Dean’s Welcome
It is my great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the Faculty of Veterinary Science. I hope our website will meet your information needs and, for those unfamiliar with the Faculty, provide a comprehensive introduction to our work, aspirations and achievements.
Our aim is to continue to provide an education in veterinary science that is second to none, to conduct innovative and current research into the diseases of animals and humans, and to transfer knowledge to society, including the veterinary profession, producer groups, pet owners, and the public.
Our student population is drawn from a variety of backgrounds, with students attracted from throughout Australia and internationally. International students comprise some 30 per cent of the total student population.
Training in veterinary science at Melbourne provides the graduate with options for a wide spectrum of satisfying careers. Melbourne veterinary graduates enter careers ranging from provision of veterinary care to dogs; cats; and other pets in private practice; management of animal health on large animal production units; development of new therapeutic agents through work in the pharmaceutical industry, and development of public health policies in governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Regardless of the specific career, veterinarians enjoy a very high degree of professional satisfaction in their careers. A career for most people is for 40 years, but in veterinary science this is not enough time to take up all the career opportunities available with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree.
The BVSc course, which is accredited by the appropriate Australian and European organisations and the American Veterinary Medical Association, is constantly being revised to incorporate advances in research, and in educational technologies, changes in the animal industries and the uses of animals in society, and developments in professional requirements.
The course is consistently ranked amongst the 2 or 3 most highly rated courses at Melbourne University in the Quality of Teaching surveys and in graduate satisfaction surveys. This is due to the practical and hands-on nature of the course, the broad areas of expertise taught, and the strong sense of community amongst the students.
Research and graduate research training is a core activity in the Veterinary Faculty. Our knowledge about animals and their diseases is far from complete, and this is one of the reasons why we undertake research.
Undergraduate students are able to undertake research projects during the course. Some decide to take one year to complete a Bachelor of Animal Science degree after completion of the second year of the BVSc course, and this is often done overseas. Staff and graduate students in the Veterinary Faculty are constantly developing new techniques to study normal and abnormal animal function. This work provides a better understanding of the basis of disease processes, and this new knowledge is then taught in the undergraduate course. Industry also benefits from the development of new ways to diagnose and prevent disease and improve animal care and welfare.
Whether you are a prospective student or a current student; a staff member or collaborator; or one of our many other partners, I hope you benefit from your visit to this site and any further interaction with the Faculty.
Professor Ken Hinchcliff BVSc, PhD, DACVIM
Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science