Supplementary regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVetMed) and Doctor of Veterinary Surgery (DVetSurg)

The regulations for the DVetMed/ DVetSurg are the same as those which govern the PhD except where the following modify or supplement them.

1.   A candidate for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Doctor of Veterinary Surgery must:

(a)   be a graduate of this or any other approved university holding a Bachelor's degree (normally first or second class Honours or equivalent);

(b)   or such other qualifications as may be deemed by the University to be the equivalent of any qualifications referred to in (a) above; and

(c)   be a Member or Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons with a legal ability to practise veterinary medicine in the UK;

or

(d)   hold such other qualifications as may, on the recommendation of the School, be deemed by the University to be equivalent to the qualifications referred to in (c).

2.   A candidate for the degree of DVetMed or DVetSurg must have pursued at this University a full-time course of study comprising a taught component and submission of a portfolio including a thesis of between 50,000 and 60,000 words, a critical review of literature of between 8,000- 10,000 words and a research plan of between 6,000- 8,000 words. Completion of the DVetMed or DVetSurg programme requires a minimum of three years of full-time supervised study and a minimum of six years of part-time supervised study.

3.   Students are expected to complete a minimum of 120 taught credit modules taken at level 4. Module credits will be awarded in the following areas: 

D24RPL - Research plan (30 credits)

Candidates will be given specific training by their supervisor(s) and will be required to produce a systematic research plan involving appropriate project planning, evaluation criteria and assessment methods. The project plan will be between 6,000-8,000 words and is to be submitted within the first six months of the programme.

D24RPO - Research portfolio (60 credits)

Candidates should submit a research portfolio, comprising a minimum of 20 assets, evidencing research methods training and attending a viva voce examination, satisfying examiners regarding knowledge and research methods as appropriate to the research project.

D24LIT - Critical appraisal of literature (30 credits)

Candidates will be given specific training by their supervisor(s) and will be required to produce a critical review of literature in an aspect of clinical research related to their research area. The critical review will be between 8,000-10,000 words.

The minimum pass mark for the taught module component will be 50%. 

4.   The University's Regulations for Taught Master's Degrees, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate courses shall apply with regard to satisfactory progression on the taught element of the degree. Performance in any assessed modules will be considered as part of a student's annual review. 

5.   The candidate shall submit a thesis of between 50,000 and 60,000 words for examination within one year of completion of the period of supervised study for full-time candidates, and two calendar years for part-time candidates.

6.   The degree of DVetMed or DVetSurg will be conferred on candidates who have successfully completed the taught component of the programme (including the assessed critical appraisal and research plan) and have satisfied the Examiners as to the standard of the portfolio and thesis.

7.   Candidates who either do not undertake or fail the research thesis/portfolio but successfully complete part or the whole of the taught programme may be considered for the following awards: Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Medicine (120 credits), or degree of Master of Philosophy.