Do you love animals and have a passion for their health and care? Studying Pre-veterinary medicine at Dalhousie’s Agricultural Campus in Truro, N.S. is your first step towards a career in the animal care industry. Our focus on animal physiology, nutrition, behaviour and welfare sets us apart from other biology or zoology programs. The courses you take are designed to reflect those you’ll take in vet school.

Undergraduate Degree: Preparatory studies, typically associated with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture)

What will I learn?

Pre-veterinary medicine will provide you with the courses needed to apply to any Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program in Canada, such as the Atlantic Veterinary College (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) or the Ontario Veterinary College (Guelph, Ont.).

In your first year, you’ll take foundation-building courses in biology, chemistry, calculus and English. You’ll choose from a variety of electives like agricultural ecosystems or principles of microeconomics. You’ll have the opportunity to learn through lectures, labs and tutorials. In second year, you’ll have more elective options to choose from.

Sample courses:

• Biology
• Agricultural Ecosystems
• Overview of Animal Health Sciences

Careers and future study:

Pre-veterinary medicine provides the foundation for a career in veterinary medicine, allowing you to choose from a wide range of specializations. Please note that taking this program does not guarantee admission into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

By continuing your education to receive a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) with a major in Animal Science or Aquaculture, you can pursue many other exciting options as well. You could work in any of these animal-related fields:

• animal nutrition
• animal care and keeping
• zookeeping
• aquaculture management
• animal training.

For students from Nigeria

Students must have completion of secondary school (Grade 12) or equivalent; A minimum overall average of 70% in five academic Grade 12 courses; A final grade of at least 70% in Grade 12 academic English and any other required subject. English language requirement: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – 237 (computer-based) 90 (iBT) and no lower than 20 in each band; International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in each band; Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) – 81; Pearson Test of English (Academic) – 61 overall and no lower than 50 in each skill; Cambridge English: Advanced – 180 overall and no lower than 170 in each band.

For international students

For High School Applicants:

• Completion of secondary school (i.e. Grade 12) with a minimum overall average of 70% in five academic Grade 12 courses
• A final grade of at least 70% in Grade 12 English and any other required subject

Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not completed at least three years in a high school program taught in English, must provide an English proficiency test score:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – 237 (computer-based) 90 (iBT) and no lower than 20 in each band
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in each band
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) – 81
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) – 61 overall and no lower than 50 in each skill
• Cambridge English: Advanced – 180 overall and no lower than 170 in each band.

Why Study Veterinary Medicine in Canada?

Canada is the most popular destination to study abroad for international students, especially those from India. There are top Veterinary Universities in Canada that consistently rank higher in the QS World University Rankings in medical colleges. Some of the top reasons to opt for veterinary medicine courses in Canada are as follows:

• Top ranking universities: Canada is home to 18 top medical schools that offer a variety of specialisations and degrees to gain in-depth knowledge of the field.
• Growing employment opportunities: The medical and health industry in Canada ranks third worldwide in terms of high employment and growth opportunities. The country’s healthcare sector has seen a consistent rise in annual employment over the last 5 years.
• Scholarship opportunities: Canada provides multiple scholarship opportunities for international students to finance their education. Some of the top medical scholarships offered in any medical college of veterinary university in Canada are Achievers in Medical Science Graduate Recruitment, AE Bowie Scholarship in Medicine, Adiel Steacy Memorial Scholarships, University of Toronto Scholars Program, etc.

Admission requirements

​For admission, Canadian high school students in Alberta must have completed five of the following courses with a minimum 65% average across them:

This course	English Language Arts 30-1
Three of these courses	Aboriginal Studies 30Art 30 or Art 31Biology 30Chemistry 30Choral Music 30, General Music 30, or Instrumental Music 30Dance 35Drama 30Mathematics 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2Mathematics 31Physics 30Science 30Social Studies 30-1Five credits in Advanced-level CTS Computer Science (CSE)One or more distinct languages at the 30 level
One additional	That has not already been usedMay be from the list aboveMust be at the 30 levelMust be worth at least five credits (multiple courses worth a total of five or more credits can be used)Cannot be a Special Project

​​Specific pre-requisites for this program will depend on the chosen major. For example students choosing Biological Sciences as a major are required to have: Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and Mathematics 30-1 as high school prerequisites. Be sure to refer to the specific program to make sure you meet the its requirements.

Not a Canadian high school student in Alberta? Find your admission requirements here

Pre-Veterinary

What does a veterinarian do?

