<P> The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria offers a BVSc degree which is recognised by the South African Veterinary Council for registration as Veterinarian which entitles the holder to practice as a veterinarian . It is also recognised as such by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the UK, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as by the relevant authorities in Malaysia . It also offer a University Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DipVetNurs; also referred to as DVN) which is recognised by the South African Veterinary Council for registration as Veterinary Nurse which entitles the holder to practise the profession of veterinary nursing . </P> <P> The faculty also offers a number of postgraduate courses including BVSc Honours, MMedVet, MSc, PhD and DVSc courses . </P> <P> The undergraduate veterinary programme has developed from the original 5 - year programme to a five - and - a-half year programme in the mid 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s . It was changed to a 6 - year programme in the late 1990s and to a split degree structure consisting of a 3 - year BSc (Veterinary Biology) degree and 4 - year BVSc degree in 2003 . Since 2011, students who are already enrolled in the programme will need 3 years to complete the BSc (Veterinary Biology) degree and another 4 years for the 4 - year BVSc degree; a total of 7 years . Students who will be admitted to the new degree programme from 2011 onwards will need only 6 years to complete the programme . It should be noted, however, that the first 2--3 cohorts of students in the new programme will also take 7 years to complete the programme due to transitional arrangements . </P> <P> The academic activities of the Faculty of Veterinary Science usually commence early in January each year and end towards the second half of November . Academic semesters are of equal length (approximately 14 weeks) with recesses during Easter, July and December . </P>

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