BVMS/ BVSc/ DVM?, Wats the difference?

[SoelyDim]

I'm choosing a university to go to become a vet.

I got really confused with the acronyms.
BVSc = Bachelor of veterinary science.
Some universities take 3 years --- then they continue with 3 years of BVMS/DVM.
Some universities take 5 years --- and that's it.

Some people said DVM is equal to BVSc...
BUT the time taken to finish each course is confusing!
Then what's the difference between BVSc and BVMS?

Can someone help me?

If I wish to be a vet... as in working in clinics / have my own animal clinics; which is the course combi should I take?
Like BVSC + DVM
Or just BVSC? (the course in certain uni takes 5 years...?)

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[Nexx]

Hey Soely,

Don't get too hung up on it, it's just another system.

Australian/NZ universities in particular have a 5 year program in which students are accepted straight out of high school (for the most part--Murdoch for instance just instituted a 1 year pre-req science program which is no big deal for most international applicants who already have a degree).

Anyhow the BVSc-->BVMS at Murdoch is considered a dual degree program. The first 3 years is the BVSc and the last 2 (more clinical years) is the BVMS.

It's really up to you, your interests, and your background to determine if you want to do a 5 year program versus a 4 year program. You are going to get a good education either way.

BVSc + BVMS = DVM so you don't have to do a DVM (or VMD for that matter) after doing a 5 year program. Either route will allow you to practice veterinary medicine as a 'doctor' working in a clinic or wherever else the profession may take you.

Hope that helps! What Universities are you looking at any how? I think we have at least one student from a good chunk of the foreign programs on SDN, perhaps they can answer exact program questions for you.

 

[SoelyDim]

Ahh, I was thinking to go to Australia. I heard it's better there.
I'm thinking of Uni of Melbourne / Adelaide / Murcdoch/Queensland.

Actually I don't know much about it... I just decided that I really WANT to be a vet after some long argument with my mom (she wants me to be a doctor and the argument is still going on).

Does that mean in Murcdoch the course is 5 years? Do I need to undergo the 1 year pre-req degree program after my GCE A-levels?
All Universities in Australia offer vet courses that are 6 years long except for James Cook right?
I was wondering if it would be better to study for a shorter time.

It's so hard to understand the requirements and all when they are all written as Year 12... SACE stage 2.
My friends told me it would be easier in UK as I'm taking A-levels... but the cost of living there is higher I think...so I can't really afford it.

 

[oregonhopeful]

Actually I don't know much about it... I just decided that I really WANT to be a vet after some long argument with my mom (she wants me to be a doctor and the argument is still going on).

Just remind her that real doctors treat more than one species. :-D I told that to a doctor friend and he is still laughing about that and repeating it to all his friends. (They all seem to think their human patients still fill the category of "multiple species")

 

[pulseczar]

Ahh, I was thinking to go to Australia. I heard it's better there.
I'm thinking of Uni of Melbourne / Adelaide / Murcdoch/Queensland.

Actually I don't know much about it... I just decided that I really WANT to be a vet after some long argument with my mom (she wants me to be a doctor and the argument is still going on).

Does that mean in Murcdoch the course is 5 years? Do I need to undergo the 1 year pre-req degree program after my GCE A-levels?
All Universities in Australia offer vet courses that are 6 years long except for James Cook right?
I was wondering if it would be better to study for a shorter time.

It's so hard to understand the requirements and all when they are all written as Year 12... SACE stage 2.
My friends told me it would be easier in UK as I'm taking A-levels... but the cost of living there is higher I think...so I can't really afford it.

Your A-levels are applicable to both the UK and Australia/NZ so no worries there.

No, not all the universities in Australia offer 6-year courses. UniMelbourne is changing theirs to a 6-year program (3 years undergrad, 3 years DVM), Murdoch's 6-years too if you are entering straight from A-levels.
The UQueensland and UniSyd programs are still 5-years.
I think the difference between the 6-year program and 5-year program is the extra year of clinical experience you get with Murdoch and Melbourne. But the 5-year programs allow you to get that clinical experience externally since you'll graduate and start working earlier. It all depends on what you are looking for.
I am going to UQueensland next year, but if it was feasible, I would have preferred going to Murdoch for the extra clinical experience since I'm already a graduate. I console myself on the fact that UQueensland's Vet School is moving to Gatton next year and all the buildings and training facilities will be brand new andstate-of-the-art.

Also, how much experience working/observing in a vet practice or related do you have? You'll need to have some experience if you are applying to the UK universities and some of the Aussie ones.

 

[SoelyDim]

@oregon: ahh... She wont listen to anything I say. HAHA.

@pulse: Oh... (I currently have no experience yet). Oh my god. Which university in Aussie needs practical experiences? I know my mother is going to stop me from working in an animal clinic but if it's not too late I'll apply for it asap no matter what she says...

