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    Studying Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria

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Message from the Dean

Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science – Prof Vinny Naidoo

The Faculty of Veterinary Science is the only facility of its kind in South Africa, making it the only institution responsible for training veterinarians and veterinary nurses in the country. The faculty also plays a key role in the further development of veterinary education and science through its offering of a number of post-graduate programmes from post-graduate diplomas to specialist programmes in veterinary medicine. As a result, our graduates and research programmes are vital in enhancing human and animal health, promoting biosecurity and welfare, and ensuring our production animals, wildlife and pets are safe and in good health.

The faculty is proud that knowledge generated through our research initiatives feature as cornerstones to the sustainable development of our country’s economy, while our primary animal health programmes are drivers of social development for rural small-scale farmers in South Africa. With the country being part of a global economy and its focus on international excellence, the faculty’s strategic aim is to continuously improve the quality and impact of our research to further our international recognition and continue to be acknowledged as such. In achieving our training and research mandate, the faculty is situated on its own campus in Onderstepoort to the north of Pretoria. The campus is host to five academic departments, three research centres, two research chairs, an extensive specialist hospital supported by a number of on-site diagnostic laboratories, and a major research station at the Kruger National Park.

For the last few years, in the subject field of veterinary science, the faculty has been globally ranked in the top 51-75 band of the only two independent global veterinary ranking systems as well as being ranked first in Africa. In achieving both the faculty’s notion of being a top veterinary school and aligned with the University of Pretoria’s Strategic Plan–2025, the faculty places emphasis on the quality of its research publications, as well as its master’s and doctoral graduates. The faculty has experienced an increase in the output of master’s and doctoral-level graduates during the past few years, in particular in our master’s programmes. We strive to give our students the best exposure in postgraduate veterinary education, which is facilitated in our numerous on-campus laboratories, our specialist referral hospital and our satellite research facility at the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park.

The faculty’s campus compares quite favourably with the best in the world. Here we promote an excellent study environment and enhance the academic experience of our students. Our quest remains to be perceived as a highly productive, world-class veterinary seat of excellence. We accept the local challenges of animal health, poverty and food security and strive to make an impact internationally with innovative research, collaboration and networking.

We look forward to welcoming you as a new postgraduate student.

Prof Vinny Naidoo
DEAN

The Faculty of Veterinary Science

The Faculty of Veterinary Science and its campus in 2021

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The Onderstepoort Campus compares favourably with the best in the world. It has access to state-of-the-art facilities, including multi-disciplinary laboratories, five academic departments, several research centres (for horses, wildlife and crocodiles) and a Skills Laboratory where students are taught by means of models and simulation. The Faculty’s hospital, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, is the focus of its clinical service, rendering top-quality specialist, as well as first opinion veterinary services, to the community.

Academic Programmes

BVSc curriculum video

BVetNurs curriculum video

The University of Pretoria (UP) has earned the well-deserved reputation for teaching excellence for more than a century. Highly qualified academics, actively engaged in research and the generation of new knowledge, teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Read more about UP’s undergraduate programmes.

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Alternative Admissions

To BVSc & BVetNurse from BSc (Biological Sciences), BScAgric, etc

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Download our faculty brochure

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A Student's Perspective

A day in the life of a UP Veterinary Science student

UP Voices

Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital

Student Accommodation

Welcome to TuksRes - "Your home away from home"

NOTE: Veterinary Science students are accommodated in Hatfield residences in their first year, and on the Onderstepoort Campus from second year onwards. Veterinary Nursing students are accommodated on the Onderstepoort Campus from first year onwards.

About Student Accommodation
TuksRes Intro
TuksRes Intro

Onderstepoort Campus Accommodation

OP Village

OP Village

Other Interests

Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture

Your academic success is important, but university life is also about having fun and exploring your talents to become a well-rounded graduate who is ready for the world beyond university. At the University of Pretoria we have a vibrant student life and there are many arts, cultural, sporting, and academic extramural activities that you can participate in.

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Career Services

Career Services

Earning a degree is a great achievement. But what happens when you’ve completed your studies? How do you find a job and gain experience? UP's Career Services office helps you to prepare for the real world.

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Student Support

Student Support

The Department of Student Affairs supports you on your journey to success by helping you to further develop your strengths, looking after your wellness and health, making education accessible for students with disabilities, and ensuring good student governance.

