Studying Veterinary Medicine in Malaysia: Every Pathway You Need To Know About

Love animals so much you’d rather hang out with your pets? Relatable.

Now imagine turning that obsession into an actual career! 🤩

Becoming a vet is one of the coolest (and toughest!) jobs out there. Sure, you’ll be helping cats and dogs, but that’s just the start. 

Some vets are frontline heroes stopping disease outbreaks, keeping our food safe, and protecting both animals and humans.

In other words, if you were a vet, you’d have one of the most important jobs in the world.

👉 If you want to know more about the basics of studying veterinary medicine in Malaysia, navigating your academic journey, career paths and more, check out our Veterinary Medicine Course Guide!

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Why you should choose veterinary medicine
• The different study pathways in Malaysia
• How to become a licensed vet in Malaysia

Why You Should Choose Veterinary Medicine

In Malaysia, there’s currently a severe shortage of vets. Right now, it’s 1 vet for every 14,300 people—when the ideal is 1 for every 5,000. 

But you know what that also means? Vets are in demand, and the field is wide open for people like you.

👉 Curious about what life as a vet really looks like? Check out our full career guide!

Top Specialisations in the Vet Industry

Once you graduate as a vet, you don’t have to stick to just cats and dogs. You can specialise in:

• 🦁 Wildlife medicine: helping save endangered species.
• 🐄 Farm animals: keeping livestock healthy and food safe.
• 🦜 Exotics: parrots, reptiles and all the quirky pets.
• 🩺 Surgery: the real Grey’s Anatomy, but for animals.
• 🧪 Research & public health: fighting outbreaks, keeping communities safe.
• And more!

Basically, being a vet means endless paths to match your passion. 

👉Thinking about which vet path suits you best? Check out our course guide for more details, or dive into our profile article to hear directly from vets who’ve lived the journey!

The Different Study Pathways in Malaysia

To be a practising veterinarian in Malaysia, you’ll need to complete the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM): a 5-year degree which will be your golden ticket into the profession.

Right now, the Malaysian Veterinary Council (MVC) only approves three local institutions:

• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
• Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
• Management and Science University (MSU)

Only DVM graduates from these universities (or from MVC-recognised universities abroad) can register as vets in Malaysia.

1. MSU: The First Private University with a Vet School

For a long time, aspiring vets in Malaysia only had two choices: UPM or UMK. Both are public universities, super competitive and have limited seats.

But Management and Science University (MSU) changed the game by becoming the first private university to offer its own 5-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme.

This means more opportunities for aspiring vets like you to pursue their dreams.

What makes it special? Well, who better to tell us than the Dean of MSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine himself, Professor Datuk Dr Bashir Ahmad Fateh Mohamed.

“Veterinary is one of the professions where Malaysia faces a serious shortage, where more than 3,000 vets are needed at present, which could take 10–15 years to meet.” he explained, “By launching a veterinary faculty under MSU’s medical cluster, we are not only the first private university to offer a DVM, but also the first in Malaysia to have a complete medical cluster — covering medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, allied health and now, veterinary.”

2. Popular Overseas Vet Schools (MVC-approved)

Didn’t get into a local DVM? Don’t panic—plenty of Malaysians head abroad! And as long as the university is MVC-approved, you can come back and register to work here.

🇮🇩 Indonesia

A top study destination for affordable fees + solid training.

• IPB University - Bachelor of Veterinary Science + Veterinary Profession Education Programme (4 years + 18 months)
  
• Universitas Gadjah Muda - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine + Veterinary Professional Education (4 years + 1.5 years)
• Universitas Airlangga - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine + Veterinary Professional Education (4 years + 1.5 years)

🇦🇺 Australia

Known for their excellent vet schools, but slightly pricier.

• University of Melbourne - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (4 years)
  
• University of Queensland - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)(BVSc) (5 years)
  
• University of Sydney - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (4 years)
  
• Murdoch University - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (5 years)

🇳🇿 New Zealand

They have a globally respected vet school with hands-on clinical placements in the country and abroad.

• Massey University - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) (5 years)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

In the UK, vet degrees accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) are internationally recognised, including by the MVC.

This means graduates are eligible to:

✅Register as vets in the UK.
✅Return to Malaysia and register with the MVC.

• Royal Veterinary College, University of London - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (VetMB) (5 years)
  
• University of Bristol - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) (5 years)
  
• University of Cambridge - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (VetMB) (6 years)
• University of Edinburgh - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) (5 years)
• University of Glasgow - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) (5 years)
• University of Liverpool - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) (5 years)

What’s Next for Veterinary Education in Malaysia?

Malaysia’s veterinary sector is expanding. With the rising demand for vets, more universities are joining the field.

• MSU made history as the first private uni in Malaysia to offer a DVM.
• AIMST University is next in line, with its own vet programme in the works.

Basically, the vet world is growing fast, and by the time you graduate, the career opportunities will be even bigger!

How to Become a Licensed Vet in Malaysia

To work as a veterinarian in Malaysia, the steps are:

1. SPM → Pre-U Science Stream (STPM, A-levels, Matriculation, or Diploma)
   
2. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – local or MVC-recognised overseas degree
   
3. Register with the Malaysian Veterinary Council (MVC)
   
4. Apply for Annual Practising Certificate (APC) – renewed yearly, with CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points.

And just like that, you’re a licensed vet!

Final Thoughts

Yes, the path to becoming a vet is a lot of hard work, responsibility and endless studying. But it also means saving lives, protecting the public and giving a voice to animals who can’t speak for themselves.

So if you see yourself with a stethoscope instead of a suit, and you’d rather hang out at a farm than in a cubicle… maybe this could be the career you were born for.