Five reasons why: Veterinary science

The Good Universities Guide has launched Five Reasons Why, a series of blogs and articles dedicated to providing prospective students with insights into choosing their future profession. Each piece reveals five key reasons you should consider a career in a particular field, including everything from study duration and subject variety to job prospects and median salaries. 

Are you an animal lover who also happens to have an interest in the field of medicine? If so, veterinary science could be a potential career path for you. Here are five reasons that may inspire you to combine your passion for science with the opportunity to work with animals!   

Satisfaction in helping unwell animals 

Let’s face it – veterinarians can experience their fair share of highs and lows on the job. However, there’s nothing more satisfying than nursing an animal back to health after thoroughly investigating, diagnosing and treating their illness or injury. The impact on human lives is also rewarding, with many owners being grateful that you’ve cared for and cured their beloved pet!  

Unpredictable job nature  

It’s fair to say no two days at the office will be the same for a vet. They work with animals of different shapes and sizes every day, each with unique ailments that require a wealth of skill and knowledge to treat. A typical nine to five day is rare – various consultations, surgeries and emergencies mean that vets often work long and varied hours. 

Various career options available 

A degree in veterinary science doesn’t mean you’re restricted to a career in clinical practice. Vets can work across a range of different industries, from pharmaceutics and governmental agencies to animal welfare and veterinary research. The skills and knowledge acquired throughout veterinary science studies can also be adapted to similar fields such as zoology and microbiology. 

Combining scientific knowledge with people skills 

The scientific skills of vets are honed through years of extensive tertiary study, resulting in an extensive knowledge base in veterinary medicine. However soft skills are just as important to the job – a knack for problem solving enhances the ability to investigate, diagnose and treat illnesses, while good communication skills allow for information to be relayed accurately and appropriately to concerned owners. 

Great job prospects 

Data from Job Outlook predicts that the veterinary profession will experience strong growth in the next four years, with almost 6,000 new job openings being forecast by 2022. With an above average likelihood of full-time work – 81.8 per cent of vets work full-time hours in comparison to the national average of 68.4 per cent – a career in veterinary science will continue to be stable and in demand.