Graduate Coursework

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Course code: MC-DVETMED

Showing information for
Domestic students
domestic
International students
international
Duration
4 years full time
Mode (Location)
On campus (Parkville)
Intake

March

Key dates

Fees

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available

Learn more

Entry schemes

Access Melbourne is available

Learn more

How to apply
Enquire
Register for updates
Duration
4 years full time
Mode (Location)
On campus (Parkville)
Intake

March

Key dates

Fees

AUD $85,984 (2026 indicative first year fee)

Learn more

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0: with writing 7.0 and no other band less than 6.0

View full entry requirements

CRICOS code
071999D
How to apply
Enquire
Register for updates

Entry requirements

domestic

Domestic student

You're considered a domestic student if you're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or have a permanent humanitarian visa. This applies even if you're studying abroad or have dual Australian citizenship.

international

International student

You are considered an international student if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand.

Pathways available for this course

  • Graduate Entry (Normal Entry)
  • Accelerated Pathway (University of Melbourne Veterinary Bioscience major students)

Admission criteria

Which pathway is right for you?

View the application pathway video below to find out.

YouTube video player

Graduate entry

To be considered for entry, you must have:

You may complete your science-based undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne or at another institution and then apply as a graduate. Suitable undergraduate degrees offered at the University of Melbourne include the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Biomedicine.

Science-based undergraduate degrees and majors appropriate for graduate entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine include but are not limited to Agriculture, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Dentistry, Domestic Animal Science, Ecology and Conservation Science, Forensic Science, Genetics, Marine Science, Medicine, Microbiology, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Veterinary Biosciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Zoology.

The Selection Committee determines the suitability of the science-based degree by reviewing the content completed, not by the qualification title.

Due to the competitive nature of this course and the limited places available, students are ranked highest to lowest based on their Overall Selection Score.

The Overall Selection Score comprises:

The DVM Weighted Average Mark (WAM) contains results in all final year level and penultimate year level subjects of the completed science-based undergraduate degree (excluding the honours year), weighted 3:1 towards the final year level subjects.

The Adjusted DVM WAM is obtained by taking the DVM WAM and adding additional points as appropriate for:

Refer to the Selection Guidelines.

Subject prerequisites (Biology and Biochemistry)

All applicants must demonstrate that they have successfully completed appropriate course prerequisites equivalent to at least one standard semester in Biology (Level 1) and Biochemistry (Level 2).

The University of Melbourne approved list of acceptable subjects are listed below.

Biology at Level 1 (one of the following):

Biochemistry at Level 2* (one of the following):

*Level 1 Biochemistry subjects may be approved depending on the content.

As a guide, the biochemistry subjects offered by the University of Melbourne have a strong chemistry foundation. To have satisfied this prerequisite at another institution, the subject description would need to indicate the syllabus building upon a chemistry foundation. A list of approved (but not limited to) Biochemistry subjects at other institutions deemed to be equivalent to biochemistry at the University of Melbourne is available at the below links.

These lists are approved and compiled by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for Doctor of Dental Surgery applicants but are also approved for DVM applicants by our Selection Committee.

Personal statement

All applicants seeking entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway must complete a personal statement using the template provided. Do not create your own template.

View personal statement template

CASPer® Situational Judgement Test

All applicants seeking entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway must undertake an approved Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

Applicants must take the SJT the year before their intended commencement of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway program.

You must be registered for one of the following test times at least three days prior to the test date.

The approved Casper test type for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is Postgraduate Veterinary Science Australia Casper 2 (CSP-20400) 2026-2027 Cycle.

You can find a link to test dates online available at https://my.acuityinsights.app/dates-times/.

Please note that only results obtained on one of the approved test dates shown above can be used to gain entry in the 2027 intake. We do not accept tests taken on any other dates.

Regardless of whether you are applying for Graduate Entry or the Accelerated Pathway program, you may take the CASPer® test on any of the approved dates.

Applicants are encouraged not to leave completing the Situational Judgement Test until the last test date, as additional dates will not be available under any circumstances, including illness or other misadventures.

You only need to complete the Casper test type. You will not need to complete the Snapshot or Duet components to apply for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne.

You can take the Situational Judgement Test before submitting your application for the DVM. To register, you need a University of Melbourne Student ID. If you do not already have a Student ID, you can get one by starting your online application and completing step 1 (register). Once you have obtained a Student ID, you can register for one of the approved Casper tests listed above.

Where degree levels are referenced, levels align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Applications are assessed against these standards.

Where our admission criteria includes a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and/or specific subject criteria, these are based on University of Melbourne grades and subjects. If you've studied elsewhere, we'll assess your relevant prior studies and equivalent grades. Your final WAM may be adjusted depending on your previous institution's accreditation, subject grading, and pass marks.

Don't meet the prerequisite subject requirements?

You may have the option to enrol in specific single subjects through the University's Community Access Program, even if you are not enrolled in a course. Completing these prerequisite subjects may qualify you for entry into this course. This option is not available to student visa holders or applicants. Learn more about single subject study.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

Cards (stat)

IELTS

7.0

 with writing 7.0 and no band less than 6.0

TOEFL

91

 with writing 26; speaking 19; reading 16; listening 16

PEARSON

72

 with writing 75; speaking 60; reading 60; listening 60

CAMBRIDGE

178

 with writing 193; speaking 179; reading 163; listening 163

LANGUAGECERT ACADEMIC

73

 with writing 78; speaking 70; reading 60; listening 57

MET

62

 with writing 74; speaking 48; reading 55; listening 56

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE); LanguageCert Academic; Michigan English Test. If a test displays N/A, it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing (and where relevant, ranking) applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

The Selection Committee will also assess your application on the basis of your personal statement and the results of your CASPer® Situational Judgment Test.

