Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (MC-DVETMED) // Entry and participation requirements

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Entry requirements

Normal Entry (i.e. ‘graduate selection’)

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biomedicine or Bachelor of Agriculture degree at the University of Melbourne, or an equivalent degree from another institution, including specified prerequisite subjects (at least one semester of study in biology and at least one semester of study in biochemistry); and
  • a personal statement demonstrating interest and commitment to animal health, production and welfare and in pursuing a career in the veterinary science profession and any experience working with animals and/or other fields relevant to veterinary science.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance (based on grade-point average protocols approved specifically for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine); and
  • the personal statement.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance Band 7.0 is required.

Entry with advanced standing via the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major of the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne (i.e. ‘undergraduate selection’)

The alternative pathway for entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is available to current undergraduate students who have completed two years of the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne (including the prerequisite subjects of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (or equivalent) and Foundations of Animal Health 1 and 2).

Applicants apply for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the end of their second year and, if successful, are enrolled into subjects in the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major of the Bachelor of Science. Students selected via this pathway who then successfully complete the Bachelor of Science, including all subjects in the Animal Health and Disease major (Veterinary Bioscience specialisation) will be assured entry into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, with credit for all subjects at the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine first year level (100 points). The selection point into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is therefore prior to the third year of the Bachelor of Science.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • the first and second years of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedicine degree at the University of Melbourne, including specified prerequisite subjects (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (or equivalent) and Foundations of Animal Health 1 and 2), and
  • a personal statement demonstrating interest and commitment to animal health, production and welfare and in pursuing a career in the veterinary science profession and any experience working with animals and/or other field in fields relevant to veterinary science.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance in science subjects, with greater weight placed on second or third-year subjects than on first-year subjects; and
  • the personal statement.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.


Additional Notes

The Selection Committee will consider Graduate Access Melbourne applications and may make appropriate adjustments to applicants' grade-point average as appropriate. Adjustments will be considered in the selection process for Commonwealth-supported places and Australian Fee-paying places.

Guaranteed entry into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is offered for high-achieving school leavers who commence undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne. This pathway is via the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation of the Animal Health and Disease major in the Bachelor of Science and the selection point is prior to the third year of the Bachelor of Science. The approved arrangement is as follows:

For a Commonwealth supported place:

  • achieve an ATAR (or equivalent) of 98.5 (in the final year of schooling in Australia); commence a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne following completion of schooling; and complete the first two years of the Bachelor of Science, including the appropriate prerequisite subjects, with a minimum weighted average mark of H2B (70%) for both level 1 and level 2 science subjects.

For a Fee-paying place (international or Australian):

  • achieve an ATAR (or equivalent) of 95.0; commence a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne following completion of schooling; and complete the first two years of the Bachelor of Science, including the appropriate prerequisite subjects, with a minimum weighted average mark of H2B (70%) for both level 1 and level 2 science subjects.

For full Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Admissions Policy including Selection Guidelines, see:
http://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/study/courses/doctor-of-veterinary-medicine/overview

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subjects in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine course are articulated in the Overview, Intended Learning Outcomes, Generic Skills and Assessment entries for each subject.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

It is a requirement of the course that students fully participate in teaching activities involving the use of animals. There are no exceptions to this.

The University has a policy regarding the conscientious objection to animal use. However, within the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, activities involving the use of animals for teaching purposes are essential to the development of relevant skills and attributes and the requirement for all students to fully and actively participate cannot be waived.

Additional requirements of the course are that students agree to be vaccinated against Q fever and tetanus and that they undertake and complete an approved short course in animal handling and safety.

The Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences' policy outlining requirements in relation to student disability for entry to and progression within the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine are outlined below.

All students of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence at graduation required by the Faculty and the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria.

While the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences will make reasonable adjustments to minimise the impact of a disability, all students must be able to participate in the program in an independent manner. It is not reasonable for students to use an intermediary as an adjustment to compensate for a disability impacting on any of the five categories listed below. In the clinical environment, there is a primary duty of care to the patients and the needs of students cannot compromise this. It is expected that all students will be able to participate fully in all classroom-based learning activities and to successfully fulfill the self-study requirements of the course. The presence of a disability will not automatically entitle the student to preferential treatment in clinical placement allocation.

A candidate for the DVM must have abilities and skills in the following five categories across all aspects of the course including practical classes and in clinical work:

  • Observation
  • Communication
  • Motor
  • Intellectual
  • Behavioural and social.


