Why Doctor of Veterinary Medicine?
Your gateway to a fulfilling career as a registered veterinarian.
Choosing to study veterinary medicine is often a culmination of lifelong passion, academic interest and a desire to contribute meaningfully to both animal and human communities.
It is a stable and rewarding profession with exciting opportunities for growth and specialisation. Veterinarians can work in clinical practice, public health, academia, biosecurity, consultancy, discipline specialisation (eg surgery) or species specialisation (eg equine), to name a few options.
Ready to achieve your goals?
There is no direct entry into this degree. Applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) from Adelaide University to apply.
Overview
Our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine provides the necessary training and qualifications for registration as a veterinarian.
Learn about the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases in domesticated animals, including dogs, cats, horses, ruminants, camelids, pigs, poultry and wildlife.
Hone your scientific and technical skills for research and clinical practice. Gain advanced professional experience through a structured workplace-based program. Complete 26 weeks of extramural practical work.
Practise communicating with pet owners, farm managers and other stakeholders about animal care, treatment and preventative health measures. Protect public health and animal product quality. Develop your professional conduct, including teamwork, resilience, self-awareness and leadership skills.
You’ll graduate ready to register as a veterinarian in Australasia – equipped for roles that could include clinical practice, zoos, aquariums, research, consultancy, public health, wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
Key features
Benefit from our purpose-built veterinary teaching hospitals.- Gain extensive hands-on experience in clinical rotations.
- Learn from global experts in animal health and research.
- Master surgical techniques, emergency care and the latest medical technologies.
- Join a close-knit and collaborative community on campus.
- Graduate eligible for registration as a veterinarian.
What you'll learn
To graduate from our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, you must complete:
- Core courses to the value of 108 units
- Work integrated learning courses to the value of 36 units, which includes 26 weeks of work-based training.
The first two years of the program aim to develop the scientific and technical skills needed to become a veterinarian. At the same time, there is a strong theme of professional development, with training in veterinary communication, legislation, professional conduct, ethics, and clinical examination and reasoning.
Study essential practices such as anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging and surgery. Cover important areas like pharmacology, toxicology and pathology. Explore key topics in wildlife and conservation practice, public health and biosecurity.
In your final year, you'll undertake a structured clinical rotations program where you'll continue to develop the latest practical veterinary skills. Additionally, there is a requirement of a further 26 weeks of extramural studies that are workplace-based experiences to complete.
Through clinical rotations, you'll apply your skills in real-world settings across various veterinary areas, including rural mixed animals, equine and companion animal practices. You’ll also undertake anaesthesia, pathology and public health rotations.
Note: This program cannot be studied part-time.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 108 units for all Core courses, and
- 36 units for all Work integrated learning
Complete 108 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
DVM Professional Skills
|
Course code
VETS5000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Vet Anaesthesia, Diagnostic Imaging and Surgery
|
Course code
VETS5001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Intensive Production Medicine
|
Course code
VETS5002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Clinical Research Project
|
Course code
VETS5003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
|
Course code
VETS5004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
General Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Systems Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Theriogenology
|
Course code
VETS5007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Wildlife and Conservation Practice
|
Course code
VETS6000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health and Biosecurity
|
Course code
VETS6001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6002
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6003
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6004
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6006
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6007
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
DVM Elective Topics
|
Course code
VETS6020
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession A
|
Course code
VETS6021
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession B
|
Course code
VETS6022
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6005
|
Units
12
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
DVM Professional Skills
|
Course code
VETS5000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
|
Course code
VETS5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Theriogenology
|
Course code
VETS5007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
General Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Vet Anaesthesia, Diagnostic Imaging and Surgery
|
Course code
VETS5001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Intensive Production Medicine
|
Course code
VETS5002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Clinical Research Project
|
Course code
VETS5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Systems Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5006
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Wildlife and Conservation Practice
|
Course code
VETS6000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6002
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6004
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6006
|
Units
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health and Biosecurity
|
Course code
VETS6001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6003
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6005
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6007
|
Units
12
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6008
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6012
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6016
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession A
|
Course code
VETS6021
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6010
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6014
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6018
|
Units
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6009
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6017
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession B
|
Course code
VETS6022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
DVM Elective Topics
|
Course code
VETS6020
|
Units
6
|
Complete 36 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6008
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6010
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6012
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6014
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6016
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6018
|
Units
0
|
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6019
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
DVM Professional Skills
|
Course code
VETS5000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
|
Course code
VETS5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Theriogenology
|
Course code
VETS5007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
General Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Vet Anaesthesia, Diagnostic Imaging and Surgery
|
Course code
VETS5001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Intensive Production Medicine
|
Course code
VETS5002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Clinical Research Project
|
Course code
VETS5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Systems Pathology
|
Course code
VETS5006
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Wildlife and Conservation Practice
|
Course code
VETS6000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6002
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6004
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 1
|
Course code
VETS6006
|
Units
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health and Biosecurity
|
Course code
VETS6001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6003
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Ruminant Health and Production Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6005
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Equine Clinical Practice Part 2
|
Course code
VETS6007
|
Units
12
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6008
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6012
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6016
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession A
|
Course code
VETS6021
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6010
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6014
|
Units
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation A
|
Course code
VETS6018
|
Units
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Equine Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6009
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Companion Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Pathology and Diagnostic Services Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6017
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Transition to the Veterinary Profession B
|
Course code
VETS6022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Rural Mixed Animal Practice Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Anaesthesia and Analgesia Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Veterinary Public Health Rotation B
|
Course code
VETS6019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
DVM Elective Topics
|
Course code
VETS6020
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Veterinarians can work in a wide variety of workplaces, including private clinics, hospitals, zoos, farms, wildlife parks, public health offices, veterinary industry and research facilities.
Graduates of this program have also gone on to roles as a:
- Private practice veterinarian
- Agricultural consultant
- Agricultural scientist
- Animal health or biosecurity officer
- Agricultural veterinarian
- Animal scientist
- Animal shelter veterinarian
- Clinical veterinarian
- Emergency veterinarian
- Food safety officer
- Public health officer or scientist
- Veterinary industries representative
- Veterinary scientist
- Wildlife scientist
- Wildlife veterinarian.
You can also pursue pathways to government work, academia, consultancy, discipline specialisation (such as dermatology, clinical pathology, nutrition, pathology, surgery or oncology) and species specialisation (such as companion animal, equine, production animal, wildlife or zoo animals).
Industry trends
Pet ownership in Australia is on the rise, which means there is a steady demand for veterinary services that cater to the ongoing care needs of pets, livestock and wildlife. This is just part of why employment growth is projected to be strong for professionals working with animals in the next few years (Australian Government Labour Market Insights, 2023 ).
Veterinarians in Australia generally earn above-average salaries (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024 ). Studying at Adelaide University provides extensive hands-on practical experience, networking opportunities and cutting-edge facilities, setting you up for a rewarding and lucrative veterinary career when you graduate.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK).
Graduates are eligible for registration as a veterinarian in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. To practice as a veterinarian, you must complete both the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
