Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

The program of study will be four years full time, and will be delivered at the Parkville campus (Years One and Two) and at the Werribee campus (Years Three and Four).

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum will assume prior knowledge and experience of scientific thought processes. This will allow for the early introduction of an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to veterinary studies, an approach that provides opportunities for students to apply their understanding to authentic cases, to practise evidence-based decision-making, to solve clinical problems and to acquire clinical competencies in an ordered and sequential way, from the first year of their course. By the time they reach the final year of the DVM, students will be immersed in a community of best practice in the University’s Hospital, where the explicit teaching of the lecture theatre, practical class and tutorial room gives way to peer to peer teaching and experiential learning.

Students successfully completing the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major of the BSc will have guaranteed progression to the DVM, with credit for all subjects inDVM1.

The primary aim of the Melbourne DVM curriculum is to graduate highly capable veterinary scientists whose abilities to solve problems, to draw on the substantial body of veterinary knowledge, to interpret evidence, and to make decisions and act upon them within a clear ethical and professional framework embody all of the graduate attributes to which the Faculty aspires.

The DVM curriculum has been developed around five learning domains that describe the student’s progressive acquisition of the graduate attributes of a veterinary scientist. These domains or strands, that traverse all subjects of the DVM program, are:

• the scientific basis of clinical practice
• ethics and animal welfare
• biosecurity and population health
• clinical skills, and
• personal and professional development.

Year One

Students enrolled in the DVM:
VETS70003 Veterinary Bioscience 1 (62.5 points)
VETS70006 Applications in Animal Health 1 (37.5 points)

Students enrolled in the BSc Veterinary Bioscience specialisation:
VETS20014 Foundations of Animal Health 1 (12.5 points)
VETS20015 Foundations of Animal Health 2 (12.5 points)
VETS30015 Veterinary Bioscience: From Cells to Systems (12.5 points)
VETS30016 Veterinary Bioscience: Digestive System (12.5 points)
VETS30017 Veterinary Bioscience: Metabolism & Excretion (12.5 points)
VETS30014 Veterinary Bioscience: Cardiovascular System (12.5 points)
VETS30018 Veterinary Bioscience: Respiratory System (12.5 points)
VETS30013 Animal Health in Production Systems (12.5 points)

Year Two
VETS70004 Veterinary Bioscience 2 (43.75 points)
VETS70008 Applications in Animal Health 2 (12.5 points)
VETS70005 Infections, Population and Public Health (43.75 points)

Year Three Summer Semester
VETS70007 Principles of Clinical Practice (12.5 points)

Year Three Semesters One and Two
VETS70011 Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery (50 points)
VETS70010 Production Animal Medicine and Surgery (37.5 points)

Year Four
VETS70009 Veterinary Professional Practice (100 points)

All subjects in the DVM are compulsory - there are no majors/minors/specialisations

All subjects in the DVM are compulsory - there are no subject options

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is a four year graduate degree program that builds on a solid foundation of scientific knowledge acquired in a Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) degree program. As all students commencing studies in the DVM program must possess knowledge of the organic and cellular structure and molecular function of biological organisms, successful completion of at least 12.5 points of study in biology and 12.5 points of study in biochemistry in the undergraduate degree is an essential criterion for eligibility for selection into the DVM.

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue the course using the following criterion:

• successful completion of a Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) degree that includes at least 12.5 points of study in biology and 12.5 points of study in biochemistry.

2. The Selection Committee may consider any experience applicants may have gained in fields relevant to veterinary science, call for referee reports or employer references, and conduct interviews to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

A second pathway for entry to the DVM degree is available to students who have completed two years of a science degree (BSc or BBiomed) at the University of Melbourne (including the prerequisite subjects of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (or equivalent), Foundations of Animal Health 1 and Foundations of Animal Health 2), and who are selected at the end of the second year into the quota-limited Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major of the Bachelor of Science program. Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Science including all subjects in the Animal Health and Disease major (Veterinary Bioscience specialisation) will be guaranteed entry to the DVM program, with credit for all subjects at the DVM first year level (100 points).

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major in the Bachelor of Science using the following criterion:

• successful completion of first and second year of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedicine degree at the University of Melbourne, including the prerequisite subjects of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (or equivalent) and Foundations of Animal Health 1 and 2.

The Faculty of Veterinary Science has received approval for guaranteed entry to the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the BSc (with guaranteed progression to DVM) for high-achieving school leavers as follows:

For a Commonwealth supported place (CSP):

• Applicants who achieve an ATAR (or notional ATAR) of 98.50 or above and commence the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and complete the first two years with the appropriate prerequisite subjects and a H2B (70%) weighted average are guaranteed a Commonwealth supported place.

For a fee place (Australian Full Fee or International):

• Applicants who achieve an ATAR (or notional ATAR) of 95.00 or above and commence the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and complete the first two years with the appropriate prerequisite subjects and a H2B (70%) weighted average are guaranteed an Australian fee or international fee place.

