Whether you are advancing your current qualification or already working in the field, graduate study can improve your career progression and earning potential.

Become a vet

Graduate with Australia’s first graduate-entry, professional veterinary science qualification in your area of specialisation.

Four career tracks

Production Animal Track

This track will provide enhanced opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience and exposure to production animal medicine including working with cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.

Upon graduation, you may enter mixed veterinary practice, pursue further study such as a residency, work for the government or quarantine inspection services, work as a production animal health management consultant, or work for private production animal industries such as pigs and poultry producers.

Small Animal Track

If you're interested in pursuing a career path working with cats, dogs and small pets, you can elect to join the small animal track.

Upon graduation, students who chose this track may choose to enter private small animal practice, pursue further study such as an internship or residency, or work for government or private companies supporting the small animal industries.

Government, Industry and Conservation Health Track

If you're interested in pursuing a career path outside of traditional veterinary clinical practice can elect to join the Government, Industry and Conservation Health track.

Upon graduation, you can pursue careers as veterinarians employed in government, policy development, one health, epidemiology, welfare, research, and business.

Equine Track

Gain practical skills and experience working with horses before graduation.

Upon graduation, you can enter private companion equine practices, racehorse practice, pursue an equine internship or residency, or work for government or private equine industries.

Where our graduates work

Most of Australia's approximately 8,100 veterinarians work in private practices. Veterinary practices are typically small businesses, with many consisting of only one or two full-time veterinarians. Specialisation is an increasing trend, with some practices limiting their work to certain types of animals e.g. horse or small animals. Half of Australia's veterinarians work in a capital city; a further 16 per cent in another major city or large country city. Just over one-third work in rural areas. State Governments employ 10 per cent of the nation's veterinarians. The Federal Government employs about 4 per cent. Other veterinarians are employed in research or marketing by companies making or selling veterinary medicines, in intensive animal production businesses and by universities. Zoos also employ their own veterinarians as do an increasing number of animal welfare organisations. Australian vets contribute on a regular basis to international programs on animal production, disease control and environmental management.

Some veterinarians undertake further study and achieve specialist registration. This may be, for example, as a specialist in veterinary medicine for a particular species or in surgery for a particular species.

The University of Melbourne qualification in Veterinary Science allows a graduate to register to practise as a veterinarian throughout Australia, in New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. The University's veterinary graduates regularly proceed to postgraduate internship and residency programs and a number currently hold academic appointments in Veterinary Medical teaching institutions in North America and the United Kingdom.

Other career outcomes may include agricultural industries, animal welfare agencies, government services, departments and agencies, pharmaceutical companies and industry, research and tertiary and professional development education.

Networking opportunities

Experience strong bonds with teaching staff and fellow students. The strength of our community leads to excellent networking, placement and employment opportunities, which can really take you places. Gain employment in the rich farming lands of Tasmania, to the savannahs of South Africa.

GO FURTHER WITH A CONCURRENT DIPLOMA

You may be eligible for our DVM graduate diploma program, which further prepares future vets for life in the workforce. This program allows you to complete extra units alongside your DVM without increasing the length of your degree.

A number of subjects are taught by the renowned Melbourne Business School. The end result is a specialised graduate diploma, alongside your DVM, as the ultimate preparation for your chosen career:

Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Professional Leadership and Management

ALTERNATIVE STUDY OPTIONS

As an alternative study option, you may like to consider the Master of Agricultural Sciences, Animal Science specialisation. Developed for those who wish to engage in issues surrounding animal science, the Master of Agricultural Sciences, Animal Science specialisation is a mutli-disciplinary education and research-led stream that offers career outcomes in a variety of areas including farm enterprise management, animal nutrition, animal welfare, genetics and reproduction as well as research and development.

You may also like to consider studying an honours project - a specialised year of study for students who have achieved academic excellence in their undergraduate degree. An honours year enables you to extend your knowledge in a specialised area.