Does having pets counts a little? Ahh probably a dumb question; just curious.

If I had an A in english for GCE O-level, Do I have to take IELTS too?

I'm really sorry if I'm asking basic questions. I tried going to the career consultation in my college but they currently having off week! So I kept surfing around for info. Tq for the infos T__T

 

[theunraveler]

UQ is moving to the Gatton campus next year and hopefully the first year next year will be the first batch to get AVMA accreditation...

 

[pulseczar]

@pulse: Oh... (I currently have no experience yet). Oh my god. Which university in Aussie needs practical experiences? I know my mother is going to stop me from working in an animal clinic but if it's not too late I'll apply for it asap no matter what she says...

Does having pets counts a little? Ahh probably a dumb question; just curious.

If I had an A in english for GCE O-level, Do I have to take IELTS too?

I'm really sorry if I'm asking basic questions. I tried going to the career consultation in my college but they currently having off week! So I kept surfing around for info. Tq for the infos T__T

I believe almost all the Aussie unis require foreign applicants include veterinary-related experience in their applications. I think UQ's vet school is the only one that admits applicants based solely on meeting of subject pre-requisites and grades. You should visit the relevant uni vet school webpages to get the specifics.

No, having pets generally doesn't count as vet-related experience. Uni application requirements aside, you should volunteer at a vet clinic if only to see whether being a practice vet is something you really want. Also, being a licensed veterinarian leads to careers beyond companion animal practice.

 

[SoelyDim]

@pulse: Oh... AH, Do you think I'm too late to volunteer at a vet clinic if I'm planning to enter a uni in the year of 2011?
I think I'll apply for it on Monday. Any vet clinic will do right? Doesn't have to be government vet clinic?

thank you again >"<

 

[sunshinevet]

As an international student, you're not eligible to apply to Charles Sturt University or James Cook. In that respect its probably a good thing, as they base ALL their applicants on not only scores, but also veterinary and animal experience (preferably large/production) so it would be a lot harder for you to get what you needed to be competitive.

You might have the same problem in applying to adelaide, as it will be adelaide's first intake year, they might limit it to domestic students. That being said, I would also recommend going to an established program.

Melbourne has recently restructured their plan, starting with the intake of 2010, so you now do 3 years prevet, 3 years DVM, to make it far more like the American system. Which makes Sydney the only 5-year degree left in Australia.

For Murdoch, what they look at is your marks from year 12, you'll be required to submit a personal statement as to why you want to become a vet, and a CV listing all your veterinary/animal/other experience. I will warn you, Murdoch is extremely competitive when it comes to international students (as I'm sure all unis are) and the vast majority of students they take in are Canadian or Americans who have done their undergrad degree with the view of being vets, and have 1000's of hours of all kinds of veterinary and animal experience. So if you're really serious about doing vet, you need to rock that personal statement (dont hold your passion back!) and get a wide range of animal/veterinary experience to show them you're really, really serious. I'm sure this advice applies to all uni's you apply for!

One last thing - why do you want to come to Australia? You say that the price of living is cheaper... but you'll have to pay international school fees??? Won't you get some kind of government loan if you stay in the UK? And they have some absolutely fab programs in the UK. I would move and go to glasgow if I could afford it ^_^

 

[SoelyDim]

Hi Sunshi 😀

If I study in UK... I'll still have to pay international fees. I'm not from UK you see, I'm from Malaysia. >"<

Most of my seniors enters local U in Malaysia. Half of my classmates have applied to Universities in UK through UCAS (through my college). My college seem to support UCAS very well but when it comes to about Australia's Universities... we don't know anything.

My friends applied for UCAS this month and their intake would be on Sept 2010. If I wish to enter a uni in Australia in year 2011; must I start applying now? But I notice that all webpage (Melbourne, Murdoch and etc) wrote year 2010; does that mean I have to wait before I apply? In the same time I'm very afraid that I might be late. (I already feel like I'm too late for everything.)

p/s: my parents kept disagree with my decision of taking veterinary medicine. They want me to take medicine ever since I'm 5. I feel very guilty for letting them down now. I feel so stuck.

 

[sunshinevet]

The academic year in Australia runs from Feburary to November, that would be why the intake is different. If you want to apply for 2011, you would be applying during 2010.

 

[SoelyDim]

The academic year in Australia runs from Feburary to November, that would be why the intake is different. If you want to apply for 2011, you would be applying during 2010.

OHH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPOND!!! At least I know I'm not too late now. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH.

THANK YOU GUYS! I appreciate your help. If I ever become a vet successfully 😀 You guys are one of the people that helped me to reach my dreams 😀

I'll start to write a CV and personal statement now. 😀

 

[spikey]

...and don't forget VMD! 😉