Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER VII
DEGREES, DIPLOMAS, AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

The Ordinances contained in this Chapter are Ordinances of the General Board

In this section

DEGREES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

OLD REGULATIONS46

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

REVISED REGULATIONS

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2010–11, p. 639)

1. These regulations, which shall be known as the Revised Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, shall apply to

  1. (a)those students who begin their clinical course on or after 1 September 2003,
  2. and
  3. (b)those students who begin their clinical course on or after 1 September 2002, having undertaken not more than two years of preclinical medical study in the University.47

2. There shall be a Second Examination and a Final Examination for the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, referred to in these regulations as the Second Vet.M.B. Examination and the Final Veterinary Examination.

Qualifications for Degree.

3. A student who has kept nine terms and passed Part III of the Final Veterinary Examination shall be qualified to proceed to the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, the short title of which shall be Vet.M.B.

Definitions.

4. The Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine shall be empowered, after consultation with the Faculty Board of Biology, to delegate to the Veterinary Education Committee from time to time all or any of the Faculty Board's powers and duties under these regulations. In these regulations unless the context shall require otherwise:

  1. (a)the term Faculty Board shall mean the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine;
  2. (b)the terms prescribed standard and prescribed course shall mean respectively standard prescribed by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine and course prescribed by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine;
  3. (c)the term course of instruction shall mean course of instruction given in the University or elsewhere and may include practical instruction.
  4. (d)the term Veterinary Students Register shall mean a register of students who are deemed fit to practise veterinary medicine. A student may be removed temporarily or permanently from the Register if he or she is deemed no longer a fit person to have the privilege of access to patients. Subject to the powers of the Council and of the General Board and of a Fitness for Veterinary Practice Appeal Tribunal, the Register shall be maintained by the Faculty Boards of Biology and Veterinary Medicine through the Fitness for Veterinary Practice Committee.
Evidence of instruction, etc.

5. Where these regulations require a candidate for any of the examinations prescribed therein to produce evidence of instruction or of any other matter

  1. (a)the candidate's entry for the examination shall not be considered to have been made earlier than the day on which the Registrary receives that evidence or the last part of it;
  2. (b)the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine shall have power to require that evidence of having attended a course of instruction shall be evidence of having attended a prescribed course.
Supplementary regulations.

6. The Faculty Board, after consulting other bodies concerned, shall have power to define or limit by supplementary regulations all or any of the subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination and all or any of the Parts or sections of a Part of the Final Veterinary Examination.

Second Vet.M.B. Examination.

7. The subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination shall be as follows:

Biology of Disease (BOD)

Comparative Vertebrate Biology (CVB)

Homeostasis (HOM)

Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Medicine (ISBM)

Mechanisms of Drug Action (MODA)

Molecules in Medical Science (MIMS)

Neurobiology with Animal Behaviour (NAB)

Preparing for the Veterinary Profession (PFVP)

Principles of Animal Management (PAM)

Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (VAP)

Veterinary Reproductive Biology (VRB)

(a) The examinations in BOD, HOM, MIMS, MODA, NAB, and VAP shall each consist of a written paper of one hour, which shall contain compulsory short-answer questions (Section I), and a practical examination of two hours (Section II).

(b) The examination in VRB shall consist of a written paper of one hour, which shall contain compulsory short-answer questions (Section I), and a practical examination of one hour (Section II).

(c) The examination in PAM shall consist of a written paper of one hour, which shall contain compulsory short-answer questions.

(d) The examination in CVB shall consist of a combined written and practical paper of an hour and a half, which shall contain short answer questions (Section I), and a practical examination (Section II); candidates will be allowed forty-five minutes to complete each part.

(e) The examinations in ISBM and PFVP shall each consist of a written paper of forty-five minutes.

8. The Second Vet.M.B. Examination shall be held as follows:

(a) The examinations in BOD, CVB, HOM, MIMS, MODA, NAB, VAP, and VRB shall be held twice a year, as follows:

  1. (i)in the Easter Term, on the dates prescribed for Part Ia and Part Ib of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos;48
  2. (ii)in September, beginning on the Monday next but one before the first day of the Michaelmas Term.

(b) The examinations in ISBM, PAM, and PFVP shall be held twice a year on the last day of Full Lent Term and in the week beginning on the Monday next but one before the first day of the Michaelmas Term.

