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.
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.
Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga)
Animal health and veterinary science majors available:
These majors are also available as minors.
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.
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.
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.
Year of graduation |
Number of SSVS students sitting NAVLE by graduation | Number of SSVS students passing NAVLE by graduation | Percentage of SSVS students sitting the NAVLE who pass by graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
2020 |
17 |
16 |
94% |
2021 |
32 |
22 |
69% |
2022 |
22 |
16 |
73% |
2023 |
34 |
23 |
68% |
2024 |
25 |
9 |
36% |
2025 |
31 |
21 |
68% |
Cumulative SSVS NAVLE pass rate 2020-2025 |
68% |
||
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.
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.
Our graduates can be found in many settings and roles, including:
