Murdoch University Campus and Veterinarian School Visit
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
TLDR;
Location vibe: Perth has a mild winter (SoCal-like climate); Fremantle is a coastal suburb 20–60 min from campus depending on transport.
About Murdoch: WA's 2nd university (est. 1974), known for inclusivity, sustainability (built into every degree), and native bushland campus design.
Vet Science standout: On-campus farm (cows, horses, livestock) + 24/7 Animal Hospital serving the community; students work with live animals from Year 1.
BSc/DVM: 5-year program for direct-entry high schoolers; highly competitive (fallback: Bachelor of Agricultural Science → transfer into DVM); tertiary/transfer students can also apply.
6 specializations: small animal, equine, animal production, exotics/wildlife, mixed/rural, non-clinical (incl. public health).
Housing: Strong student support (24/7), amenities include pool, gym, cinema room, billiards, podcast room. Apartments (1–8 people) from US$700/month.
July is winter in Australia, and in Perth, on the west coast of Australia, winter doesn’t seem to have arrived. I started the day at 7am with an ocean swim in Fremantle where the water temperature is 16C/60F- pretty balmy for this time of year! It certainly lived up to the reputation of having sunshine 300 days of the year and has a very Southern California feel to it (minus the Southern California traffic).
Fremantle is a costal suburb within the city of Perth and is located 20 mins drive /40 min bus/60 min train from Murdoch University.
The University
Murdoch was Western Australia’s 2nd university established in 1974. It was built on the value of being different to the status quo and being a welcoming place to people of all walks of life. Sustainability is throughout every aspect of campus and life as a student, and you can really feel it as you stroll around campus, from the building designs to intentional green spaces. Every degree also has a sustainability stream to it.
The campus feels quintessentially Australian, with large gum trees and native plants abound. It has a very relaxing feel to it, with quiet green spaces with beanbags close to every building
The Boola Katijin -local Whadjuk Noongar (indigenous Australian name from the people on which the grounds of Murdoch University sit) meaning 'lots of learning'- is the central part of campus where students learn, study and play. It has abundant space for self-learning, group collaboration, as well as where most of your lectures, tutorials and workshops will be held irrespective of what you are studying.
Veterinary Science
The Veterinarian school at Murdoch is quite unique as it has its own farm right on campus with cows, horses and other livestock! It also has The Animal Hospital which is a 24/7-day animal hospital for the community, and this is where a lot of your placements will be. If you fancy going further afield, you can choose to do placements at over 1300 pre-approved places around the world. As a vet student here, you will be interacting with live animals from your first-year, right-on campus. I was also really impressed with the academic and professional staff in the program, they really believe in a student first approach, and it shows in the way they talk about the program.
The Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Veterinarian Science degree at Murdoch is 5 years in duration and is for students straight out of high school. It is highly competitive, however, if you aren’t successful, you can apply for the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and then transfer into the DVM. If you have commenced studying at a university at home, you can apply as a tertiary (meaning university) student.
The program offers six specializations:
1. Small animal practice
2. Equine practice
3. Animal Production industries
4. Exotics/wildlife
5. Mixed animals/rural practice
6. Non-clinical (incl public health)
Housing
I was particularly impressed with the extra thought and care that has gone into ensuring a great student experience. The team at Murdoch University Accommodation offer 24/7 student support, have constant social events and students have access to a swimming pool, gym, movie theatre room, billiards rooms, and podcast room to name a few.
The option for housing varies depending on your budget. Apartments are for 1-8 people, and is from US$700 per month.
Entry Requirements
Murdoch offers many programs at Bachelor and Masters level. For high school students, you need an SAT/ACT for entry into the program. For Masters students, Murdoch will look at your GPA for entry.
The most popular program for students from North America is their five year Doctor of Veterinarian medicine at Murdoch University in Australia. Vet Medicine commences in February of each year. To be eligible for this degree, you need to have completed English in your senior year of high school, and have a strong SAT or ACT score.
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