Observational Skills

Visual acuity is required in most aspects of the program. Students must be able to observe and participate in practical laboratory classes in the basic sciences, including physiology and pharmacology demonstrations and experiments, anatomy dissection classes, and practical classes in histology, general pathology, parasitology, microbiology and immunology. Visual acuity is necessary to identify and interpret gross lesions indicative of disease, view and interpret tissue sections and fluid smears via light microscopy, recognise pathogenic agents either with the naked eye or by microscopic examination, and read and interpret the results of many diagnostic tests.

Communication Skills

Students must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in written form. They must be capable of preparing written case reports, essays and other written assignments, of making oral presentations, and of satisfactorily completing examinations that require comprehension skills, clarity of expression, and the demonstration and application of relevant knowledge that is presented in a logical and coherent fashion.

Students must be able to maintain comprehensive and accurate written or electronic records, and to communicate effectively (both verbally and in writing) with the lay public, farmers, representatives of animal industries, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical agencies, government and other responsible authorities, and members of the veterinary profession, using language that is appropriate to the audience and context.

Motor Skills

Students must possess sufficient motor function to be able to participate fully and independently in all classes. Practical class and clinical work activities require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Students must be capable of identifying the potential risk of injury and take responsibility for their own safety, the safety of others and the safety of animals (including animal handling) whilst undertaking these activities.

Intellectual Skills

Problem-solving, a critical skill demanded of disease investigators, requires conceptual, integrative and quantitative intellectual skills. Students are expected to have the necessary intellectual capacity to permit them to develop and hone their skills in measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis over the course of the program, building on a strong foundational knowledge of the biological sciences. Students must also have the capacity to develop skills in critically evaluating scientific evidence and to comprehend and integrate complex information relating to multiple scientific disciplines.

Behavioural and Social Skills

Students must possess the behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. As they also contribute to the learning of other students in a collaborative learning environment, they are expected to demonstrate inter-personal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment components may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Students must be capable of working effectively both as individuals and as members of teams. They are expected to behave in a respectful and collegial fashion not only with other students but also with academic, administrative and technical staff of the Faculty, members of the veterinary profession, representatives of animal and allied industries, and government authorities.

Students must be mature, self-aware and have the emotional health necessary to utilise their intellectual abilities fully. They must be aware of their personal limitations, and be cognisant of when and where to seek assistance or professional advice and support.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance at practical classes, tutorials, case studies, workshops and clinical rotations is compulsory in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine course.  Teaching staff may take a roll to record attendance.  Students failing to comply with this requirement may be excluded from examinations.  Alternatively, their results may be withheld and additional examinations or assignments given to demonstrate that the required level of competence in each subject has been attained.

For more information on Course Participation Requirements and Reasonable Adjustments in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine course, see:  http://fvas.unimelb.edu/study/courses/doctor-of-veterinary-medicine/entry-requirements#entry-requirements 

The following additional information is provided for applicants and students.

Do I have to make a declaration or disclosure to the University about my disability?

No. The University doesn’t require students to disclose any form of disability at any stage, whether as part of the application process or as an enrolled student.

What should I do if I am worried about my ability to successfully fulfil a listed core participation requirement?

You may wish to contact with Student Equity and Disability Support (SEDS) at the University to discuss your specific issue: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/contact_us. SEDS may be able to provide advice as to reasonable adjustments which may be made.

What is a reasonable adjustment?

The University of Melbourne is required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth) and Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities.

“Reasonable adjustments” are modifications or accommodations made by the University that assist a student with a disability to participate in their course or access University facilities on the same basis as someone without a disability. A reasonable adjustment might be an aid to vision or hearing, allowing extra time for written examinations or an adjustment to hours of fieldwork. The role of Student Equity and Disability Support (SEDS) is to support students with disabilities, including assisting in the negotiation of reasonable adjustments for students who have disabilities.

Any such adjustments must be reasonable and cannot compromise the academic integrity of a course. Reasonable adjustments are provided to assist students to fulfil the core participation requirements, not as a substitute for those requirements.

Can I enrol even if I am not sure I will be able to fulfil some of the core participation requirements?

Yes. It is your decision as to whether or not you wish to enrol, if you are offered a place in the DVM course. It is unlawful for the University to make determinations regarding enrolment solely on the basis of disability, or to discriminate against students with a disability in other ways.

What happens if I do enrol and I am unable to fulfil some of the core participation requirements?

The Faculty is accountable to external accreditation bodies (i.e. Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria) that its veterinary graduates meet registration requirements.

If you are unable to fulfil the core participation requirements even with reasonable adjustments having been made, you may fail a core component of the DVM. Should this occur, you would be not be able to complete the course, graduate from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or be registered as a veterinarian.

Last updated: 18 December 2020