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Sport

Sport

With more than 30 sport clubs and 10 sport academies, TuksSport offers a home for dedicated sport people.

TuksSport not only focuses on top performers, but also on club contestants and recreational sport participants. It provides a comprehensive high performance support programme for participants on national and international level, including scientific and medical support, sport testing, training, fitness, technical and tactical expertise, sport injuries and sport psychology.

TuksSport @ UP – message from TuksSport Director

TuksSport UP Your Game

Click on the links below to view Panoramas

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The Javett Art Centre

The Javett Art Centre

With one foot firmly rooted in academia, and the other embedded in the public, the Javett-UP makes the Pan-African Artistic practices accessible, relevant and engaging. The building is on the south campus of the University of Pretoria and connects the Hatfield campus to the South Campus via a bridge over Lynnwood Road. Underneath the building, the student gallery links UP’s Departments of Architecture and Visual Arts and a number of other exhibition spaces, housing various temporary exhibitions.

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What hybrid learning is like at UP

What hybrid learning is like at UP

Hybrid = Contact + Online. UP’s hybrid teaching and learning model makes transitioning to fully online learning so much easier. Let’s hear what some of our students have to say...

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THE UP WAY

THE UP WAY

THE UP WAY is our way of life at the University of Pretoria. It is our ethos, our vibe, our way of life and what we stand for as an institution.

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International Students

International Students

The University of Pretoria (UP) enhances its international standing through multifaceted internationalisation programmes. The programmes are facilitated and coordinated by the International Cooperation Division (ICD), who ensure that the doors of UP are always open to international students, academics, administrative staff, collaborative researchers, policymakers, funding organisations and other stakeholders. On average, UP has over 4,000 international students annually.

The internationalisation programmes spearheaded by the ICD include:

  • International students (including short-term exchange programmes, full academic programmes, joint degrees)
  • International programmes and agreements (including visiting professors, conference attendance, institutional agreements)
  • International mobility projects (students, academic staff and administrative staff covered)

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Library

Library

The University of Pretoria boasts some of the best university libraries in South Africa. They provide a comprehensive information service for the University's students and staff.

By keeping abreast of the latest technological and professional advances and providing up-to-date information services, the library’s staff members and 11 site libraries are able to provide a relevant and stimulating environment for our students and staff.

Have a look at our world-class libraries:

Library – Message from the Director

Library

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Future Africa

Future Africa

The University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus is the place where Africa’s leading scientists and scholars from across the world and from a broad range of disciplines come together to leverage the benefits of transdisciplinary research to address the grand challenges that face Africa and the world.

Issues of critical relevance to Africa are tackled: from sustainable development and good governance, citizen participation and human rights, to advancing innovation for the bioresource economy.

In a world where ideas and technologies evolve rapidly and the challenges we face are multifaceted and transnational, Africa needs a new generation of original thinkers with international perspectives, yet with a scholarly vision and voice that is rooted in Africa.

The Future Africa campus provides a dynamic living, learning and research environment where a community of scholars and other societal role players will engage to advance excellence in scholarship, dialogue and impact. Here the continent’s brightest young geneticists, chemists, economists, lawyers, engineers, social scientists and other specialists are able to work side by side in an environment that facilitates world-class creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.

Video on Future AfricaVideo on Future Africa

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Entrepreneurship at UP

Entrepreneurship at UP

Entrepreneurship at the University of Pretoria is about working towards an entrepreneurial university by providing the whole entrepreneurial process under one roof, taking you from an idea to commercialisation.

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Financial Aid

Financial Aid

University of Pretoria understands that studying at a tertiary level comes with many expenses for you and your family. Sometimes students find it difficult to cover all of their university fees along with the related costs like paying for textbooks, food, and transport. We have financial aid available to all students regardless of their household income, study programme or year of study.

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Postgraduate Academic Support

Postgraduate Academic Support

The University of Pretoria (UP) values its people and strives to create an enabling environment to induct researchers into a productive research culture. It is crucially important that researchers obtain support and encouragement when completing postgraduate qualifications, applying for grants, becoming rated or receiving negative feedback on submitted papers or applications.

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Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities

The University of Pretoria has an institutional commitment to ensure an integrated and inclusive learning experience for students with disabilities. UP’s Disability Unit supports students with disabilities in partnership with departments and faculties.

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