Master of Animal Science
Overview
Build advanced expertise in animal nutrition and production, reproduction and breeding, health and welfare, and help shape sustainable, ethical food production.
Animal industries are under pressure to produce more food for a growing global population with fewer resources, while meeting higher standards for animal welfare and environmental care. This flexible program gives you the specialist knowledge and practical skills to help tackle these challenges.
This program is designed for graduates in animal, agricultural, veterinary and biological sciences who want to advance their careers in animal production, research or advisory roles. You'll explore how animals are raised, managed and cared for, with a focus on nutrition, production efficiency, food security and sustainability.
You’ll study advanced topics in ruminant and monogastric animal production systems, environmental physiology of animals, animal nutrition and reproduction, population health, and animal products and their quality.
Based at UQ Gatton, you’ll learn on working farms and in advanced laboratories, drawing on UQ’s long-standing expertise in tropical and subtropical animal production.
Shape your studies around your goals, choosing from core and elective courses. Research methods training and a project aligned with your interests will prepare you for careers in industry or further research.
Program highlights
- Learn on working farms and in specialist animal facilities and laboratories at UQ Gatton.
- Build industry connections and workplace skills through industry placement opportunities.
- Tailor a research or industry project to your interests, supported by dedicated research methods training.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Research experience
- Laboratory work
- 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 Products and their Quality [Core course]
- Animal & Plant Biosecurity [Elective]
- Global Challenges in Agriculture [Elective]
- Leadership in Rural Industries & Communities [Elective]
- Biotechnology Applied to Livestock Industries [Elective]
- Current Innovations in Agricultural Biotechnology [Elective]
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Animal nutritionist
- Extension and inspection officer
- Livestock adviser or consultant
- Animal health officer
- Biosecurity field officer
- Animal nutrition and health specialist
- Customs officer
- Animal research scientist
- Farm management consultant
- Policy adviser
Average annual salary range
Principal Biosecurity Officer
seek.com.au
Average annual salary range
Research Manager
seek.com.au
Next steps after graduation
If research is part of your career plans, this program could provide a pathway towards a research higher degree, such as:
- Master of Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
My degree allowed me to get hands-on experience with incredible technologies, particularly in the field of artificial reproductive technologies, which is one of my key interests.
My degree allowed me to get hands-on experience with incredible technologies, particularly in the field of artificial reproductive technologies, which is one of my key interests.
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Study tips
UQ science scholarships to help fund your studies
8-minute read
Study tips
5 key agriculture courses and animal science courses for postgrads
9-minute read
Stories
See all storiesStudy tips
UQ science scholarships to help fund your studies
8-minute read
Study tips
5 key agriculture courses and animal science courses for postgrads
9-minute read
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), or
- to have successfully completed at least 3.5 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution, including research requirements, 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.
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
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.
$5,120
2027
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.
Fee information for this program is not yet available.
Additional costs
- Q fever vaccination on commencement of program, approximately $400
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, as long as you meet all Commonwealth supported place eligibility requirements.
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.
If you have a Commonwealth supported place, you may also be eligible for HECS-HELP. This is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university 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 near you.
The program code for the Master of Animal Science is 5795.
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.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Animal Science is 5795.
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.
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.
Visa processing times vary. Apply and accept your offer as early as you can.
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 (ATSIS) Unit.
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