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Veterinary Studies and Veterinary Clinical Studies

Course overview

Graduates holding the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Bachelor of Veterinary Science may apply for admission to candidature for the course of Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies undertaken concurrently with a Master of Veterinary Studies. The program is only available for admission when training positions (residencies) are advertised by the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.

Graduates in veterinary science from other universities may also, with the approval of the Faculty and the Academic Board, be admitted as candidates. Candidates shall be registrable by the New South Wales Veterinary Practitioners Board.

A candidate for the MVCS course shall, for at least three years, engage in full-time supervised advanced veterinary clinical study and research and submit a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation. The MVS coursework degree is complementary to the advanced training undertaken in the relevant specialty.

Please note, students undertaking this course, must concurrently enrol in the Master of Veterinary Studies program and must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Contact and further information

Program Director: Associate Professor Sanaa Zaki
Enquiries: vetsci.education@sydney.edu.au

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
MAVETSTD-03 / RMVETCLS-01 Master of Veterinary Studies / Master of Veterinary Clinical Studie

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Master's type

This is a combined master’s degree consisting of a coursework master’s degree which is an advanced learning master’s course, as defined by the Coursework Rule; and a research master’s degree.

4 Streams

(1) The combined degree of the Master of Veterinary Studies / Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies is available in the following streams:

(a) Avian Medicine

(b) Bovine Medicine

(c) Canine Medicine

(d) Equine Medicine

(e) Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

(f) Equine Surgery

(g) Feline Medicine

(h) Ruminant Medicine

(i) Small Animal Cardiology

(j) Small Animal Surgery

(k) Small Animal Medicine

(l) Veterinary Anaesthesia

(m) Veterinary Behaviour

(n) Veterinary Dermatology

(o) Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

(p) Veterinary Emergency Medicine and Critical Care

(q) Veterinary Epidemiology

(r) Veterinary Neurology

(s) Veterinary Oncology

(t) Veterinary Ophthalmology

(u) Veterinary Pathology

(2) The degree of Master of Veterinary Studies / Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies shall be awarded in the stream in which the candidate enrols. The testamur for the degree shall specify the stream.

5 Admission to candidature

(1) This combined degree is available to domestic and international candidates.

(2) Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on academic merit and relevant professional experience, according to the following admissions criteria:

(a) A Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours or equivalent, such as a masters degree which is recognised by the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board (relevant professional experience in the relevant stream is desirable).

(b) Full registration, or Registration with conditions, or Limited Registration with the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board for the entire duration of the candidature.

(3) Admission to candidature will be conditional upon the appointment of an appropriate clinical supervisor and associate supervisor.

(4) The Associate Dean (Research Education) in consultation with the Postgraduate Program Director (Veterinary Clinical Masters) will appoint a research supervisor and associate supervisor for each candidate in accordance with the HDR Rule and Academic Board policies for postgraduate research higher degree supervision.

6 Requirements for award

(1) To qualify for the award of the Master of Veterinary Studies / Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies, a candidate must

(a) complete 48 credit points of coursework relevant to their chosen stream, and:

(b) conduct research on an approved topic and;

(c) submit a document embodying the results of the research as a thesis that meets the requirements specified in the HDR Rule and Academic Board policies and procedures including the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy 2015; and

(d) the thesis should not normally exceed 40,000 words.

7 Progression rules and probation

(1) Candidates who fail any unit of study will be identified as not meeting academic progression requirements and become subject to the Progression provisions of the Coursework Rule.

(2) There are no unit of study barriers for progression.

(3) Requirements for progress in the Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies will require that:

(a) A candidate is normally accepted for candidature on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding one year according to the provisions of the HDR Rule.

(b) In the probationary period each candidate must:

(i) complete a specified research methods unit of study if prescribed by the Faculty;

(ii) develop and present a refined research proposal to the satisfaction of the Supervisor.

(c) The HDR Rule specifies the conditions for the progression by the Faculty for the Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies

(i) A candidate is required to maintain satisfactory progress towards the timely completion of the degree. Progress will be reviewed annually according to the provisions of the HDR rule.

8 Examination of the thesis

(1) Examination of the thesis will be conducted in general accordance with standards prescribed by Academic Board for the Doctor of Philosophy, except that:

(a) three copies of the thesis shall be submitted by the candidate;

(b) two examiners will be appointed by the Faculty, at least one of whom shall be external to the University; and

(c) the Faculty Postgraduate Education and Research Training Committee will act in place of the PhD Award Sub-committee.

9 Award of the degree

(1) The Master of Veterinary Studies is awarded on successful completion of 48 credit points.

(2) The Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies is awarded at the Pass level only.

10 Embedded courses in this sequence

(1) The embedded courses in this sequence are:

(a) the Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Studies (in the relevant stream);

(b) the Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Studies (in the relevant stream);

(c) the Master of Veterinary Studies (in the relevant stream).

11 Course transfer

(1) A candidate for the Master of Veterinary Studies/Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies may abandon the combined degree and elect to discontinue study and graduate with the Master of Veterinary Studies alone, or graduate with the Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies alone, with the approval of the Associate Dean, and provided the requirements of the shorter award or research master's respectively, have been met.

12 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2020 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2020 who elect to proceed under these resolutions. Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2020 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.