Study Veterinary Science

BVSc, 6 years (NQF 8), University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort) only, plus 1 year compulsory community service

Pay in South AfricaR850k–1.0ma year · typical R920k Work abroad3.7 of 5best: Australia, New Zealand AI outlookSteadyAI changes little of the daily work

Getting inVery highcompetition for places · 6 years BVSc + 1 year compulsory community service

R65 000 first-year fees 1 bursary lists Veterinary Science

School subjects: MathsPhysical Sciences requiredMaths Literacy not accepted

Entry details and typical minimums

English required. Only the University of Pretoria offers the BVSc, so there is a single national intake each year.

Typical minimums: Varies; UP selects on academic score plus other criteria. With one school for the whole country, cut-offs are among the highest in SA.

Sources: SAVC - prescribed and accredited qualifications · SAVC - frequently asked questions (compulsory community service) · UP Undergraduate Prospectus 2027 (NSC/IEB), Faculty of Veterinary Science: BVSc needs English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at level 5, APS 35

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

USAR1.8–3.0m
CanadaR1.3–1.9m
AustraliaR790k–1.6m
NetherlandsR1.1–2.2m^~
New ZealandR940k–1.6m
GermanyR990k–1.6m
UKR750k–1.5m
South AfricaR850k–1.0m

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 3.7 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

AI outlook

SteadyAI changes little of the daily work

Hands-on work with animals in unpredictable settings, under a licence; owners still need a trusted person.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

Small animal (companion animal) veterinarian
Production animal and farm veterinarian
Equine veterinarian
State veterinarian in animal health or food safety
Wildlife and conservation veterinarian
Veterinary researcher, pathologist or academic

SAVC mutual recognition agreements (RCVS, AVBC, Namibian Veterinary Council)

These agreements mean the Pretoria BVSc is accepted for registration in the UK, Australia and New Zealand with no licensing examination. They do NOT cover the USA, Canada, Ireland or the EU, where an ECFVG/PAVE programme or a national assessment applies instead.

Where to study 1

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

UPBachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) · 2027 intakeR65 000

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

Six-year BVSc at Onderstepoort, South Africa's only vet school. It is the most portable degree in this cluster: recognised outright by the UK's RCVS and by AVBC for Australia and NZ, but not by the US, Canada or the EU.

Professional regulator: South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

Where it can take you

Veterinary Science → United States

Overall 4/5 · Good prospects

Pretoria is not AVMA-accredited, so you go through ECFVG or PAVE and then pass the NAVLE.

Recognition: 3/5 · Exams or bridging. Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
Demand: High demand

Sources: AVBC - Qualifications Generally Recognised (ECFVG, PAVE and NAVLE requirements), October 2023 · AVMA - accredited veterinary colleges · AVMA - ECFVG programme

