Doctor of Veterinary Science (DH-VSC) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

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Intended learning outcomes

The student is expected to have achieved a breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding in a particular field or set of related fields in veterinary science. Students awarded this degree should:



  • Be able to apply scientific methods to the definition and solution of problems by research and approach research in a critical, perceptive and constructive way;
  • Have acquired skills in the searching and manipulation of scientific literature and other relevant data bases;
  • Be effective in scientific communication through both the spoken and written medium and to both professional colleagues and the wider community;
  • Have an understanding of the financing and management of scientific research;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics or code of practice; and
  • Develop interpersonal skills to work as part of a team.

Graduate attributes

The University expects its research graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

  • an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions;
  • a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project;
  • an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research;
  • an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area;
  • a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature;
  • well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline;
  • the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment;
  • the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
  • an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area;
  • a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
  • a capacity to cooperate with other researchers; and
  • an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.

Last updated: 12 November 2021