Standing of candidates.

9. A candidate for the Second Vet.M.B. shall be required:

(a) to have satisfied the University’s premedical requirements for the Vet.M.B. The premedical requirements, which shall be determined by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine, shall be specified in Schedule A to these regulations; the Faculty Board shall have power to amend that schedule from time to time as they think fit;

(b) to have diligently attended approved courses of instruction appropriate to the subject or subjects to be offered in the examination. Approved courses recognized for this purpose shall be listed in Schedule B to these regulations; the Faculty Board shall have power to amend that schedule from time to time as they think fit. The Faculty Board shall have authority to approve for this purpose additional courses offered by a university other than Cambridge, or, in exceptional circumstances to waive the requirement.

The Second Vet.M.B. Examination may be taken by an unmatriculated student who has satisfied these requirements and who is certified on behalf of a College to the Registrary to be a bona fide candidate for admission to the College. A student whose name does not appear on the Veterinary Students Register shall not be a candidate for any subject of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination.

Exemption.

10. (a) The Faculty Board shall have power to grant exemption from any subject or subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination to a candidate for admission as a veterinary student from a university other than Cambridge, provided that the student has satisfied the conditions of Regulation 9 and has attained a satisfactory standard, as prescribed by the Faculty Board, in corresponding subjects taken in an examination for a degree of a university other than Cambridge.

(b) The Faculty Board shall inform the Registrary as early as possible of the names of those candidates who have been granted exemption from any subject or subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination and who have satisfied the requirements in Regulation 10(a). The Registrary shall thereupon post a list of the names outside the Senate-House.

11. A candidate who is unsuccessful in the examination in any subject of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination shall be eligible for re-examination, provided that, except by special permission of the Faculty Board granted in exceptional circumstances,

  1. (i)a student who fails to satisfy the Examiners in any subject other than ISBM or PAM shall not be a candidate for re-examination in that subject later than five months after his or her first attempt in that subject;
  2. (ii)a student who fails to satisfy the Examiners in ISBM or PAM shall not be a candidate for re-examination in that subject later than thirteen months after his or her first attempt in that subject;
  3. (iii)no student shall be a candidate in any subject on more than two occasions in total;
Final Vet. Examination.

12. The Final Veterinary Examination shall consist of three Parts. Except by permission of the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine in exceptional circumstances, no student shall be a candidate for the first time for any Part later than four years after the beginning of his or her course of clinical study.

Part I.

13. The examinations for Part I of the Final Veterinary Examination shall be held on dates determined by the Faculty Board, and shall consist of written papers and practical examinations, as prescribed by the Faculty Board from time to time. The subjects of examination shall be specified by supplementary regulation. All candidates shall make their first attempt at the examination on the first published date for that examination provided that, in exceptional circumstances and for good cause, the Faculty Board may permit a candidate to defer taking the examination until the next timetabled sitting of that examination.

14. Before taking the examination in any subject of Part I, a student must have

  1. (a)completed the Second Veterinary M.B. Examination by having passed all the subjects thereof,
  2. (b)obtained a degree deemed appropriate by the Faculty Board, which shall be a degree of this University if the student has undertaken preclinical veterinary study in the University, and which may otherwise be a degree of a university other than Cambridge, and
  3. (c)produced evidence of having, since the date of his or her matriculation, satisfactorily carried out twelve weeks of extra-mural studies in a form prescribed by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine. A student may exceptionally apply, through his or her College, to the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine for permission to carry out these extra-mural studies while he or she is a candidate for Part I of the Final Veterinary Examination. No student may be a candidate for Part II of the Final Veterinary Examination until he or she has satisfactorily completed these extra-mural studies.

Subject to the provisions of Regulation 19(b) and (c), candidates who fail to satisfy the Examiners in any subject of Part I may present themselves for re-examination, under arrangements approved by the Faculty Board. A student whose name does not appear on the Veterinary Students Register shall not be a candidate for any subject of the Final Vet.M.B. Examination.

Part II.

15. Two sittings of Part II of the Final Veterinary Examination shall be held each year, beginning on the sixth Wednesday of Full Easter Term and on the Monday that next precedes the first day of the Michaelmas Term. All candidates shall make their first attempt at the examination in the Easter Term provided that, in exceptional circumstances and for good cause, the Faculty Board may permit a candidate to defer taking the examination until the following September. The examination shall consist of two written papers and a practical examination. The two written papers and the practical examination shall each be of two hours’ duration. Questions in the two written papers will cover the following areas:

 1.

