Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

The University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree gives you the experience and flexibility to succeed in your choice of veterinary career: as a small or large animal veterinarian, an animal welfare supervisor in the agricultural industries, an equine health professional, a government veterinarian monitoring wildlife health or a zoo veterinarian.
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is a graduate degree, meaning that students must complete a suitable science-based Bachelors degree before they can study this course.
After developing a strong core of veterinary science knowledge, you will be able to follow your own area of interest and gain a wealth of professional experience via our Tracks program. You can take clinical or research placements anywhere in Australia or overseas, and even prepare yourself for leadership or industry roles with a concurrent diploma.
You will benefit from the experience and research expertise of our world-class academics, and an innovative, evidence-based curriculum. Training throughout the degree will help you to develop strong communication and teamwork skills, and a final lecture-free year of clinical experience supports our students to become confident, professional, resilient and compassionate veterinarians.

Most of Australia's approximately 8,100 veterinarians work in private practices. Veterinary practices are typically small businesses, with many consisting of only one or two full-time veterinarians. Specialisation is an increasing trend, with some practices limiting their work to certain types of animals e.g. horse or small animals. Half of Australia's veterinarians work in a capital city, a further 16 per cent in another major city or large country city. Just over one-third work in rural areas. State Governments employ 10 per cent of the nation's veterinarians. The Federal Government employs about 4 per cent. Other veterinarians are employed in research or marketing by companies making or selling veterinary medicines, in intensive animal production businesses and by universities. Zoos also employ their own veterinarians as do an increasing number of animal welfare organisations. Australian vets contribute on a regular basis to international programs on animal production, disease control and environmental management.

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