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Research Course

Doctor of Veterinary Medical Science

This comprehensive research program provides an advanced level of postgraduate study in veterinary science with a high degree of specialisation in a selected area.

What type of student are you?

Domestic International

Murdoch code: D1061
Study mode: Full Time or Part Time
Duration: 3
Selection rank
CRICOS code: 077556E
First year fee (international): $38,776
Full course fee (international): $116,329

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The fees provided are indicative and intended only as a guide. They are based on a typical full-time enrolment for a first year student at Murdoch University of 24 credit points. The indicative fee is based on the applicable Commonwealth Supported Fee.

Overview

This comprehensive combined coursework and research program is the only one of its kind in Western Australia. You’ll have access to our on-campus, world class veterinary facilities for training in a broad range of disciplines within veterinary science, including epidemiology and public health, parasitology, and clinical specialities.

If required, you will also have access to Whitby Falls Farm, our off-campus teaching and research facility. This 203-hectare heritage listed farm property, located 46 kilometres south of Perth, will offer you further experience in livestock research.

You’ll gain advanced academic preparation in applied research. The degree provides the opportunity for advanced study in analytical and research skills in veterinary science, applied to clinical and non-clinical disciplines. The DVetMedSc program culminates in the completion of a research thesis.

3 reasons to study a Doctor of Veterinary Medical Science at Murdoch

Build upon your veterinary degree through a targeted research program that can be conducted from any location in the world.
Learn alongside and be supervised by experienced veterinary academics.
Learn in real-world skills in facilities including a veterinary teaching hospital, and off-campus farm teaching facility.

Develop your skills

Build essential skills and knowledge to meet your career or study goals. Topics you’ll cover include:

research skills through elective coursework units in research methodology
the disciplines of epidemiology and veterinary pathology
tailoring a research project to an animal disease or condition relevant to your field of interest.

Your future career

Upon completion of the Doctor of Veterinary Medical Science, you will have an internationally recognised postgraduate research degree, and be able to choose from a range of senior career opportunities across the veterinary science spectrum, including in research, clinical, industry and academic fields.

Progress to structure

Study areas

Veterinary Science

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Progress to structure

Structure

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Total credit points: 72

Unit code	Unit name	Credit points
Course Core		72 credit points
Required units		48 credit points
VET770	Doctor of Veterinary Medical Science Thesis	48
Specified Elective Units		24 credit points
VET630	Conservation Medicine	3
	OR
VET631	Wildlife Medicine	3
	OR
VET639	Conservation Medicine Field Placement/Project	3
	OR
VET6391	Conservation Medicine Field Placement/Project	6
	OR
VET640	Infectious and Emerging Diseases	3
	OR
VET641	Principles of Epidemiology	3
	OR
VET642	Practical Applications of Epidemiology	3
	OR
VET664	Wildlife Comparative Pathology	3
	OR
VET649	Veterinary Studies Masters Research Dissertation	12
	OR
VET666	Research Methodology	3
	OR
VET678	Veterinary Case Management Rounds	3
	OR
VET679	Seminars in Veterinary Clinical Studies	3
	OR
VET699	Epidemiological Studies: Design and Analysis	3

Progress to entry requirements

Entry requirements

Means of admission	Minimum academic requirement	Minimum English requirement
University study	Read further information on the admissions process for Veterinary Science	Successful completion of at least 2 years. "For the 2025 intake, successful completion of 1 year of study at AQF level 7 has been approved."

University study
Minimum academic requirement Read further information on the admissions process for Veterinary Science
Minimum English requirement Successful completion of at least 2 years. "For the 2025 intake, successful completion of 1 year of study at AQF level 7 has been approved."

Means of admission	Minimum academic requirement	Minimum English requirement
Overseas Year 12	Please refer to the information under the country of study.	Please refer to the information under the country of study.
Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP)	CPS 78 or higher.	75% in English Language and Australian Cultural Studies (ELACS).
Minimum Selection Rank (WA/ACT/NSW/NT/SA/TAS/VIC)	94	Scaled mark of 50 or higher in one of the following (or interstate equivalent): English ATAR Literature ATAR English as an Additional Dialect (EALD) ATAR Or a STAT Written English score of 140 or higher. Or evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic applicants only).
Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)	Overall Position (OP) of 2 or lower.	Sound Achievement (4) or better in a Queensland Studies Authority approved subject of one of the following: English English Extension (Literature) English for ESL Learners. Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only) Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only).
Extenuating circumstances	Extenuating circumstances will not be granted for direct entry into the Veterinary Science program. If you have extenuating circumstances please apply for a pathway course in Animal Health or Animal Science.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma	Total score of 36 or higher.	Higher level (HL): 7 or better. Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only) Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only).
GCE A Levels	Aggregate of 14 points from: A maximum of the best three A-level subjects; OR A combination of A-level and AS-level subjects At least two A-level subjects are included in the calculation AS-level subject attempted at A-level is not eligible to be included A-level grades (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1) AS-level grades (A=2.5, B=2, C=1.5, D=1, E=0.5)	A Levels: C in English Language or English Literature or Knowledge and Inquiry. AS Level: B in English Language or English Literature or Knowledge and Inquiry.

Overseas Year 12
Minimum academic requirement Please refer to the information under the country of study.
Minimum English requirement Please refer to the information under the country of study.

Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP)
Minimum academic requirement CPS 78 or higher.
Minimum English requirement 75% in English Language and Australian Cultural Studies (ELACS).

Minimum Selection Rank (WA/ACT/NSW/NT/SA/TAS/VIC)
Minimum academic requirement 94
Minimum English requirement Scaled mark of 50 or higher in one of the following (or interstate equivalent): English ATAR Literature ATAR English as an Additional Dialect (EALD) ATAR Or a STAT Written English score of 140 or higher. Or evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic applicants only).

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
Minimum academic requirement Overall Position (OP) of 2 or lower.
Minimum English requirement Sound Achievement (4) or better in a Queensland Studies Authority approved subject of one of the following: English English Extension (Literature) English for ESL Learners. Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only) Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only).

Extenuating circumstances
Minimum academic requirement Extenuating circumstances will not be granted for direct entry into the Veterinary Science program. If you have extenuating circumstances please apply for a pathway course in Animal Health or Animal Science.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
Minimum academic requirement Total score of 36 or higher.
Minimum English requirement Higher level (HL): 7 or better. Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only) Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only).

GCE A Levels
Minimum academic requirement Aggregate of 14 points from: A maximum of the best three A-level subjects; OR A combination of A-level and AS-level subjects At least two A-level subjects are included in the calculation AS-level subject attempted at A-level is not eligible to be included A-level grades (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1) AS-level grades (A=2.5, B=2, C=1.5, D=1, E=0.5)
Minimum English requirement A Levels: C in English Language or English Literature or Knowledge and Inquiry. AS Level: B in English Language or English Literature or Knowledge and Inquiry.

Means of admission	Minimum academic requirement	Minimum English requirement
AQF Certificate Level	No direct entry.	No direct entry.

AQF Certificate Level
Minimum academic requirement No direct entry.
Minimum English requirement No direct entry.

Means of admission	Minimum academic requirement	Minimum English requirement
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)	No direct entry.	Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only). Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only). Written English Score of 140 (145 if taken prior to May 2010).
Mature Age Pathway (MAP)	No direct entry – consider Animal Science pathway.	No direct entry.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
Minimum academic requirement No direct entry.
Minimum English requirement Evidence of completing year 11 and 12 in Australia at any Level (Domestic Applicants Only). Evidence of completing a minimum of 2 years of studies at TAFE or an RTO (Domestic Applicants Only). Written English Score of 140 (145 if taken prior to May 2010).

Mature Age Pathway (MAP)
Minimum academic requirement No direct entry – consider Animal Science pathway.
Minimum English requirement No direct entry.

To be eligible for admission as a candidate for a Doctor of Veterinary Medical Science, an applicant must have: *Bachelor Degree in Veterinary Science with at least a 2A Honours normally in the same discipline (AQF level 8); ora Bachelor Degree in Veterinary Science (AQF level 7) and satisfy the Dean of Graduate Research with evidence of substantive and significant scholarly or professional attainments including satisfactory research preparation the equivalent of AQF level 8 or 9.

English Requirements

You must meet a minimum standard in English to study at Murdoch, which for most courses can be demonstrated by providing evidence that you have completed Year 11 and 12 in Australia at any level if you are a domestic student, or through either English proficiency tests, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study or vocational education.

Advanced Standing

Not applicable to research courses.

This information applies to courses offered at our Australian campuses only. Courses offered at our Dubai and Singapore campuses or delivered by Open Universities Australia may have different requirements.

Progress to fees and scholarships

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Instead of paying an overall course fee, you pay for the individual units you enrol in. The total course cost will vary depending on the units you choose.

Following your successful application, you’ll receive a Letter of Offer which will contain specific course and fee information.

If you are applying for an undergraduate course, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place. Postgraduate programs are full fee paying, unless indicated otherwise in your Letter of Offer.

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Progress to how to apply

How to apply

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Your Document Checklist

Ready to apply? Before you start, make sure you have some or all of the following documentation ready for a quick application.

Completed official Academic Transcripts and Certificates of Completion

Your Document Checklist

Ready to apply? Before you start, make sure you have all of the following documentation ready for a quick application.

Complete or incomplete official Academic Transcripts and Certificates of Completion – both original and English translated versions
English Language Proficiency Document (if available)
A recent Curriculum Vitae

All fees are indicative and are provided as a guide only. The actual fees will depend on the individual units you enrol in. You should refer to your Letter of Offer for specific course and fee related information.

The first-year indicative fee is based on a typical full-time enrolment at Murdoch University of 24 credit points.

For domestic students, including Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, the indicative fee is based on the applicable Commonwealth Supported fee.

Indicative fees for international students are based on applicable full fee paying rates.

The estimated, indicative fee covers tuition fees only, and certain additional fees and charges may apply, depending on the course and units you choose. It also does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries for which you may be eligible.

The estimated, indicative fee assumes no fee increases or indexation. Over time, fee increases or indexation may occur and will affect the estimate. If you are a full fee paying student, this may occur at the start of your second and each subsequent year of study. In the case of Commonwealth Supported students, this will occur for each new calendar year in line with Government policy.

All fee estimates are provided in Australian dollars.