Master of Animal Science
Overview
Develop core skills in animal science with the flexibility to select business electives that hone your management and leadership skills to further your career.
The Master of Animal Science is designed for recent graduates in any field, those with a Graduate Certificate in Animal Science, and for established professionals wanting to upgrade their skills or redirect their career into animal science.
You'll select from more than 30 courses, including those within one of 2 specialised fields – Production Animal Science or Wildlife Biology – allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.
The program also gives you the opportunity to complete a significant research project, which may provide a pathway to higher degree by research programs.
Graduates have the leadership, research and problem-solving skills to meet the global challenges associated with feeding the world and maintaining our environment in situations of increasing community expectations of animal welfare, biosecurity concerns and competition for limited resources.
This expands your career prospects into a wide range of government, commercial, community or research-based roles.
Program highlights
- Study at the university ranked number one in Australia in agriculture, for both research and teaching outcomes.
- Learn from world-class academic staff, ensuring you receive the highest quality education.
- Benefit from hands-on learning in extensive research and teaching facilities on Gatton campus.
- Utilise production animal and wildlife facilities, a dairy, sheep and goat herds, and visit commercial enterprises.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Production Animal Science
- Wildlife Biology
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Research experience
- Fieldwork
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Animal Nutrition and Nutrigenomics
- Animal Science & Production
- Leadership in Rural Industries and Communities
- Graduate Research Project III
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Animal nutritionist
- Animal research scientist
- Biosecurity officer
- Customs officer
- Livestock adviser or consultant
- National parks and wildlife officer
- Wildlife ecologist
- Wildlife scientist
Graduate salary
Agriculture & environmental studies (postgraduate)
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Learning from world renowned professors at UQ changed my life. I was mesmerized by their work and that inspired me to do pioneering research of my own.
Learning from world renowned professors at UQ changed my life. I was mesmerized by their work and that inspired me to do pioneering research of my own.
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What’s it like to study agriculture, environment and sustainability as a postgraduate?
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
It's possible to complete this degree in 2 years or 1.5 years depending on your qualifications and experience.
You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.
2-year degree (32 units of study)
To be eligible to complete the degree in 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- a graduate certificate in animal science, or
- to have successfully completed at least 3 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution, with a formal pathway to the Master of Animal Science.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
1.5-year degree (24 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include agricultural science, biological science, plant science (botany, horticulture or agronomy), equine science, animal science (behaviour, production or technology), wildlife science, wildlife management, veterinary science, veterinary technology and zoology.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Animal Science are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Additional application information
Additional application information
Fields of study
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
You'll develop research, multi-disciplinary and leadership skills which enable you to integrate and apply knowledge to manage animal production facilities and businesses.
You'll develop research, multi-disciplinary and leadership skills to enable you to integrate and apply knowledge to manage wildlife and its associated issues, such as human-wildlife conflict.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
You'll develop research, multi-disciplinary and leadership skills which enable you to integrate and apply knowledge to manage animal production facilities and businesses.
You'll develop research, multi-disciplinary and leadership skills to enable you to integrate and apply knowledge to manage wildlife and its associated issues, such as human-wildlife conflict.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$4,650
2025
$4,650
2025
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $50,560
2025
AUD $50,560
2025
Additional costs
- This program includes majors and minors that may require completion of one or more field trip courses that may incur additional costs. Please check the course descriptions for more information.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Master of Animal Science are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government has approved this master's program for income support payments to be made to eligible students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Animal Science is 5571.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Animal Science is 5571.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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