Veterinary medicine is a broad field and places its graduates in a wide variety of career paths. Approximately two-thirds of veterinarians are in a small animal practice that cares for pets or in large animal practice that visits the farm, focusing on the health of non-human patients and providing all of the services for animals that medical doctors provide for humans – diagnosis, drug prescription and surgical intervention. Veterinarians protect the food supply through work in federal and state departments of agriculture in which they monitor health of farm/ranch animals, animals brought into the U.S. to protect against foreign animal diseases entering the country, and the development and safety of vaccines. Other veterinarians specialize in public health as epidemiologists who investigate animal and human disease outbreaks such as food-borne illnesses, influenza and West Nile viral encephalitis. They also monitor food processing plants, restaurants and water supplies. Veterinarians also are in the military and serve as a front line defense against some forms of bioterrorism.

How long will it take to obtain my veterinary medicine degree, and what is a typical veterinary school curriculum like?

Students spend 4 years in veterinary school studying basic and animal science. In a typical veterinary school, the first two years are spent on basic science – comparative anatomy and physiology, histology, biochemistry, etc. In the third and fourth years, students complete clinical rotations in a veterinary hospital to get supervised hands-on work with their animal patients.

If I desire, how do I specialize within veterinary medicine?

After completion of veterinary school, graduates can apply for internships at large referral centers. Upon completion of the internship, graduates may apply for a 2 to 3 year residency program in internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, exotic small animals, pathology, neurology, radiology, anesthesiology, or oncology. Residency is required for certification by any specialty board.

What courses should I take at Wittenberg to prepare for veterinary school?

Most veterinary schools require the following courses for admission:

• 1 year of General Biology (170 and 180)
• 1 year of General Chemistry (121 and 162)
• 1 year of Organic Chemistry (201 and 302; sometimes Biochemistry can replace Organic Chemistry II)
• 1 year of Physics (201 and 202 or 280)
• 1 year English (101 and another English A course)
• 1 year of Mathematics (one semester of calculus and another course)
• 1 semester of Biochemistry

While the above prerequisites apply to most veterinary schools, some schools add their own requirements. Be sure to check the schools that you are interested in applying to for other required coursework, such as:

• 1 semester of Genetics/Molecular Genetics (Ohio State)
• 1 semester of Microbiology (Ohio State)
• 1 semester of Animal Physiology (Ohio State)
• 1 semester of Public Speaking and/or Reasoning and Communication (Ohio State)
• 1 semester of Vertebrate Zoology
• 1 semester of Psychology
• 1-2 semesters of Behavioral or Social Science ( Wittenberg’s S courses)
• 1-2 semesters of Humanities ( Wittenberg’s A or R courses)
• 1 semester of Economics or Business

Additional requirements:

• At least 80 hours of work with a veterinarian, although in practice the schools’ expectations are much higher
• Comprehensive veterinary medical/ animal work experience with large and small animals
• Academic improvement
• Financial responsibility

Top 5 Colleges offering Veterinary Medicine courses in Canada

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Some top veterinary colleges in Canada, the courses they offer, and their admission requirements are as follows:

Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)

Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is a part of the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. The college offers degrees including DVM, M Sc, M VSC, and PhD Diploma courses offered at the postgraduate level. Veterinary medicine focuses on the study of diseases and animal health. Students of the programme receive training in basic and clinical sciences involving the care of horses, food-producing animals, exotic pets, companion animals, and wildlife.

Programs Offered

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
• Master of Science (MSc) – Clinical (Project) / Non-clinical (Thesis) – Large Animal Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Large Animal Sciences
• Master of Science (MSc) – Clinical/Non-clinical – Small Animal Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Small Animal Sciences
• Master of Science (MSc) – Veterinary Microbiology
• Master of Veterinary Science (MVetSc)
• Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology (CVDP)

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for the programme is approximately $12,717, with an additional fee of $988. The fee includes vision, health, and dental coverage, access to recreational programs, access to a fitness centre, and a bus pass.

Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) – Guelph

The Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph offers veterinary programmes accredited by the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Associations. The programme aims to improve human, ecosystem, and animal health. Veterinarians from OVC possess knowledge in other areas that include Biochemistry, Immunology, Parasitology, and Anatomy.

Programs Offered

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology
• Veterinary Medicine/Public Health Program

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for a bachelor’s degree at the Ontario Veterinary College is approximately $75,774.85, with a fee of approximately $ 38,342.17 for each semester.

Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) – University of Prince Edward Island

The American and Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations fully accredited the veterinary programs at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown. The DVM program is also recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom. The university boasts a proven track of success in the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.

Programs Offered

• Master of Science – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Master of Veterinary Science
• PhD in Veterinary Medicine
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Tuition Fee

The full-time fee for international students for a graduate veterinary program is around $7,548 per year, and a master’s program costs around $8,688 for a 2-year program. A 3-year program of PhD in Veterinary Medicine costs approximately $13,023.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) is responsible for meeting the growing need for highly-skilled veterinary graduates in Alberta. The programme includes practical hands-on experience and a special focus on subjects like regenerative medicine, equine health, cattle health, infectious disease, reproduction and regenerative medicine, and animal welfare.

