?

Our graduates can be found in many settings and roles, including:

  • agricultural business manager
  • agronomist
  • animal nutritionist
  • animal scientist
  • biotechnologist
  • environment protection manager
  • financial manager
  • horticulturist
  • marketer of agricultural products
  • plant breeder
  • scientific researcher
  • soil scientist
  • statistician
  • sustainable production manager