Parasitic diseases

 2.

Biology of infectious disease

 3.

Basic clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and systems pathology

 4.

Animal health, animal breeding, and nutrition

16. No student may be a candidate for Part II until at least eighteen months have elapsed after the beginning of his or her course of clinical study. A candidate must have passed Part I and must have

  1. (a)produced certificates of diligent attendance at courses of instruction in the following subjects:
  2. (i)the diseases of poultry, including legislation concerned with their control;
  3. (ii)the aetiology, epidemiology, pathology, and prophylaxis of infectious diseases of domestic animals;
  4. (iii)helminthology, protozoology, and entomology, relevant to parasitic disease of domestic animals, and the prevention and treatment of such disease;
  5. (iv)the husbandry, nutrition, and practical breeding of domestic animals in relation to health, welfare, and production; pastoral botany; genetics; veterinary hygiene;
  6. (v)clinical veterinary pharmacology and toxicology;
  7. (vi)animal management and elementary clinical methods;
  8. (vii)pathology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics;
  9. (viii)reproduction, infertility, and obstetrics;
  10. (ix)veterinary public health, including practical instruction in the inspection and control of meat and milk;
  11. (x)state veterinary medicine and jurisprudence;
  12. (b)satisfactorily completed the clinical tests which form part of the courses specified in this regulation.
  13. (c)successfully completed project work for the course of clinical study, as defined by the Faculty Board from time to time.

A candidate for Part II shall take both papers and the practical examination at the same sitting. Subject to the provisions of Regulation 19(b) and (c), candidates who fail to satisfy the Examiners may present themselves for re-examination, taking both papers and the practical examination at the same sitting.

Part III.

17. Part III of the Final Veterinary Examination shall be held twice a year beginning on the Friday of the second week of Full Easter Term and on the Monday next preceding the first day of Michaelmas Term. All candidates shall make their first attempt at the examination in the Easter Term provided that, in exceptional circumstances and for good cause, the Faculty Board may permit a candidate to defer taking the examination until the following September. Part III shall consist of four sections, each consisting of a written paper and a practical/oral examination:

 1.

Equine studies

 2.

Small animal studies

 3.

Farm animal studies

 4.

Veterinary public health

The written papers for sections 1 to 3 shall be of three hours’ duration and for section 4 shall be of two hours’ duration.

The Examiners shall take into account such course-work done by candidates, including practical work, as shall from time to time be determined by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine. For this purpose the Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine shall present to the Examiners a detailed assessment of the performance of each candidate in this course-work. The Examiners shall take the assessments into account in assigning marks for the examination; the maximum percentage of the total marks that may be awarded for course-work shall be determined from time to time by the Faculty Board.

A candidate attempting Part III for the first time shall be required to take a written paper in each of the four sections at the same sitting and a practical/oral examination corresponding to the written paper of each of the four sections of the examination. Subject to the provisions of Regulation 19(b) and (c), candidates who fail to satisfy the Examiners in any subject of Part III may present themselves for re-examination, under arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, in September beginning on the Monday next preceding the first day of the Michaelmas Term. The Examiners may, at their discretion, require any candidate who fails to attain the prescribed standard for any section to take a viva voce examination.

Candidates for Part III shall also be required to undertake an eight-week elective study period, four weeks of which shall take place following the Easter Term sitting of the written examinations. The elective shall be on a subject chosen by the candidate from a list of topics announced by the Faculty Board from time to time, or on a topic proposed by the candidate and approved by the Faculty Board. Candidates shall be required to submit a dissertation of not more than 3,000 words, give an oral presentation of their work of not more than fifteen minutes, and submit a certificate of diligent attendance signed by the elective supervisor. A satisfactory standard must be attained in the dissertation, oral presentation, and certificate of diligent attendance before the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine can be awarded. In the case of an unsatisfactory standard being achieved in any of the three elements resubmission will be required at the time of the September examination for Part III.

Standing of candidates for Part III.

