University of Pretoria — Faculty of Veterinary Science (Onderstepoort)

The University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science is a landmark of African veterinary education. Founded in 1920 at Onderstepoort, it is the second-oldest veterinary faculty in Africa and remains the only school of veterinary medicine in South Africa. Enrolment sits at roughly 767 students (535 undergraduates and 232 postgraduates) on a 65-hectare site that also houses the historic Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) is a 6-year integrated degree, blending 4.5 years of core curriculum with 18 months of work-integrated clinical training in the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital and its satellite community clinics. Students gain unrivalled exposure to wildlife, exotic species and tropical diseases, a strength few Northern-Hemisphere schools can match.

Accreditations

• SAVC - South African Veterinary Council (statutory home body)
• RCVS - Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK) - direct registration
• AVBC - Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania)
• Malaysian Veterinary Council - recognised for practice in Malaysia

Important warning for EU-based students

The BVSc is NOT EAEVE-accredited because South Africa falls outside the geographical remit of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education. This means the degree is NOT automatically recognised in France or the wider EU. To practise in France you must apply for individual equivalence via the Ministere de l'Agriculture, which typically requires additional exams and clinical placements. RCVS registration (UK) or AVBC registration (AU/NZ) is often used as a stepping stone before an EU re-recognition attempt.

The BVSc is taught across two University of Pretoria campuses. Year 1 (biological science foundation) is delivered on the Hatfield campus in central Pretoria, alongside other UP first-year science students. From year 2 onward, teaching moves to the Onderstepoort campus, situated approximately 30 km north-west of Pretoria in the historic Onderstepoort research precinct (Gauteng Province).

Onderstepoort occupies 65 hectares with 55,000 m2 of buildings and hosts the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, one of Africa's largest teaching hospitals. Its rural setting gives students immediate access to large-animal facilities, wildlife rehabilitation partners and community outreach clinics.

On-campus housing

• OP Village Residence - located inside the fenced Onderstepoort precinct, roughly 10 minutes' walk from the hospital and lecture halls
• Open to BVSc, BVetNurs and postgraduate students; places are limited
• Preference is given from year 2 onward (BVSc year-1 students on Hatfield typically apply to Hatfield-area UP residences)
• Applications open 1 April of the year preceding intake and must be submitted with the admission form

Cost of living in Pretoria (2026)

Pretoria is considerably cheaper than Cape Town or Johannesburg. Total monthly student budget typically falls between ZAR 12,000 and 18,000 (~EUR 615-925 at ~19.5 ZAR/EUR, September 2026). Off-campus shared rooms start around ZAR 3,500/month, a private studio in Hatfield costs ZAR 6,000-7,500/month, groceries ZAR 1,500-3,000/month, and public transport ZAR 500-1,500/month. Onderstepoort itself is semi-rural, so most students commute or live in OP Village.

Prior animal or veterinary experience is NOT a strict admission requirement at the University of Pretoria BVSc, but the Faculty strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate authentic exposure to the profession. This is because the BVSc is intense, expensive and competitive, and selectors want evidence that candidates understand the realities of veterinary work.

What the VSVAF looks at

The Veterinary Science Value Added Form (VSVAF) is submitted alongside the application and gives selectors a structured view of a candidate's engagement with the profession. It typically covers:

• Work shadowing at private practices (small-animal, equine, mixed) - even a few days is valuable
• Time spent on farms, feedlots or dairies (large-animal exposure is valued given SA's rural veterinary needs)
• Wildlife or exotic experience - game reserve internships, rehabilitation centres, zoos - a distinctive strength of Onderstepoort's brand
• Community and outreach engagement (SPCA volunteering, mobile clinics, One Health projects)
• Leadership, teamwork and independent study evidence

Practical guidance

• Keep a written log with dates, hours and supervisor contacts - selectors may verify
• Diversity of settings (small animal + large animal + wildlife) is worth more than 200 hours in one clinic
• Reflection matters: candidates who articulate what they learned and how it shaped their motivation score better
• International applicants should not worry that experience must be in South Africa - equivalent experience in their home country is fully accepted

In short, animal experience is a competitive differentiator, not a hard filter. A candidate with excellent academics but zero exposure is at a real disadvantage against equally strong candidates with clear, documented commitment.

Selection for the BVSc at Onderstepoort is primarily dossier-based. There is no standardised entrance interview like MMI at UK schools, but the Faculty reserves the right to call selected candidates for additional selection tests or an interview where marginal or non-standard applications require clarification.

Selection weighting

• Academic results (Grade 11 conditional, then final Grade 12 / A-Level / IB / Bac): dominant weight
• VSVAF (Veterinary Science Value Added Form): assessed for veterinary exposure, community engagement, leadership
• Optional interview or additional selection test if the Faculty requires further evaluation

Strict application deadline

31 May for the following year's intake - one full month earlier than the general UP undergraduate deadline of 30 June. This is the single most common reason international candidates miss out: they assume the September/October deadlines of European schools apply. Late applications are NOT considered.

Internal selection: year 1 to year 2

Admission to the BVSc is offered at two entry points:

1. Direct year-1 entry - biological science foundation year on Hatfield, then automatic progression to year 2 at Onderstepoort provided all first-year modules are passed at the required standard
2. Year-2 lateral entry - a small number of places are reserved for students who completed an equivalent first year (e.g. BSc in biological sciences) and then apply through a second selection round

Total BVSc intake is approximately 190 students per year across both entry points. Failing key year-1 modules on Hatfield can jeopardise progression to Onderstepoort, so year-1 performance is far from a formality.