Study animal health and veterinary science

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.

I decided to become a veterinarian because I love animals and science. I love that I'm able to treat so many different species, including iconic Australian species.

Jan Patrick Rosado Colon

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Every skill I have learnt comes back to the need to work with others. This is something Taronga has done spectacularly, encouraging the degree cohort to interact with one another as well as meet students outside of our degree.

Olivia Coppin

Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga)

Oscar Wang

Sukh Benipal

Study animal health and veterinary science

Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience
Graduate with an all-inclusive appreciation of the multidisciplinary sciences involved in the veterinary and allied animal science industries.
Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga)
Develop your expertise in wildlife conservation, taught by researchers and practitioners the University of Sydney and Taronga Conservation Society Australia.
Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Study to become a registered veterinary practitioner with this six-year degree, which is globally recognised.

Programs and majors available in these courses:

Animal Production
Animal Health, Disease and Welfare
Wildlife Conservation (major is exclusive to the Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga) degree, minor offered in other degrees)

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.