UP has been home to some of Africa’s most significant leaders in research. Each year the increasing number of National Research Foundation-rated researchers is evidence of the University’s commitment to attracting and retaining researchers of the highest distinction, as well as young researchers with the potential for research excellence. It is through the sustained individual and collective actions of our researchers that UP continues to strengthen its identity as a leading research-intensive university in Africa.
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Research Excellence at University of Pretoria
Research at the University of Pretoria (UP) is at the apex of the University’s long-term strategic plan, UP 2025, which is to be a leading research-intensive university in Africa. Equally important is the University’s international visibility and the impact of its research and innovation on socio-economic development in South Africa and in the region. UP therefore deliberately balances its focus on research and innovation and the partnerships fostered by creating an environment that is conducive to scholarly pursuits. A wide range of research and professional areas underscores the strength of UP in research and postgraduate education, and also the areas in which UP is positioned as a research leader in Africa and internationally.
Academic Programmes
Available Postgraduate Programmes
The Faculty of Veterinary Science aims to enhance UP’s academic stature and visibility by focusing postgraduate education and research activities on harnessing institutional strengths, embedding institutional research themes, sustaining research output and impact, and broadening the University’s research base.
Read more about the Faculty of Veterinary Science’s postgraduate programmes.
Research Areas and Supervisors
The Faculty of Veterinary Science’s research niche areas and themes serve as the driving force behind all research and postgraduate programmes and were chosen to establish, achieve and project an African uniqueness and to complement external expertise and technology.
Fundamental to the visionary requirements of the Faculty to develop its potential to generate high-impact publications, attract more postgraduate students nationally and internationally, and escalate the research status of the Faculty, it has also changed focus through the introduction of four new research themes.
These research themes are Translational Medicine; African Wildlife Health and Management; Pathobiology of Disease; and Sustainable Livelihoods and Wellbeing.
UP aims to create an enabling environment in which our postgraduate students and their supervisors can function optimally. Our supervisors provide academic guidance and mentorship to students and are key role players in the administrative efficiency of postgraduate study.
Research That Matters
THE HOME OF VETERINARY EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Prof Vinny Naidoo
Acting Dean: Faculty of Veterinary Science
The Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP is the home of veterinary education in South Africa, and focuses on various aspects of veterinary postgraduate education – from specialist training to research-intensive programmes in all species. 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.
At Veterinary Science we aim to enhance UP’s academic stature and visibility by focusing postgraduate education and research activities on harnessing institutional strengths, embedding institutional research themes, sustaining research output and impact, and broadening the University’s research base.
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 also 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.
At Veterinary Science, we are committed to making a difference and changing our world – one student at a time – and through them to better our country and the world.
Institutes, Centres and Units
In line with its mission of pursuing recognition and excellence in its core functions of research, teaching and learning, as well as integrating engagement with society and communities, UP consolidates many of its research, teaching and engagement activities in 100 institutes, centres and units in the faculties.
A significant number of South African Research Chairs (funded by the South African Research Chairs Initiative), as well as research chairs funded by industry, are housed in these institutes, centres and units. Research themes spanning expertise across departments or faculties are often also based in these institutes, centres and units.
Read more about UP’s Institutes, Centres and Units
The Faculty of Veterinary Science strives to be an accredited seat of veterinary excellence by being locally relevant, regionally pre-eminent and globally competitive. The Faculty currently hosts a SARCHi chair in Poultry Health and Production; The AfriVet Chair in Primary Animal Health; the Equine Research Centre; the Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies; and the Exotic Leather Centre.
Read more about the Faculty of Veterinary Science’s Centres
Your Postgraduate Journey
The University of Pretoria welcomes you to its comprehensive and exciting postgraduate degree programmes. Your postgraduate journey starts from the point of registration to graduation, with guidance from an academic supervisor allocated to you. As soon as a supervisor has been appointed to oversee your research project, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which stipulates responsibilities of the student and those of the supervisor, must be signed.
A plagiarism policy should also be signed together with the MOA. In order to support your efforts to graduate successfully and on time, there are critical milestones that should be achieved during the whole journey. Details of the milestones are given in an online system called the Graduate Research Management (GRM) system that has been developed to facilitate monitoring of progress of students in the postgraduate journey.
The GRM system will help you to monitor your progress in terms of achievement of all the pertinent milestones in your postgraduate journey. In addition, various structures of the university are there to provide you with a wide range of academic as well as administrative support. More information about the postgraduate journey and support programmes offered can be found in the postgraduate roadmap.
Funding Opportunities
As a postgraduate student or prospective student at UP, there are a number of research resources available to you to identify suitable research funding opportunities. Apart from the University, many companies and institutions offer scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate studies. The University manages a number of financial funds on behalf of institutions who provide such funding. Applications for financial assistance, bursaries or funding must be submitted concurrently while you apply for admittance to your postgraduate programme. Funding is subject to approval and availability.
Read more about funding opportunities.
Explore Our Campus
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.
We're delighted that you're interested in studying with us.
Apply NowPostgraduate Accommodation
Welcome to TuksRes - "Your home away from home"
If you are looking for that special place you can call your home away from home, then a residence at the University of Pretoria (UP) is just the place for you. With us, you will find an environment that is conducive to working and studying hard.
Onderstepoort Campus Accommodation
OP Village
Other Postgraduate Interests
Onderstepoort Campus
-
M35
Onderstepoort
Pretoria
0110
- www.up.ac.za
- +27 (0)12 529 8000 / +27 (0)12 529 8132
Any further questions?
Our Course Enquiries team are ready to hear from you. You can get in touch in the following ways: