Overview

Veterinary medicine brings together scientific knowledge, clinical judgement and a commitment to the wellbeing of animals and the people who depend on them. The DVM (Hons) Veterinary Medicine at Adelaide University provides the professional training and qualification needed to register as a veterinarian. Students study the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in domesticated species such as dogs, cats, horses, ruminants, camelids, pigs and poultry, as well as wildlife. The early stages build scientific and technical foundations alongside professional development in communication, legislation, ethics and clinical reasoning. Purpose-built veterinary teaching hospitals and a structured program of clinical rotations provide hands-on experience, supported by 26 weeks of workplace-based extramural study. The program is accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, which supports graduate registration in a number of countries. It suits dedicated students who want to practise across clinical, public health, research or conservation settings, and it develops teamwork, resilience and leadership alongside technical skill.

What You’ll Learn

Veterinary professional skills, communication, legislation and ethics

Clinical examination and reasoning

Anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging and surgery

Pharmacology and toxicology

General and systems pathology, clinical pathology and theriogenology

Companion animal, equine and ruminant health and production

Intensive production medicine

Wildlife and conservation practice

Veterinary public health and biosecurity

A clinical research project

Clinical rotations in anaesthesia, pathology, public health, equine, rural mixed animal and companion animal practice

Workplace-based extramural placements

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, graduates will understand the structure, function and diseases of a wide range of animal species, from individual patients through to herds, flocks and wild populations. They will be able to examine animals, reason through clinical problems, reach diagnoses and plan treatment and preventive care using sound scientific evidence. Practical training builds proficiency in anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, surgery and the interpretation of pathology, supported by knowledge of pharmacology and toxicology. Students also learn to assess risks to public health and animal product quality and to apply biosecurity principles in real situations. Communication practice prepares them to explain care, treatment and prevention to pet owners, farm managers and other stakeholders. Rotations across companion animal, equine, rural and diagnostic services, together with extended workplace placements, allow them to apply their skills in realistic settings and to begin focusing on areas of interest. Graduates finish with the professional conduct, teamwork and self-awareness needed to enter registered veterinary practice.