In addition, if a student’s residency status changes after acceptance of a fee place with guaranteed progression, the CSP ATAR score for guaranteed progression will be retrospectively applied.

Prospective students are advised to familiarise themselves with the Faculty's Academic Requirements Statement http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/CoreParticipationReqs.pdf

The DVM program encourages students to achieve the attributes of all graduates of the University of Melbourne in terms of academic excellence, knowledge acquisition, community leadership and responsibility, cultural sensitivity, and international awareness.

In particular, the Melbourne School of Veterinary Science intends that graduates of its DVM program should:

• be able to seek solutions to problems through the application of knowledge, the ability to initiate and integrate new ideas, an appreciation of the broad picture of science, and an understanding of the importance and application of scientific method
• deal with integrity and honesty with professional colleagues, clients and the general public
• demonstrate empathy and concern for animals and people
• possess an understanding of both scientific and vocational aspects of veterinary science
• be motivated to be a veterinarian, aware of the veterinarian’s place in society, and prepared to be a leader in the community
• have broad knowledge of veterinary science and be able to develop intellectual and physical skills as circumstances dictate
• be trained in all disciplines and aspects of veterinary science
• be adaptable to changes in their specific field of employment and to advancements in veterinary science in general
• be confident in their veterinary capabilities on day one post-graduation whilst recognising the limitations of their training
• be aware of the global society and equipped to contribute to it
• be a graduate of choice for employers.

As a Masters level course, the DVM assumes and builds on the prior knowledge and experience in scientific thinking of students entering the course. From the first year of study an integrated and interdisciplinary approach is adopted. Students are expected to appraise data critically, to integrate concepts acquired in different disciplines, and to apply their understanding to authentic cases. They will be provided with opportunities to practise evidence-based decision-making, to solve clinical problems and to acquire clinical competencies in an ordered and sequential way.

The veterinary program at the University of Melbourne is accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (London, United Kingdom), and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Accreditation is reviewed on a 7 year cycle for all accredited veterinary schools. The accrediting authorities have been informed of the changes to the degree structure through the customary annual reporting process. A formal review of the program will occur in line with the normal accreditation process.

PROGRESSION IN THE DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM –STANDING RULES - YEARS 1, 2 and 3.

Progression in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program is by year rather than by semester. The subjects undertaken each year are prerequisites for those of the following year. A student may not proceed to the next year of the program without having satisfied completely the requirements of the preceding year.

1. Supplementary Examinations
Supplementary examinations will be granted only for subjects in which marks of between 40 and 49% inclusive or grades of NH (failure to satisfactorily complete all prescribed (hurdle) requirements) have been achieved.

A supplementary examination will not be granted for a subject that a student is repeating.

A supplementary examination is a complete examination in a subject and alone determines the final mark for that subject. No earlier assessment components of the subject will contribute to the final mark in the supplementary examination. The format of the supplementary examination may differ from that of the primary examination(s) in that subject. The maximum mark recorded for a supplementary examination is 50%.

2. Satisfying Hurdle Requirements
Students will be allowed additional assessment(s) if they fail one or more hurdle requirements but have passed the subject overall. The format of the additional examination may differ from that of the primary assessment/examination(s). The mark recorded for the subject will be the original mark obtained in the subject. Failure of the additional assessment will result in a supplementary examination.

3. Repeat
Students are not allowed to repeat subjects in DVM-1 except in exceptional circumstances. Students in the DVM-2 and DVM-3 will be permitted to repeat a year if they do not fall into the Termination of Enrolment category.

Repeating students are required to undertake only those subjects that they have failed but must complete all components of the subjects that they are repeating.

Students repeating subjects must pass all of those subjects outright and are not eligible for supplementary examinations, however they may be given additional assessment to meet hurdle requirements.

4. Termination of Enrolment
A student will be placed in the Termination of Enrolment category if he or she:

• fails any subject in DVM-1 or more than one subject in DVM-2 or DVM-3 after completion of supplementary examinations
• fails any subject at the first attempt with a mark of less than 40%
• fails any repeated subject.

5. Convening of the Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee
The Faculty’s Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee may convene after any examination period and after the second semester examination period each year to review the progress of any student in the Repeat or Termination of Enrolment category. Students in these categories will be invited to make an oral and/or written submission to the Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee. The Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee is authorised to make decisions on behalf of the Faculty with regard to the progress of individual students and to vary the Standing Rules if it deems that progression of a student can be facilitated without adversely affecting academic standards. In exercising its duty, the Committee has a responsibility to ensure that the available quota places are taken by students most likely to complete their course in reasonable time. Therefore, students are not allowed to repeat subjects in the first year except in exceptional circumstances demonstrably beyond the student’s control.