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Admission criteria

Which pathway is right for you?

View the application pathway video below to find out.

YouTube video player

Graduate entry

You may complete your science-based undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne or at another institution and then apply as a graduate. Suitable undergraduate degrees offered at the University of Melbourne include the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Biomedicine.

Science-based undergraduate degrees and majors appropriate for graduate entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine include but are not limited to Agriculture, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Dentistry, Domestic Animal Science, Ecology and Conservation Science, Forensic Science, Genetics, Marine Science, Medicine, Microbiology, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Veterinary Biosciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Zoology.

The Selection Committee determines the suitability of the science-based degree by reviewing the content completed, not by the qualification title.

Selection is based primarily on results in subjects from tertiary study, taken at final and penultimate year levels. The DVM Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is calculated using these results and is weighted 75:25 in favour of final year level subjects. A minimum DVM Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 75% (UoM equivalent) (based on final and penultimate year level subject results) is considered competitive.

All applicants must demonstrate satisfactory performance in the Situational Judgement Test.

Refer to the Selection Guidelines.

Subject prerequisites (Biology and Biochemistry)

All applicants must demonstrate that they have successfully completed appropriate course prerequisites equivalent to at least one standard semester in Biology (Level 1) and Biochemistry (Level 2).

The University of Melbourne approved list of acceptable subjects are listed below.

Biology at Level 1 (one of the following):

Biochemistry at Level 2* (one of the following):

*Level 1 Biochemistry subjects may be approved depending on the content.

As a guide, the biochemistry subjects offered by the University of Melbourne have a strong chemistry foundation. To have satisfied this prerequisite at another institution, the subject description would need to indicate the syllabus building upon a chemistry foundation. A list of approved (but not limited to) Biochemistry subjects at other institutions deemed to be equivalent to biochemistry at the University of Melbourne is available at the below links.

These lists are approved and compiled by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for Doctor of Dental Surgery applicants but are also approved for DVM applicants by our Selection Committee.

Personal statement

All applicants seeking entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway must complete a personal statement using the template provided. Do not create your own template.

View personal statement template

CASPer® Situational Judgement Test

All applicants seeking entry to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway must undertake an approved Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

Applicants must take the SJT the year before their intended commencement of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Bachelor of Science Accelerated Pathway program.

You must be registered for one of the following test times at least three days prior to the test date.

The approved Casper test type for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is Postgraduate Veterinary Science Australia Casper 2 (CSP-20400) 2026-2027 Cycle.

You can find a link to test dates online available at https://my.acuityinsights.app/dates-times/.

Please note that only results obtained on one of the approved test dates shown above can be used to gain entry in the 2027 intake. We do not accept tests taken on any other dates.

Regardless of whether you are applying for Graduate Entry or the Accelerated Pathway program, you may take the CASPer® test on any of the approved dates.

Applicants are encouraged not to leave completing the Situational Judgement Test until the last test date, as additional dates will not be available under any circumstances, including illness or other misadventures.

You only need to complete the Casper test type. You will not need to complete the Snapshot or Duet components to apply for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne.

You can take the Situational Judgement Test before submitting your application for the DVM. To register, you need a University of Melbourne Student ID. If you do not already have a Student ID, you can get one by starting your online application and completing step 1 (register). Once you have obtained a Student ID, you can register for one of the approved Casper tests listed above.

Where degree levels are referenced, levels align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Applications are assessed against these standards.

Where our admission criteria includes a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and/or specific subject criteria, these are based on University of Melbourne grades and subjects. If you've studied elsewhere, we'll assess your relevant prior studies and equivalent grades. Your final WAM may be adjusted depending on your previous institution's accreditation, subject grading, and pass marks.

Don't meet the prerequisite subject requirements?

You may have the option to enrol in specific single subjects through the University's Community Access Program, even if you are not enrolled in a course. Completing these prerequisite subjects may qualify you for entry into this course. This option is not available to student visa holders or applicants. Learn more about single subject study.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

Cards (stat)

IELTS

7.0

 with writing 7.0 and no band less than 6.0

TOEFL

91

 with writing 26; speaking 19; reading 16; listening 16

PEARSON

72

 with writing 75; speaking 60; reading 60; listening 60

CAMBRIDGE

178

 with writing 193; speaking 179; reading 163; listening 163

LANGUAGECERT ACADEMIC

73

 with writing 78; speaking 70; reading 60; listening 57

MET

62

 with writing 74; speaking 48; reading 55; listening 56

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE); LanguageCert Academic; Michigan English Test. If a test displays N/A, it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing (and where relevant, ranking) applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

The Selection Committee will also assess your application on the basis of your personal statement and the results of your CASPer® Situational Judgment Test.

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Additional information

This course contains core participation requirements. A full description of these requirements is provided in the University handbook.

Do you want to know more?

View Frequently Asked Questions about the DVM's entry requirements.

Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM)

We encourage domestic students to explore eligibility for Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM). GAM offers an opportunity for admission to this course even if your tertiary marks are below the standard entry requirements. GAM applicants may also be considered for financial bursaries and Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) where available.

GAM categories include coming from a rural area, being an Indigenous Australian, experiencing financial hardship or personal difficulties, having refugee status, or living with a disability or medical condition. In assessing applications, we look to balance opportunity and your capacity to succeed.

Advanced Standing

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

If you have completed a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Melbourne, you may be eligible for up to 25 points of credit towards the first year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, if you have successfully completed all the following subjects:

There is no option for partial credit for those who have completed some but not all of the subjects listed above.

For additional, in-depth details on entry requirements and admissions for this course, refer to the University Handbook.

Need more information on the University’s general entry requirements?

Learn More