Programs Offered

• Veterinary Medical Sciences Graduate Program
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for an international student at the University of Calgary can be approximately $13,597.32. The annual fee usually includes Group insurance, Extended Health Insurance, Graduate Students’ Association membership, Dental Insurance and Graduate Bursary Donation.

University Of Montreal

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, is the only French-language veterinary college in Canada. It is one of the largest institutions in Quebec and consistently ranks higher among the top 100 universities all over the world. The institution provides high-quality education and has great faculty. Over 10,000 international students attend the University of Montreal every year. Though most of the programs at the university are offered in the French language, students proficient in the English language are also welcome to apply to some graduate programs.

Programs Offered

• PhD or doctorate program in Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Sciences
• Diploma of Specialized Studies in Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Pathology
• Short Graduate Program (Master Level) in Veterinary Medicine – Public Animal Health Interventions
• Residency Certificate in Advanced Internship in Applied Veterinary Sciences – Disciplinary
• Diploma of Specialized Studies in Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for the programmes offered at the University of Montreal ranges from 19892.28 CAD to 39784.56 CAD per year. Various merit-based scholarships are also available for international students.

Other popular courses for pursuing veterinary medicine and the veterinary universities in Canada offering them are as follows:

• Diploma in Animal Health Technology at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
• Diploma in Veterinary Hospital Assistant at Centre for Arts and Technology – International Study Centre (Study Group), British Columbia
• Bachelor of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at the University of Manitoba
• Bachelor of Science in Bioveterinary Science at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia
• Veterinary Office Assistant Certificate at Loyalist College in Toronto (Toronto Business College)
• Pre Veterinary Medicine at University of Regina, Saskatchewan

Eligibility Criteria for Veterinary University in Canada

The eligibility criteria for veterinary programs in Canada vary with the universities and the specific level of the course you opt for. The eligibility criteria are mainly divided into three categories, and an applicant must satisfy all these to secure a seat and get admission to the top veterinary universities in Canada. The general criteria for admission to a veterinary university in Canada are:

Educational qualifications

• For admission in a bachelor’s degree or diploma program, you need to have completed your 10 + 2 with mathematics and biology as compulsory subjects and a minimum of 70 per cent in the top 5 subjects.
• Admission to a master’s degree, on the other hand, requires the completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree in a related field from a recognized institution with a minimum of 75 % score or an equivalent of a minimum B+ grade.

English language proficiency test scores

International applicants are required to demonstrate their English language proficiency through test scores such as IELTS or TOEFL. The minimum IELTS band score and TOEFL score requirements are:

• IELTS score for diploma or undergraduate degree programs – 7.0 IELTS band score, with 7.0 in writing and no band below 6.5
• TOEFL for undergraduate programs – 600 and a minimum of TWE of 6 [PBT]; 100, with a minimum score of 25 in writing and speaking and 22 scores in reading and listening (iBT)
• IELTS score for diploma or postgraduate degree programs – 7.0 IELTS band score in writing and no band below 6.5
• TOEFL exam score for postgraduate programs – 600 with a minimum of TWE of 6 [PBT]; 100 with a minimum score of 25 in writing and speaking and 22 scores in reading and listening

Entrance test scores for Canada

For undergraduate degree admissions in Canada, you may be required to submit test scores such as SAT or ACT. In contrast, Graduate Record Examination Scores (GRE) are required for postgraduate studies or master’s degree programmes. The average minimum scores for veterinary medicine universities in Canada are:

• ACT score – 29 or higher
• SAT score – not less than 1350
• GRE score – around 300

Admission Process for Veterinary Medicine in Canada

Veterinary Medicine colleges in Canada usually have spring and fall intakes. The general admission process for the Canadian veterinary medicine universities is as follows:

• Check the official university or college website, find a veterinary medicine or a veterinary technician course and make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria for the preferred programme.
• Complete the online application form, fill in all the required details and upload all the required documents such as official transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and the required financial documents.
• Submit the application fee along with the form, usually 70 to 130 CAD for veterinary medicine programs.
• Collect and prepare all the documents for your study visa for Canada.
• Log in to the application portal on the university website to check the current status of your submitted application.
• If selected for the programme, you will receive an admission offer letter from the university over your email ID.
• Complete your further enrollment steps to pay the tuition fee for the course so that your seat in the course can be confirmed.
• Follow the steps provided and complete your enrollment and pay the tuition fee to confirm your seat at the university.
• Once you receive your study permit, you can complete the final part of your enrollment by visiting the campus.