LEVEL 7
BACHELOR OF VETERINARY NURSING Start dates February or July (July is only open to graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing)
Take your passion for veterinary nursing to the next level this programme will set you up for registration as a veterinary nurse, enable your critical thinking, and provides plenty of research opportunities to develop and further your career.
Duration Full-time for three years (part-time options available in Year Two and Three)
Programme overview
Total credits 360 (3.0 EFTS) Campus Mt Albert
Annual tuition fees $7,300 (NZD) (Approximate domestic fee only)
Career opportunities • Qualified veterinary nurse (eligible for registration) • Vet nurse researcher • Veterinary clinic manager • Veterinary nursing lecturer • Veterinary clinic practice manager • Laboratory animal manager • Breeding centre manager
Highlights • You’ll get lots of work experience; in your first two years you’ll complete at least 480 hours of work experience, and you can also extend this in your third year. • You’ll have the opportunity to do your placements in interesting organisations ranging from the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at Auckland Zoo, to a specialist veterinary hospital, and your community first-option veterinary clinic. • You’ll build advanced technical skills through a significant amount of clinical practice at Unitec’s sister clinic, Vet Care Grey Lynn, as well as your choice of external clinics across Aotearoa New Zealand. • You’ll be eligible for registration with the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association at the end of your second year. • You’ll have lots of opportunities to conduct exciting and cutting-edge research, including a collaborative research project in an area of your interest. • You’ll learn from experienced lecturers who are knowledgeable in veterinary medicine /science, animal health and welfare, microbiology, genetics, and animal behaviour.
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This programme is an extension of Unitec's certificate and diploma veterinary nursing programmes. Year One is the same as our New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Veterinary Nursing Assistant) (see pg. 17) where you learn the fundamentals of animal nursing, with lots of opportunity to put theory into practice within select clinical environments. If you’ve already completed this certificate programme, you automatically meet the admission requirements for the second year of this degree (dependent on placement numbers). Year Two is the same as our New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (see pg. 19) where you’ll have the opportunity to gain registration as a veterinary nurse, and develop the technical skills and medical knowledge through practical experience, to become an effective veterinary nurse within a professional team.
• New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – advance straight to Year Three. If not, you’ll need: 1. 42 credits at NCEA Level 3 or higher including: • 14 credits in two science-related subjects • 14 credits in two additional subjects 2. 8 credits at NCEA Level 2 in English or Te Reo Māori (4 in reading, 4 in writing) 3. 14 credits at NCEA Level 1 in Mathematics or Pāngarau 4. Complete at least three days' work experience in a veterinary clinic prior to application. This must be supported by the following: • A letter of recommendation from the clinic • A reference from an employer where you've worked with the public • A reference from a teacher (or similar) attesting to your social skills
If you’ve already completed this diploma, you automatically meet the admission requirements for the third year of this degree.
5. Complete a criminal and medical self-declaration form
Year Three you’ll take your registration one step further by extending your research and critical thinking. You can also choose to work on a real-life research project for a veterinary nursing organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas.
English
Admission requirements If you’ve already successfully completed either of the following qualifications (or equivalent), you automatically meet the admission requirements for this programme: • New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Veterinary Nursing Assistant) – advance straight to Year Two.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need one or more of the following: • Achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University Entrance • Provide evidence you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency such as IELTS • Achieved at least one English proficiency outcome in the last two years If you don’t meet the English criteria above, we have a range of English Language programmes available (see unitec.ac.nz/ english). There are additional English requirements for international students – you can find more information on our website.
