Veterinary Medicine
Course overview
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is accredited internationally. It provides a broad and coherent body of knowledge and the appropriate depth in practical, research and generic skills to enter and sustain a successful career in the veterinary profession. Graduates are able to register for practicing veterinary medicine within Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa upon graduation, and be eligible to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.
Teaching in the degree is research-driven and involves learning from the latest developments and advances in evidence-based practice, veterinary science research, animal behaviour and welfare science and veterinary public health. Commencing in the first semester, the curriculum is fully integrated with clinical exposure, clinical skills training and animal handling.
Training in professional and clinical skills with all the major domestic animal species forms an essential part of the course program and teaching occurs at Camperdown and Camden campuses, consisting of interactive small group practical classes and students will undertake intra- and extramural placements in vacation periods.
To ensure that students understand the linkages between veterinary health, human medicine and the environment at local, national and global levels, your studies will take place in the One Health framework.
The program culminates in a capstone experience year where you will get hands-on experience as an intern, working with cases under supervision, in a range of veterinary clinics within Australia and abroad, including core-rotations in the University teaching hospitals at Sydney and Camden.
Contact and further information
Program Director: Associate Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio
Enquiries: vetsci.education@sydney.edu.au
Course resolutions
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Course resolutions
The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies
1 Course codes
| Code | Course title |
|---|---|
| MAVETMED-01 | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
2 Attendance pattern
(1) The attendance pattern for this course is full time.
3 Master's type
(1) The master’s degree in these resolutions is a professional master's course., which is externally accredited.
4 Admission to candidature
(1) Admission to this course is:
(a) subject to the availability of places; and
(b) on the basis of qualifications specified in subclase 2.
(2) Candidates may be admitted to this degree if they:
(a) hold a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney, or equivalent qualification; and
(b) have completed one semester of study in each of:
(i) chemistry
(ii) biology; and
(ii) biochemistry.
(3) Applicants must submit a DVM admissions statement including relevant work experience and animal handling experience.
(4) Applicants must complete a Faculty stipulated situational judgement test.
(5) English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.
(6) Applicants will be ranked by academic performance and aptitude for the practice of veterinary medicine.
(a) If some applicants are ranked equally, the Head of School and Dean will appoint a selection panel to:.
(i) make further assessment of the applications;
(ii) conduct interviews if the panel considers them to be necessary;and
(iii) make recommendations for admission.
5 Deferral
(1) Applications for deferral of enrolment following an offer of a place in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine:
(a) require the approval of the Associate Dean; and
(b) will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
6 Course Structure
(1) The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is structured as a four-year program with learning integrated across units of study in each year:
(a) Year 1 - Function of the Normal Animal Body
(b) Year 2 - Principles and Approach to Clinical Disease
(c) Year 3 - Animal Health and Disease Management
(d) Year 4 - Professional Practice Program
7 Progression
(1) Candidates for the degree may enrol in the units of study prescribed for Year 2 of candidature only after successful completion of all Year 1 units of study.
(2) Candidates for the degree may enrol in the units of study prescribed for Year 3 candidature only after successful completion of all Year 1 and Year 2 units of study, including industry placement units of study.
(3) Candidates for the degree may enrol in the units of study prescribed for Year 4 of candidature only after successful completion of all Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3, including preparatory clinical placement units of study and the abattoir placement unit of study.
8 Assessment
(1) The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is an integrated program and assessment can occur outside the designated University of Sydney examinations periods.
(2) Details of assessment requirements will be provided in the unit of study outline.
9 Requirements for award
(1) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the table for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
(2) To qualify for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine a candidate must successfully complete::
(a) a prescribed program of 192 credit points, and
(b) the prescribed placement units of study as listed in the unit of study table including:
(i) 4 weeks of preparatory clinical placements;
(ii) 8 weeks of industry placements; and
(iii) 2 days of abattoir placements.
10 Reassessment
(1) Subject to subclause 10(2), students enrolled in a postgraduate unit of study prescribed for Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 or Year 4 of candidature of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, who:
(a) after completion of all applicable special consideration processes
(b) fail one unit of study only within a semester may be offered the opportunity for re-assessment for the failed unit of study.
(2) Students who have been awarded an Absent Fail (AF) grade for a unit of study will not be eligible for re-assessment for that unit of study.
(3) The re-assessment:
(a) will encompass all topics and learning outcomes within the unit of study; and
(b) assessment type may differ from those used in the original delivery of the unit.
(4) Re-assessment will only be offered to eligible students on the dates prescribed in the year schedule, and it is the student's responsibility to be available to attend at these times. Further special consideration will not be available, and no further opportunities for re-assessment will be provided.
(5) The final result awarded for a unit of study after reassessment will be:
(a) based on the re-assessment alone; and
(b) will be either:
(i) Pass (50-PS) for units of study with mark and grade assessment type; or
(ii) SR for units of study with Grade only(pass/fail) assessment type.
(6) For a student who fails the re-assessment, the final result after re-assessment will be:
(a) based on the re-assessment alone; and
(b) will be either:
(i) Fail (0-49 FA) for units of study with a mark and grade assessment type; or
(ii) FR for units of study with grade only (pass/fail assessment type).
11 Time limits
(1) A candidate for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine must complete the requirements for the degree within five calendar years.
(2) The Dean may in exceptional circumstances, extend the time limit for completing the requirements for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine to a maximum of 10 years.
12 Credit for previous study
(1) Advanced standing (including Reduced Volume of Learning or credit for previous study) is not available in this degree.
13 Award of the degree
(1) The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is awarded as a Pass degree only.
14 Transitional Provisions
(1) These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2024 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2023 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2) Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2024 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.
