Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Veterinary Science overview
Graduate certificates provide those with prior knowledge in veterinary science with a more extensive knowledge base. These programs take six months of full-time study to complete, or a year part-time. The University of Queensland and similar institutions equip students with knowledge of animal biosecurity, molecular imaging and get a choice of advanced topics.
Graduate diplomas are longer programs that allow students to explore animal physiology, molecular genetics, diagnostic laboratory techniques and more. These take one year of full-time study to complete, or two years part-time. The University of Queensland also offers these programs, providing students with a great deal of choice through an extensive graduate research project.
Employment options
These programs assist graduates in entering a higher degree program, such as the Master of Veterinary Sciences, PhD or DVM. They are insufficient on their own for becoming a veterinary surgeon but provide an abundance of research skills and invaluable core knowledge.
Scholarships and funding
The numerous funding opportunities available in veterinary science are primarily accessible at the bachelor or PhD level, except for Eric Horatio Maclean Scholarships worth $1000 p/a. However, general scholarships are still available. The following are examples:
- The EU 2020 Horizon Scholarship allows Curtin University students from any disciplined study in Europe
- The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund provides students whose ancestors fought in WWI with a one-time payment of $1000
- The ECIG Scholarship Program awards $1000 to applicants successful in writing an essay
These programs tend to last a short time, but there are many of them. Each is well-suited to students from all manner of backgrounds, with some specifically dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islanders, students from Thailand, women in business and countless other demographics.
Prerequisites and selection process
Graduate certificates tend to require either a bachelor degree in veterinary science with a credit GPA (65%), or at least five years of work experience in the University of Queensland’s case. Diplomas are slightly more strict, as the bachelor degree cannot be substituted for work experience. It is still possible in many cases to enter these programs after completing a graduate certificate instead.