What College Major Do Students Regret Most? Only 5 Universities in Taiwan Offer This Science Program—Graduates Reveal Low Pay and High Stress, Even Top Students Drop Out

Recently, after the release of subject test scores, many students are preparing to apply for university programs. A high school student posted on Threads expressing a strong interest in animals and wondering whether veterinary medicine is recommended, sparking widespread discussion. Many netizens responded that being a veterinarian requires not only passion but also strong mental resilience and stress tolerance, especially when dealing with animal illness and death. Some former veterinarians noted that salaries are generally low. According to salary data from 104 Job Bank, most animal hospitals offer monthly salaries between 40,000 and 60,000 TWD—still significantly lower than those of physicians and dentists.

Is loving animals enough to study veterinary medicine? High school students’ college choices spark debate: strong stress resistance and psychological strength are essential.

A high school student posted on Threads, saying they are passionate about animals and considering veterinary medicine, and asked whether the post-graduation job really pays poorly and if it’s worth pursuing. In response, many users commented: 'Being a vet might wear down your passion for animals,' 'Veterinarians save lives, but more often face cases they can’t save and animal deaths—your mental strength must be very strong,' 'Only recommend if you truly love animals and don’t care about making big money. In our department, someone drops out or retakes exams every semester, and many don’t go into clinical practice after graduation,' 'Starting salaries in some regions are so low they make you question life,' and 'Loving animals isn’t enough to sustain a long-term career as a clinical vet. The early years are financially tough, but income improves with experience—though stress from animals and pet owners remains high.'

Only 5 universities in Taiwan offer veterinary programs! Here’s a full look at the curriculum and training.

Veterinary medicine is a rare field in Taiwan, with only five universities currently offering related programs. National Taiwan University, National Chung Hsing University, National Chiayi University, and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology offer general veterinary programs. Asia University is the only school in Taiwan offering a post-baccalaureate veterinary program. The general veterinary program is five years long (including one year of internship), while the post-baccalaureate program is four years (also including one year of internship).

Veterinarian salary revealed! Average monthly pay for 10+ years of experience is 59,000 TWD—still lags behind physicians and dentists.

According to the latest salary data from 104 Job Bank, veterinarians with 1–3 years of experience earn an average monthly salary of about 45,000 TWD. Those with 5–10 years earn about 49,000 TWD, and those with over 10 years earn around 59,000 TWD. Job postings show most animal hospitals offer salaries between 40,000 and 60,000 TWD, with a few specialized or large private hospitals offering starting salaries above 80,000 TWD. However, compared to physicians and dentists, overall income still lags behind.

Cram school analyzes veterinary program requirements and work environment—many clinical vets switch to civil service or retake medical/dental exams.

Success Cram School recently analyzed veterinary program requirements on its website, noting that 'loving animals is just the starting point, not the end goal'—a phrase often repeated by veterinary faculty. In reality, students face not just cute cats and dogs, but injured, sick, or dying animals. They must also manage pet owners’ anxiety, communicate medical information, and handle emergencies. The cram school emphasized that aspiring veterinary students need more than passion—they must have strong stress tolerance, communication skills, hands-on ability, and a willingness to continuously improve their expertise. They must also be prepared for messy, smelly environments and long working hours to succeed in this career.

Success Cram School also pointed out that veterinarians face long-term stress from animal deaths, emotional loss, medical disputes, and long hours—passion alone isn’t enough to sustain a career. One veterinarian with about 10 years of experience shared that even with experience, they still struggle emotionally when an animal dies. Younger vets revealed that many classmates eventually switch to civil service or aviation jobs, while others retake exams to enter medical or dental school.

Pet medicine is becoming more specialized! Exotic pets, large animals, and private practice are breaking income ceilings.

However, Success Cram School noted that while starting salaries may not be high, this doesn’t mean career growth is limited. As Taiwan’s pet healthcare sector becomes more specialized—especially in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, dentistry, rehabilitation, and exotic pet medicine—there’s a growing shortage of specialists. For example, some exotic pet veterinarians earn over 1 million TWD annually just two or three years after graduation. Large animal veterinarians generally earn higher starting salaries than those in small animal care, and veterinarians who open and successfully run their own clinics can earn 200,000–300,000 TWD monthly. The cram school stressed that starting salary doesn’t equal lifetime earning potential. Those considering veterinary medicine should fully understand the job content, salary structure, and career paths before making a careful decision.

Source: 104 Job Bank, Success Cram School

Editor: Tsai Hui-Hsin