Domestic Student Admissions Guide
Ready to start your veterinary career? Learn about the steps for applying to study at the University of Adelaide.
You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident (visa status) or a New Zealand citizen.
You are an international student if you are an Australian Temporary Resident (visa status), a New Zealand Permanent Resident (visa status), or a Resident/Citizen of any other country.
Frequently asked questions
The most frequently asked questions about animal and veterinary science have been published in our online knowledge base.
Application process
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Step 1: check entry requirements
Prior to submitting an application for admission, all applicants are advised to check that they have either completed, or are in the process of completing, the prerequisite subjects:
- One of SACE Stage 2:
- Mathematical Methods, or equivalent
- Chemistry, or equivalent
- Biology, or equivalent
- IB
- Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL), or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL)
- Chemistry (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)
- Biology (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)
- Equivalent university or bridging courses: Applicants are advised to contact a Prospective Student Advisor to enquire whether they have or will need to complete equivalent prerequisite courses.
- Assumed knowledge: SACE Stage 2 Physics
FAQ: I don't meet the subject prerequisites
Inherent requirements
There are inherent requirements associated with the University of Adelaide veterinary program that prospective students need to be aware of before applying.
These requirements include, but are not limited to, physical fitness, physical capacity to learn how to handle a range of large and small animals; required vaccinations (specifically Q fever); and effective written communication.
Applicants must read the inherent requirements and vaccination guidelines before submitting their application.
- One of SACE Stage 2:
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Step 2: SATAC application
Applications for the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) are completed online through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).
Applications open in August each year. Check with SATAC for key dates.
Late applications to the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) degree will not be considered.
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Step 3: Altus Suite – comprehensive admissions assessments
All applicants applying to the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) program, at the University of Adelaide, are required to complete Altus Suite for the 2022/2023 admissions cycle.
Altus Suite consists of:
- Casper: 100-120 minute online, open-response situational judgment test
- Snapshot: 15-minute one-way video interview with standardised questions*
How to complete Altus Suite
You will need the following:
- Government-issued photo ID (English/French) for account validation
- Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
- Desktop or laptop computer
- Working webcam
- Working microphone
- Reliable high-speed internet connection (at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of at least 2 Mbps)
- Sign up to Altus Suite
- Sign up for CSP-10404-Australian Veterinary Science (Casper and SnapShot), under your specific country, and register using your SATAC ID number and your government-issued photo ID.
- Select a Casper test date.
- There is a limited number of testing dates and times, which have been pre-arranged/approved by your program(s) in accordance with their admissions timelines. These are the only testing dates available for your Casper test based on your program selection(s). There will be no additional tests scheduled.
- Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule.
- To account for identity verification and payment processing timelines, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
- Ensure you have selected University of Adelaide Domestic for distribution before the posted distribution deadline.
- It is recommended that you complete Snapshot within 14 days of taking Casper. The final deadline, is the same as the distribution deadline for your program(s) as shown on the dates and fees page.
- Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your screen on the Altus website.
Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for Altus Suite, you will need to submit the accommodations request form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations is available.
Applicants must sit this test on or before Sunday 13th November 2022 to be considered in the 2023 B.Sc (Veterinary Bioscience) admissions cycle.
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Step 4: questionnaire
As part of the application process, applicants are required to complete and submit a prescribed questionnaire.
On Tuesday 11 October 2022 you will be emailed a link to the 'Admissions @ Adelaide' portal. This email will be sent to the same email address you used on your SATAC application
As part of the questionnaire, applicants will be required to outline their animal/veterinary experience and upload supporting documentation for the information they provide. Questionnaires will not be considered without supporting documentation.
Please note: The University cannot be held responsible if your email set-up filters the University’s email into a SPAM, Junk or other such folder – you are advised to check your email settings.
All notification emails are sent to the email address listed in your SATAC application form.
If you unsubscribe from University emails, or your email address is invalid, the University can not be held responsible. Appeals for failing to submit the questionnaire by the deadline will not be considered.
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Step 5: results and prerequisites
Applicants must have successfully completed the prerequisite subjects.
To meet the minimum academic threshold for entry into the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) degree, applicants must achieve:
- Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) including any applicable adjustment factors (bonus points): 90 or above or an equivalent International Baccalaureate score
- Higher Education/Tertiary Transfer: Grade Point Average (GPA): 5.0 or above.
- Tertiary Transfer applicants who have studied Chemistry I and/or Biology I at the University of Adelaide (or equivalent) must have achieved at least a credit grade average in each of these courses. Alternatively, Tertiary Transfer applicants who do not meet this requirement can subsequently meet the requirement if they obtain a minimum Pass grade in a course at a higher year level for which Chemistry I and/or Biology I are prerequisite courses.
- STAT Entry
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Step 6: offers
Ranking for offers is based on a combination of the following components:
- Combined questionnaire and Altus assessment results (50%)
- Academic score results (50%)
Offers of admissions will be sent via email from SATAC. The University of Adelaide will not issue offers directly.
Feedback on performance and overall ranking will not be released by the University. Information regarding applicants and the status of their applications is confidential and will not be released to an advocate of the applicant, whether family or friends. No appeals on behalf of an applicant will be considered.
To secure a place in the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) degree, a successful candidate must enrol in all first year courses by the deadline stated in the SATAC offer letter. Information regarding enrolment will be provided once SATAC offers are made.
Key dates
Date | Activity |
---|---|
Monday 1 August 2022 | SATAC applications open - SATAC key dates |
Friday 30 September 2022 | SATAC applications close - SATAC key dates |
Tuesday 11 October 2022 | Questionnaires become available from this date on Admissions @ Adelaide and login details emailed out |
Monday 31 October 2022 | Deadline to submit questionnaire via the Admissions @ Adelaide portal is at 9:00am, Adelaide time |
SATAC will release offers across multiple rounds and dates. |
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