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

United States R1.8–3.0m2.5× SA

Canada R1.3–1.9m1.7× SA

Australia R790k–1.6m1.6× SA

Netherlands R1.1–2.2m^*1.5× SA

New Zealand R940k–1.6m^*1.4× SA

Germany R990k–1.6m1.4× SA

United Kingdom R750k–1.5m1.3× SA

South Africa R850k–1.0m

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

Country	Typical gross pay	Range and starting pay	Occupation and source
South Africa	ZAR 922 900 Middle of the pay scale, as gross pay 2026	ZAR 847 500 to 998 300 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 Appendix A (salary level 11) · Converted to gross like the typical figure. PUBLIC, all-inclusive package. No vet OSD: State Veterinarian = SL11. Circular 31/2026 post 31/263 advertised at R932,292 (entry notch). Starting ZAR 847 500 During the compulsory 1-year community service (CCS) with the Dept of Agriculture, straight after the BVSc, 2026 · Parliamentary reply NW4738 (Aug 2025) + DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 Appendix A SL11 entry · SL11 entry package R932,292 x 0.909 (MMS may choose 75% basic: R841,400). Higher than typical private pay after CCS.	State Veterinarian (salary level 11, non-OSD Public Service Act appointee, all-inclusive package) DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 Appendix A + DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 31 of 2026 · Gross pay: package midpoint R1,015,244 x 0.909 (less the State's GEPF contribution, 13% of the 70% basic). PUBLIC-SECTOR. Scale quoted as all-inclusive packages; amounts below are as quoted. SL11 scale R932,292-R1,098,195. Advertised State Veterinarian post 31/263 = R932,292 (entry notch). No vet OSD exists. Private-sector cross-check: PayScale South Africa median R517,100 (crowd-sourced, low confidence).
United Kingdom	GBP 51 058 Median 2025	GBP 32 000 to 65 000 careers service range, 2026 · National Careers Service job profile: Vet · ASHE 2025 SOC 2240 (Veterinarians) p25/p75 suppressed (small sample; p30 43,699, p60 52,164), so NCS starter-experienced range used. Typical 51,058 sits inside. Starting GBP 32 000 Newly qualified vet (MRCVS), first job after the degree, 2026 · National Careers Service job profile: vet ('Starter' salary) · NCS starter 32,000.	SOC2020 2240 Veterinarians ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · Median gross annual pay, full-time employees, April 2025. CV 12% (small sample); excludes self-employed vets.
Netherlands	EUR 68 190 Middle of the advertised range 2026	EUR 54 708 to 108 600 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Cao Veterinaire sector 2024-2026, BPW loongebouw from 1 Jul 2026 (groups 10-12, dierenarts A-C), as reproduced by salaristabel.nl · Spans 3 function groups: A 4,559-6,646, B 5,334-7,754, C 6,203-9,050/mo (40h) x12, excl. 8% holiday pay. Specialists (group 13) to 10,689/mo. Primary BPL table not found online. Starting EUR 54 708 Newly qualified vet, Dierenarts A (function group 10) minimum, 2026 · Cao Veterinaire sector 2024-2026, group 10 minimum from 1 Jul 2026 (via salaristabel.nl) · 4,559/mo (40h) x12, excl. 8% holiday pay. Open scales: start point is negotiated. CAO covers BPW-member practices only (not generally binding).	Dierenarts Nationale Beroepengids (careers portal) · Midpoint of 3,955-7,410 EUR/mo (40h) x12. Not official: CBS puts vets in BRC 1011 Artsen with doctors (42.30/h), unrepresentative.
Germany	EUR 62 460 Median 2025	EUR 48 828 to 81 024 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BA Entgeltatlas (Beschaeftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025, Vollzeit, all ages, Germany · KldB 81504, monthly p25-p75 x12. Salaried vets only. Starting EUR 63 579 Vet employed by a municipality (e.g. veterinary office), TVoeD E14 Stufe 1, 2026 · TVoeD/VKA Entgelttabelle 2026 (valid 1 May 2026-31 Mar 2027); EGO VKA Teil B XXVIII (Tieraerzte = E14) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Above the typical figure: public vets are paid more than the mostly private-practice salaried vets in the median. Private-practice starting pay not regulated. Excludes annual Jahressonderzahlung.	KldB 2010 81504 Tierärzte/-ärztinnen (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. Salaried vets only. n=7,921.
United States	USD 130 100 Median 2025	USD 101 460 to 166 120 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 national annual 25th/75th percentile for SOC 29-1131; p10 $73,920, p90 $215,700; not top-coded. Starting USD 100 200 1 year after DVM (CIP 01.80, professional doctorate), 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). Includes some in low-paid internships/residencies.	29-1131 Veterinarians BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025.
Canada	CAD 124 800 Median 2024	CAD 100 006 to 148 158 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$48.08/C$71.23 x2080, NOC 31103, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$71,032/C$174,990. Starting CAD 115 300 2 years after a DVM (professional degree), 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0281 (ELMLP), graduates two years after graduation · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. Small cohort (~340 grads). Close to the typical figure: vets start high and the occupational pay range is narrow (p25 C$100,006).	31103 Veterinarians Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · National median hourly wage C$60.00 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia	AUD 125 476 Median 2025	AUD 68 300 to 142 900 25th to 75th percentile, estimated from tax statistics (includes part-time), 2024 · ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24, Individuals Table 14A (occupation unit group x taxable income range); medians from Table 15B · low confidence · p25/p75 interpolated from 5 taxable-income bands (linear density matched to band means). Includes part-time/part-year earners and non-wage income; 2023-24 dollars, not uprated. Starting AUD 75 000 About 4 months after completing the bachelor's degree, full-time employed domestic graduates, 2025 · QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025 national report tables: median full-time salary, undergraduates, by 45 study areas ('Veterinary science') · Veterinary science graduates, 2025 survey (2024: 70,000); small sample.	Veterinarians (ANZSCO 2347) ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $2413/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax. Employee survey: excludes self-employed and managers, so likely understates.
New Zealand	NZD 122 000 Median 2026	NZD 90 000 to 153 000 careers service range, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator job profile: Veterinarian ('most common' pay range) · Tahatu 'most common' band (full published range 67,000-188,000); Stats NZ IDI/Census + IR data, percentiles not defined, no vintage stated. Starting NZD 80 000 Newly qualified vet, year 1 after the BVSc, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator study page 'Bachelors degrees in veterinary science (BVSc)': median employed income 1 year after completion (Stats NZ IDI + IR) · Published in $ thousands; vintage not stated; includes part-year/part-time earners. Year-1 p25-p75 73k-84k.	Veterinarian Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $67,000-$188,000, most common $90,000-$153,000. From Stats NZ Census/IDI + Inland Revenue data; no vintage stated (year = year observed).

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.