Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Study to become a registered veterinary practitioner with the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

This degree will turn you into a career-ready vet with the skills to work in managing animal health and disease in Australia and around the world.

This four-year graduate entry course is open to applicants with a completed Bachelor's degree who want to study to become registered veterinary practitioners.

The University of Sydney is the nation’s premier place to receive training in veterinary science.

We ranked first in Australia and 12th in the world for veterinary science in the 2020 QS World University Rankings by Subject and have been given a maximum score of 5 in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) federal government scheme for the veterinary sciences field of research.

And, our courses are internationally accredited, so you can work as a vet around the world.

In the DVM, teaching is research-driven to ensure you will learn from the latest developments and advances in evidence-based practice, veterinary science research, animal behaviour and welfare science and veterinary public health.

You will benefit from a fully integrated learning curriculum with clinical exposure, clinical skills training and animal handling commencing in the first semester and throughout the course.

Your studies will take place in the One Health framework, ensuring you understand the linkages between veterinary health, human medicine and the environment at local, national and global levels.

The program culminates in a capstone experience year where you will get hands-on experience as an intern in veterinary clinics of all varieties and in a wide range of locations, including rotations in the University teaching hospitals at Sydney and Camden.

You should be aware that the DVM has semester dates that are different to the standard University calendar.

If your application is successful, you must be prepared to start classes during mid-February.

Years 1 and 2 of the course are primarily held at the Camperdown campus, but students must travel to our Camden campus for classes on a regular basis throughout the course.

Camden is the location of all large animal teaching facilities, and animal handling training commences during the first semester.

Please note that places in this course are limited and subject to strict enrolment quotas.

Both CSP and fee-paying places are available for domestic applicants.You can also read the frequently asked questions.

Ancillary costs associated with the DVMStudents will be provided with an enrolment pack when commencing the DVM including a breakdown of associated costs which will be incurred over the course of the four years of the DVM.

These costs are a guideline only and may vary.

The costs are associated with equipment, clothing and footwear, travel and accommodation relating to placements, and incidentals.

Although we recommend students budget for approximately $1,000 - $2,000AUD per annum, costs may be significantly higher during the final year of the DVM depending on location and accomodation charges.Students may be able to apply for financial support to assist with study and living cost from the University Financial Support Service.Commonwealth Supported PlacesCommonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this course for eligible domestic students.

This means that your course fees are subsidised by the Australian Government and you pay a student contribution amount (SCA).

CSP places are limited in number and are allocated based on academic merit.

Admission requirement

Admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is based on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) from a completed Bachelor's degree, minimum credit average required*
2. Successful completion of prerequisite units (see above)
3. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Admission Statement including a minimum of 28 days of relevant work experience and animal handling experience, using the prescribed form
4. Have met the University’s English language requirements

*These are the minimum admission requirements for the DVM. As entry to this course is highly competitive, students who meet the minimum requirements are then ranked according to academic performance and admission statement.

Please download the DVM admission guide and DVM Admission Statement for further information.

Admission pathway

The Cadigal program is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants - for details, please visit the Cadigal program website. Please note that completion of this application does not guarantee that you will receive an offer for the DVM.

Inherent requirements

In addition to the academic requirements set out in the Veterinary Science Handbook, you will be required to satisfy a number of inherent requirements to complete this course. Please review the Inherent Requirements for Veterinary Medicine before completing your application.

The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Handbooks Online and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents.

What you'll study

Units of Study