18. No student may be a candidate for Part III until at least thirty-two months have elapsed after the beginning of his or her course of clinical study. No student may be a candidate for Part III if more than ninety-two months have elapsed since he or she began the preclinical veterinary medicine course, providing that the Faculty Board may waive this condition in exceptional circumstances. A candidate must have passed Part II and

  1. (a)must have produced evidence of having
  2. (i)subsequently attended further courses of instruction in clinical veterinary medicine as concerned in particular with the various species of domestic animals, including satisfactory completion of the clinical tests which form part of these courses;
  3. (ii)attended a course of instruction in applied anatomy, surgical pathology, operative technique, anaesthesia, general and regional surgery, including satisfactory completion of the clinical tests which form part of the course;
  4. (iii)attended a course of instruction in jurisprudence;
  5. (iv)satisfactorily carried out work in the Clinical Pathology Laboratories and the Post Mortem Room of the Veterinary Hospital;
  6. (b)must have had, since the beginning of his or her course of clinical study, at least twenty-six weeks’ practical experience of veterinary work approved for this purpose by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine in addition to the twelve weeks of extra-mural studies required by Regulation 15 to have been carried out since matriculation; for this purpose each candidate shall be required to submit for the inspection of the Examiners, not later than the first day of the examination, records of his or her extra-mural studies in a form prescribed by the Faculty Board from time to time.
Restrictions.

19. Except by permission of the Faculty Board in exceptional circumstances, and subject to any conditions determined by them,

  1. (a)no certificate or other evidence produced under Regulation 16(a) shall be accepted if it relates to a course of instruction that began either (i) before the candidate's completion of the Second Veterinary M.B. Examination, or (ii) before the beginning of the candidate's course of clinical study, or (iii) more than eight years after the candidate first took any subject of the Second Veterinary M.B. Examination or an examination leading to exemption from such a subject;
  2. (b)no student shall be re-examined in any Part, or in any subject, paper, or section of a Part, later than two years after his or her first candidature for that Part, subject, paper, or section;
  3. (c)no student shall be a candidate for any Part, or for any subject, paper, or section of a Part on more than three occasions.
Examiners for the Second Vet.M.B. Examination,

20. The arrangements for the appointment of Examiners for the Second Vet.M.B. Examination shall be as follows:

(a) For BOD, HOM, ISBM, MIMS, and MODA the Examiners shall be the Examiners appointed for those subjects in the Second M.B. Examination,

(b) For each of the subjects CVB, NAB, PAM, PFVP, VAP, and VRB the Faculty Board shall nominate a Senior Examiner and such number of other Examiners as are required to conduct the examination; provided that for sittings of subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination held under Regulation 8(a)(i)49 the Examiners shall be the Examiners appointed for those subjects in the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos.

for the Final Veterinary Examination.

21. The Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine shall nominate in each calendar year such number of Examiners for each Part of the Final Veterinary Examination as the General Board on the recommendation of the Faculty Board may determine. The Faculty Board shall also have power to nominate one or more Assessors to assist the Examiners in any Part of the Examination. If required to do so, Assessors shall propose questions in the subject or subjects assigned to them, shall look over the answers of candidates to those questions, shall set and conduct practical, clinical, and oral examinations, and shall report as required to the Examiners. An Assessor may be summoned, for the purpose of consultation and advice, to meetings of the relevant body of Examiners, but shall not be entitled to vote.

22. The Examiners and Assessors shall observe the following provisions:

  1. (a)the Examiners and Assessors in each subject, paper, or section shall be jointly responsible for all the questions set in that subject, paper, or section in the several examinations in which they take part;
  2. (b)at least two Examiners or Assessors shall read the papers and test the practical work of each candidate;
  3. (c)at least two Examiners or Assessors shall be present at, and shall participate in, the viva voce examination of any candidate;
  4. (d)in Part I, in Part II, and in each section of Part III, at least two Examiners shall be present at the meeting at which the list of successful candidates is drawn up.
Class-lists.

23. Separate class-lists shall be published for each subject of the Second Veterinary M.B. Examination, and for each Part of the Final Veterinary Examination. The names of the successful candidates in the several lists shall be arranged in alphabetical order. The lists for Part III of the Final Veterinary Examination shall indicate the sections of the examination in which the candidate has passed. In Part I, in Part II, and in each section of Part III, of the Final Veterinary Examination, a mark of distinction may be affixed to the names of the candidates whose work is of special merit.

Duties of Chairmen of Examiners.

