Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing

Credits 360 (3.0 EFTS)

Campus Mt Albert

Start dates February

Career opportunities

• Qualified veterinary nurse (eligible for registration)

• Vet nurse researcher

• Veterinary clinic manager

• Veterinary nursing lecturer

• Breeding centre manager

Highlights

• In your first two years you’ll complete at least 480 hours of work experience –you can also extend this in your third year.

• You’ll have the opportunity to do your placements in a wide range of specialist and community first-option veterinary clinics.

• You’ll build advanced technical skills through a significant amount of clinical practice at 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 Year Two.

• 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.

Duration Full-time for three years, with distance learning available in Year 3, and part-time options available in Years 2 and 3

Annual fees $7,300 (NZD) (Approximate domestic fees only. Includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee levy)

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.

Programme overview

This programme is an extension of Unitec's certificate and diploma veterinary nursing programmes.

Year One you’ll learn the fundamentals of animal nursing, with lots of opportunity to put theory into practice within select clinical environments.

If you’ve already completed New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Veterinary Nursing Assistant) 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. 159) 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.

If you’ve already completed this diploma, you automatically meet the admission requirements for the third year of this degree.

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.

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.

• 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

5. Complete a criminal and medical self-declaration form

English

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 that 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.

There are additional English requirements for international students – you can find more information on our website.

Other options

If you don’t meet these requirements, you could still apply for special or discretionary admission.

For more information download the programme regulations: unitec.ac.nz/vet

International Students, please visit unitec.ac.nz/international