Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy
Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1  Course codes

2  Attendance pattern

(1)  The attendance pattern for Year 1 and Year 2 of the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology is full time or part-time according to candidate choice.

(2)  The attendance pattern for Year 3 to Year 6 is full-time only.

3  Admission to candidature

(1)  Admission to this course is

(a) subject to availability of places; and

(b) on the basis of:

(i) a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents); or

(ii) tertiary study at the University of Sydney or institutions with which the University of Sydney has a credit recognition pathway.

(2)  English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for educationally disadvantaged applicants, rural applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Policy.

(3)  In addition, admission to this course requires the applicant to submit a Commitment to Veterinary Science Form and undertake a Faculty stipulated situational judgement test. These will form part of the ranking of applicants.

(4)  Applicants with tertiary study may only be offered a place in Year 1 or Year 2 of the course if there is an available place in the relevant year group. No offers of admission will be made into Years 3 and following.

(5)  Applicants must apply for credit for previous study at the time of application for admission.

4  Requirements for award

(1)  The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Table of units of study for the Bachelor Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

(2)  To qualify for the award of both degrees, a candidate must successfully complete 288 credit points comprising:

(a) 96 credit points from the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology unit of study Table for Years 1 and 2,

(b) 48 credit points from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine unit of study Table for Year 1 that contributes to Year 3 of the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology degree; students may exit at this point with a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology degree, and

(c) 144 credit points from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine unit of study Table for Years 2, 3 and 4.

(3)  the prescribed extramural placements as specified in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine resolutions

5  Progression rules

(1)  Progression to Year 3 of the course is based on:

(a) successful completion of Year 1 and Year 2 of the course; and

(b) academic merit in Year 1 and Year 2 of the course.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

(2)  Students who have successfully completed Year 1 and Year 2 with a Year 1 plus Year 2 WAM of less than 65.0 will not be eligible for entry into Year 3 of the course.

(3)  Students who commenced after 1 January 2020 and who fail to achieve progression into Year 3 of the combined course will not continue in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and can apply to enrol into the Bachelor of Science (no stream), or the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (AVBS stream) with credit for the units of study completed.

(4)  From and including Year 3, students may only enrol in the units of study prescribed for the next year of the course if they have successfully completed all units of study prescribed for the previous year

6  Requirements for the Honours degree

(1)  Honours is available in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology to meritorious candidates who complete an additional year of full-time study, after the successful completion of Year 3. Students must complete the requirements for the Honours course full-time over two consecutive semesters.

(2)  A student may only undertake honours part-time:

(a) over four consecutive semesters;

(b) if the School is satisfied that they are unable to attempt the honours course on a full-time basis; and

(c) with the permission of the Head of School and Dean.

(3)  Admission to the Honours programme requires a Year 2 plus Year 3 WAM of at least 65.0.

(4)  Students who qualify to undertake Honours in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology may elect to enrol in the Honours programme:

(a) at any stage after successful completion of Year 3, with the permission of the School, by:

(i) suspending candidature from the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine for one year;

(ii) transferring to the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (Honours);

(iii) enrolling and completing the units of study for the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology Honours;

(iv) returning to complete the combined course; or

(b) by undertaking the Honours course after completion of both courses in the combined course.

7  Award of the degree

(1)  The Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is awarded as either Pass or Honours. The Honours degree, Bachelor of Veterinary Biology Honours/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, is awarded with the appropriate honours class as specified in the Coursework Policy.

(2)  The grade of Honours and the Honours mark are determined by performance in the Honours course.

(3)  Candidates for the award of the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree.

8  Course transfer

(1)  A candidate may abandon the combined programme and elect to complete a Bachelor of Science (no stream), or the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (AVBS stream) in accordance with the resolutions governing that degree.

(2)  Candidates who discontinue after Year 3 without completing the combined course, who have satisfactorily completed 144 credit points including all requirements for Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 may exit with the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology.

(3)  Candidates who exit before completing the University of Sydney Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program and who wish to complete that degree in the future must:

(a) submit a new application for admission to that course;

(b) apply for credit for previous study at the time of admission; and

(c) complete the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in accordance with the course resolutions applicable at the time of that further admission.

(4)  Credit is not available for units of study completed more than five years prior to the date of admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

9  Reassessment

(1)  Subject to subclause 10(2), students enrolled in a postgraduate unit of study prescribed for Years 3, 4, 5 or 6 of candidature of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, who:

(a) after completion of all applicable special consideration processes.

(b) fail one unit of study only within a semester may be offered the opportunity for re-assessment for the failed unit of study.

(2)  Students who have been awarded an Absent Fail (AF) grade for a unit of study will not be eligible for re-assessment for that unit of study.

(3)  The re-assessment:

(a) will encompass all topics and learning outcomes within the unit of study; and

(b) assessment type may differ from those used in the original delivery of the unit.

(4)  Re-assessment will only be offered to eligible students on the dates prescribed in the year schedule, and it is the student's responsibility to be available to attend at these times. Further special consideration will not be available, and no further opportunities for re-assessment will be provided.

(5)  The final mark awarded for a unit of study after re-assessment will be:

(a) based on the re-assessment alone; and

(b) will be either:

(i) Pass (50-PS) for units of study with mark and grade assessment type; or

(ii) SR for units of study with Grade only (pass/fail) assessment type.

(6)  For a student who fails the re-assessment, the final result after re-assessment will be:

(a) based on the re-assessment alone; and

(b) will be either:

(i) Fail (0-49 FA) for units of study with mark and grade assessment type; or

(ii) FR for units of study with grade only (pass/fail assessment type).

10  Credit for previous study

(1)  Candidates must apply for credit at the time of their application for candidature.

(2)  Credit may only be granted for units completed with a minimum credit grade (65) or equivalent and no more than five years prior to admission.

(3)  Credit may only be granted for units in Year 1 and Year 2 with the approval of the Associate Dean and in accordance with the University Coursework Policy.

11  Transitional provisions

(1)  These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2023 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2023 who elect to proceed under these resolutions. Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2023 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.