24. The Senior Examiner for each subject of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination and the Chairman of Examiners for each Part of the Final Veterinary Examination shall communicate the marks of all the candidates to the Registrary, and shall communicate to Tutors or other designated College officers, for transmission to their pupils, the marks of their pupils and such other information as may be considered advisable.50

Candidates’ fees.

25. A candidate for the Vet.M.B. Degree shall pay the appropriate University Composition Fee for each term of clinical study for the degree. This fee covers admission and readmission to the Veterinary Examinations and admission to the Vet.M.B. Degree.

SCHEDULE A

Premedical Requirements for the Vet.M.B.

GCE A level and GCSE

1. In this Schedule the Advanced level and AS (Advanced Subsidiary) level passes referred to are passes at those levels in a General Certificate of Education (GCE) issued by an awarding body approved by the relevant regulatory authority in England (QCA), Wales (ACCAC), and Northern Ireland (CCEA). The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) passes referred to are passes in that Certificate, at Grade A, B, or C, issued by an awarding body approved by the relevant regulatory authority in England (QCA), Wales (ACCAC), and Northern Ireland (CCEA).

Approved equivalents

2. For the purposes of this Schedule, the following shall be regarded as the equivalent of a pass at (Advanced) level:

  1. (a)a pass in the Scottish Qualifications Authority National Course Advanced Higher examination at Grade A, B, C, or D;
  2. (b)a pass in the Scottish Qualifications Authority National Course Higher examination at Grade A, B, or C;
  3. (c)a pass at Grade 5 or above in a subject taken at the Higher level of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme;
  4. (d)a pass in a General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced level within the Advanced Diploma of the Welsh Baccalaureate.

3. For the purpose of this Schedule, the following shall be regarded as the equivalent of a pass at AS (Advanced Subsidiary) level:

  1. (a)a pass at Level 5 or above in a subject taken at the Standard level of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

4. For the purposes of this Schedule, the following shall be regarded as the equivalent of a pass in the GCSE:

  1. (a)a pass at Ordinary level (Grade A, B, or C) in a GCE issued by an examining body approved by the Department for Children, Schools and Families;
  2. (b)a pass in the Scottish Qualifications Authority Standard Grade examination at Grade 1, 2, or 3;
  3. (c)a pass in the International GCSE at Grade A, B, or C;
  4. (d)a pass at Grade 5 or above in a subject taken at Standard level of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

5. Passes in subjects of examinations for certificates conducted overseas by the Local Examinations Syndicate shall be considered for equivalence according to the level attained, provided always that the examination is conducted in the medium of English.

Premedical requirements

6. The premedical requirements for the Vet.M.B. shall consist of two Parts, A and B.

  1. (a)A student shall be deemed to have completed Part A if he or she has either achieved the required standard in an admissions test approved by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine or obtained GCSE passes in the following subjects or equivalents approved by the Faculty Board:
  1. (i)Physics;
  2. (ii)Biology;
  3. (iii)Mathematics;
  1. provided that
  1. (1)a pass in double-award science may be substituted for the passes required under (i) and (ii) above;
  2. (2)passes at Advanced level or AS (Advanced Subsidiary) level may be substituted for the GCSE passes required under (i), (ii), and (iii) above;
  3. (3)a credit in the Science Foundation Course of the Open University may be substituted for the GCSE passes required under (i) and (ii) above.
  1. (b)A student shall be deemed to have completed Part B if he or she has obtained Advanced level or AS (Advanced Subsidiary) level passes in the following subjects or equivalents approved by the Faculty Board:
  2. (i)Chemistry;
  3. (ii)at least two of the following: Physics, Biology, Mathematics;
  4. provided that
  1. (1)at least one of these subjects must be passed at Advanced level;
  2. (2)the examination requirements for matriculation are complied with.
  1. (c)A student shall be deemed to have completed Part B if he or she has obtained honours or has achieved the honours standard in Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos.
  2. (d)For the purposes of the premedical requirements for the Vet.M.B., a student who has obtained an honours degree of this or a recognized university shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements by passing an admissions test approved by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine.

SCHEDULE B

Approved courses of instruction for the Second Vet.M.B. Examination

In addition to the courses offered as specific preparation for the subjects for the Second Vet.M.B. Examination, the following courses have been approved by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine as appropriate courses of instruction for certain subjects of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination.

