Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) [Embedded]

From cats and dogs to cattle, horses, sheep, to wildlife and coral reef species, the clinical range is unlike any other vet program in Australia. You'll develop the skills to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent disease across companion, production, aquatic and native animals, and gain knowledge in busy rural, urban and tropical veterinary contexts that most programs simply don't offer.

Core studies span animal handling, anatomy and surgery, alongside animal health and welfare, epidemiology, zoonoses and public health. Professional ethics and legislation are central to the program throughout. JCU’s veterinary career development program builds the soft skills that matter in practice too: communication, teamwork, self-management and resilience. A One Health lens runs through the whole degree because in the environments JCU graduates work in, animal health, human health and ecosystem health are rarely separate problems.

The on-campus Veterinary and Emergency Centre and Hospital, the JCU Fletcherview Research Station (a working cattle station west of Townsville), a veterinary clinical training facility in Malanda and an equine clinic in Townsville, along with exposure to our clinical simulation facility, will all provide in-depth clinical exposure well before graduation. In your final two years, placements across both rural and urban veterinary practices bring that preparation into professional settings.

You'll also develop the research and communication skills to evaluate evidence, make sound clinical decisions, and work confidently across different teams, species and settings and help manage yourself through a broad range of life challenges. This extends to JCU's connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where the relationship between animal and community health is particularly direct.

The Honours component is embedded throughout the course.

Note: Students who complete the first 45 prescribed credit points of the Bachelor of Science (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience) major may be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) if the student meets the admission requirements via GPA, written application and external tests.

If you live (or have previously lived) in a rural or remote area of Australia, the Rural Access Scheme may open a dedicated pathway into the degree.

View the Handbook for a full subject overview and pre-placement requirements.

JCU's Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) is accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, making graduates eligible to register and practise in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.

Graduates work across a wide range of settings including veterinary clinics and hospitals, government agencies, universities, pharmaceutical industries, agriculture, biosecurity and quarantine, public health, and in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.

The rural and tropical focus of the degree is recognised by employers working in North Queensland and beyond.  The practical experience embedded in the course structure means graduates enter the workforce with existing clinical placement experience.

Graduates may wish to pursue research in animal science or other fields such as allied health.

Entry score threshold

These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Trimester 1, 2025. Entry scores are based on the most recent Trimester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.

ATAR/Selection Rank: Special entry requirements

Entry score range

This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) for Trimester 1, 2025. The table includes offers deferred to Trimester 1, 2025 which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.

JCU Townsville

<sup>Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 OP/ATAR-based offers made.
NP – indicates figure is not published if less than 25 ATAR-based offers made.
* Refer to Adjustment Factors</sup>

Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Learn more about fees and financial support

The application process and deadlines for Veterinary Science are different to other JCU courses.

Application deadlines

Applications for the 2027 intake have now closed. Applications for the 2028 intake will open later in 2027. View our Domestic Applications for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science and FAQs page for information on the application process, entry requirements and key dates.

Before applying ensure you have

• Checked the Inherent Requirements
• Checked the placement requirement checklist