The grade point average (“GPA”) is a calculation that gives a number (0 to 9) representing an applicant’s average academic performance over time. This page details the regulations for calculation of the GPA for selection into the professional phase of domestic applicants and Group 1 international applicants to the BVSc. The final interpretation and application of these regulations will be determined by the Veterinary Undergraduate Student Selection Subcommittee (“Selection Committee”).
Only grades that are available to the Selection Committee by the time of the Veterinary Student Selection Appeals Committee meeting can be included in the GPA for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc in that year. Grades finalised or changed after this time can only be considered for inclusion in the GPA calculation for future applications for selection.
A. Calculation of the GPA
Grades from courses eligible for inclusion in the GPA calculation are converted to a grade score and the following formula is used:
GPA = ∑ (University Grade Scores x Subject Credits) ÷ Total Credits
Where grade scores from 0 to 9.0 are used as follows:
| A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D, E, F, or DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Only alpha grades (that is, as shown in the table) from taught courses are included in the GPA calculation. Aegrotat pass grades or grades from courses with a final grade of pass/fail are not included in the GPA calculation. Grades from research, thesis, practicum or language courses are not included in the GPA calculation.
B. GPA calculation guidelines for applicants who have not completed any university courses
1
Where an applicant has no prior university study, their GPA for selection will be calculated from the grades from the four pre-requisite courses for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc (“pre-requisite courses”) as described in A.
2
If such an applicant is awarded an aegrotat pass grade for any of the pre-requisite courses, the following will apply:
- If awarded an aegrotat pass grade for a maximum of 15 credits, and alpha grades for a minimum of 45 credits, the alpha grades will be used in the GPA calculation.
- If awarded an aegrotat pass grade for more than 15 credits the applicant will not be eligible for selection that year.
C. GPA calculation guidelines for applicants who have completed one or more university courses
Where an applicant has completed any prior university study (including university courses taken while in high school), their GPA for selection will be calculated as described in A following an extensive set of regulations that takes into account the applicant’s previous and current university study as outlined below. For the approval of planned courses for inclusion in the GPA for selection, and/or to understand which previous grades will be included, an applicant with prior university study should email a specialist veterinary academic advisor in Student Advice at Massey University and put “Vet Selection advice” in the subject line so appropriate written advice can be given. Applicants may only rely upon written advice regarding their GPA calculation. To receive reliable written advice before the start of the semester, applicants need to email the advisors by February 1 for Semester 1 and by June 30 for Semester 2.
1
To calculate a GPA for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc or BVetTech, applicants must have completed a minimum of one eligible semester of study in New Zealand. For a semester of study to be considered eligible, and included in the GPA, the courses completed in that semester must meet the following criteria:
- Be at NZQA Level 5 or higher; and
- Be completed as part of a semester of full-time study, which is defined as enrolment in and completion of a minimum of 60 credits per semester; and
- Subject to C8, C9 and C10, be science courses, which are defined in the document entitled “Approved science courses for inclusion in the GPA for selection into the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Bachelor of Veterinary Technology” (“approved science courses”) included as Appendix 1; and
- Have been completed within 36 months of the start of the professional phase of the BVSc for which the applicant is currently applying; and
- Be completed as part of a semester that includes a minimum of 45 credits that meet all of the following:
i. Be for taught courses (not research, thesis, practicum, or language courses); and
ii. Be awarded an alpha grade (not a pass/fail or aegrotat grade) (see A); and
iii. Be within the maximum allowable limit for 100-level courses (see C10).
2
Where an applicant does not have an eligible semester of study (see C1) completed at Massey University a GPA cannot be calculated and the applicant will not be eligible for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc.
3
Grades from courses completed in up to the most recent four eligible semesters of study (see C1) will be included in the GPA calculation.
4
Grades from one or more of the pre-requisite courses, or courses completed at a New Zealand university that are equivalent to the pre-requisite courses, completed within 36 months of the start of the professional phase of the BVSc or BVetTech for which the applicant is currently applying will be included in the GPA calculation provided the applicant has an existing eligible semester.
5
Subject to C4, grades from courses completed in a semester of study that does not comply with C1 will not be included in the GPA calculation.
6
If an applicant completes any of the pre-requisite courses while at high school, the grades from these courses will not be included in the GPA calculation, but the credits from the courses will count towards Recognition for Prior Learning.
7
If an applicant is enrolled in more than 60 credits in an eligible semester (see C1), the grades from all courses are included in the GPA calculation.
8
In semester 2 only an applicant may complete one non-science course (up to a maximum of 18 credits) which is not a language course, the grade from which will be included in the GPA calculation. Subject to C4, where semester 1 includes any non-science course, or semester 2 includes more than one non-science course, the grades from all courses in that semester will not be included in the GPA calculation.
9
Grades from completed courses that are not approved science courses but may be equivalent to approved science courses will be assessed for equivalence and inclusion in the GPA on a case-by-case basis.
10
Grades from 100-level courses meeting all other eligibility criteria will only be included in an applicant’s GPA for selection where the applicant has enrolled in 11 or fewer 100-level courses during the applicant’s lifetime. Where an applicant has enrolled in more than 11 100-level courses, grades from the 12th and any subsequent 100-level courses will not be eligible for inclusion in the GPA for selection.
Appendix 1
Approved science courses for inclusion in the GPA for selection into the Bachelor of Veterinary Science.
Approved science courses include courses listed in either Schedule A (Core Courses) or Schedule B (Majors/Specialisations) for the following qualifications at Massey University:
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSci)
- Bachelor of Animal Science (BAnSci)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons))
- Bachelor of Food Technology (Honours) (BFoodTech(Hons))
- Bachelor of Horticultural Science (BHortSci)
- Bachelor of Information Sciences (BInfSc)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Technology (BVetTech) (only grades from Part Three can be included, and only if undertaken as part of 120 credits over two semesters)
with the exception of the following courses which shall not be included as approved science courses:
- 114.241 Principles of Human Resources
- 115.113 Economics for Business
- 115.212 Fundamentals of Leadership and Teamwork
- 123.103 Chemistry for Modern Sciences
- 162.103 Introductory Biology
- 175.101 Psychology as a Social Science
- 193.1xx, 193.2xx - all courses with 193.1 or 193.2 prefixes
- 122.222 (Biochemistry for Technology)