University of Pretoria Internship Programme 2026 | Apply Now for Valuable Work Experience

Kickstart your career with the University of Pretoria Internship Programme 2026. Get hands-on experience, grow your skills.

Jumpstart Your Vet Nursing Career at Onderstepoort (2026)!

So, you just wrapped up your vet nurse studies and you’re hungry for the next big adventure? University of Pretoria Internship Programme is rolling out its Veterinary Nurse Internship for 2026 at the legendary Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH).

If you’re keen to see what real-life animal care is all about (and maybe want a few wild stories to tell), keep reading.

Why This Internship Rocks

Let’s be real—most jobs for new grads are either boring or a total grind. Not here. This program is the place to get your hands dirty, learn from some of the best, and discover what it really takes to keep a top-tier animal hospital running. OVAH is pretty much the Hogwarts for vet nurses—minus the flying brooms, plus a few unpredictable cows.

What You’ll Actually Do

No fetching coffee here. You’re in the thick of it, every day. Here’s what your days (and sometimes nights) will look like:

• Animal Care (Every Kind Under the Sun):
• Daily hands-on care for everything from tiny kittens to horses that think they’re lapdogs.
• Assisting with medical treatments, surgeries, and prepping animals for procedures.
• Keeping the critters as happy, healthy, and calm as possible (except maybe the geese… they’re never calm).
• Running the Show:
• Helping manage stock and pharmacy supplies—trust me, you’ll become very passionate about never running out of syringes.
• Keeping the place spick-and-span and up to hospital hygiene standards.
• Making sure all the important protocols are followed, especially when it comes to biosecurity (because you really don’t want to be “that person” who caused an outbreak).
• Teaching & Teamwork:
• Guiding vet students through practical sessions—sometimes you’ll feel like a teacher, other times like a referee.
• Communicating with everyone: clients (some lovely, some… not so much), students, seasoned vets, and the delivery folks who always show up during lunch.
• Shifts & Real-World Hours:
• Be ready for rotating shifts, weekends, and after-hours duties. The animals don’t exactly stick to a 9-to-5, and neither will you.

What You’ll Need to Bring

This gig isn’t for the faint-hearted. Here’s a reality check on what you’ll need:

• Education:
• Official BVetNurse qualification. No way around this one.
• Skills:
• University of Pretoria Internship Programme
• Confidence with both small and large animals (if you’ve ever bandaged a goat, you’re halfway there).
• ICU smarts, and good with diagnostic imaging and surgical tools. If you’re a tech nerd, you’ll love it.
• Super solid communication and time management—things move fast, and you’ve got to keep up.
• Physical stamina, because those shifts can be brutal.
• Bonus Points:
• Registration with the Veterinary Nursing Association of South Africa (VNASA). Not a must, but it’ll help you stand out.

Why Choose OVAH?

• You’re not just a number here—you’re part of a team that actually cares about animals (and about you learning something besides how to refill coffee machines).
• Exposure to the latest equipment and real-world challenges, not just textbook stuff.
• A chance to actually make a difference for animals and people, while building serious confidence in your skills.

The Nitty-Gritty Details

• Where: Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH), Pretoria
• When: Applications close 15 June 2025 (seriously, don’t put this off—set a reminder)
• How to Apply:
• Head to the University of Pretoria Careers Portal
• Upload your CV, proof of qualifications, SAVC registration, and contacts for three referees (choose wisely, trust me)

University of Pretoria Internship Programme

Look, if you’re gonna spend your first year out of school anywhere, you want it to be somewhere that challenges you, teaches you, and actually gets you excited to show up—even at 2 a.m. OVAH is that place. You’ll learn, you’ll laugh, you’ll probably get covered in animal hair (and maybe worse). But you’ll come out of it a proper vet nurse, ready for just about anything.

So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that CV and take the leap. Your future animal patients are already counting on you!