Subjects in the Second Vet.M.B. Examination

Subject in Tripos Examinations

Biology of Disease

or

NST Ib Pathology

NST II Pathology

Mechanisms of Drug Action

or

NST Ib Pharmacology

NST II Pharmacology

Molecules in Medical Science

or

NST Ib Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

NST II Biochemistry

Homeostasis

and

NST Ia Physiology of Organisms

NST Ib Physiology

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2010–11, p. 639)

Second Veterinary M.B. Examination

Biology of Disease (BOD)

The examination in BOD will be treated from the standpoint of abnormal biology. It will include the variations that may occur in the structure and functions of living cells, tissues, and organs, together with the biology of parasites, bacteria, and viruses. Section I will consist of compulsory short-answer questions on the lecture material. Section II will consist of a two-hour practical examination which will include laboratory work and questions on practical aspects and problem solving.

Comparative Vertebrate Biology (CVB)

The written examination will require knowledge of the structure and function of birds, fish, and certain species of laboratory animal.

Homeostasis (HOM)

Section I will consist of computer-marked and short-answer questions on nerve and neuromuscular transmission, muscle, autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiration, kidney, salt and water balance, digestion, absorption, and temperature regulation. Section II will consist of questions on the practical work in experimental physiology and histology.

Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Medicine (ISBM)

The examination will consist of compulsory short-answer or computer-marked questions on the ISBM course.

Molecules in Medical Science (MIMS)

The examination will test knowledge and understanding of the material contained in the MIMS course. Section I will consist of short-answer questions on the lecture. Section II will consist of questions on practical aspects, including interpretation and handling of data.

Mechanisms of Drug Action (MODA)

Section I, which will include or consist entirely of short-answer questions, will require knowledge of the actions of drugs on whole organisms and mammalian systems, and also of the mode of drug action at the cellular, sub-cellular, and molecular levels. Section II will consist of a practical examination, which will include questions on data handling and problem solving; laboratory work will not be involved. Questions that require an elementary knowledge of statistical procedures may be included in both sections of the examination.

Neurobiology with Animal Behaviour (NAB)

The examination in NAB will require knowledge of the structure and functions of the central nervous system, the special sense organs, neuropharmacology and animal behaviour, with particular reference to domestic animals. Section I will include or consist entirely of compulsory short-answer questions. In Section II, candidates will be examined on practical aspects of neuroanatomy and in experimental neurophysiology; questions may be included which require an elementary knowledge of statistical procedures.

Principles of Animal Management (PAM)

The written examination will require knowledge of agriculture, animal husbandry, and farm health and safety issues.

Preparing for the Veterinary Profession (PFVP)

The examination will test knowledge of the material presented in the PFVP course.

Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (VAP)

Section I will consist of computer-marked and short-answer questions on the anatomy of domestic mammals and, on the structure and function of the gastrointestinal systems of herbivorous mammals. Section II will consist of questions on associated practical work.

Veterinary Reproductive Biology (VRB)

Section I of the examination will consist of computer-marked and short-answer questions on the structure and function of the reproductive systems of mammals, with particular reference to domestic mammals. Section II will consist of questions on associated practical work and may include a data-handling exercise.

Final Veterinary Examination

Part I

The papers and practical components of the examination shall be as follows:

Paper  1.

Respiratory system

Paper  2.

Radiography and radiology

Paper  3.

Parasitology 1

Paper  4.

Dermatology

Paper  5.

Biology of infectious disease in domestic animals (in addition there will be a written project and an oral presentation)

Paper  6.

Clinical pathology

Paper  7.

Parasitology 2

Paper  8.

Nutrition

Paper  9.

Urology

Paper 10.

Animal breeding

Paper 11.

Alimentary system

Paper 12.

Neurology

Paper 13.

Endocrinology and metabolic diseases

Paper 14.

Cardiology

Paper 15.

Veterinary public health

The written papers will each be of one hour’s duration, excepting Papers 3, 7, and 11 which will each be of two hours' duration and have a practical component.

Part III

The examination will consist of four sections. In three of the sections there will be a three-hour written paper and a practical/oral examination. In the fourth section there will be a two-hour written examination and a practical/oral examination. In order to satisfy the Examiners in each section candidates will be required to attain a prescribed standard in the written paper before proceeding to the practical/oral examination.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Qualifications required.

1. In order to qualify for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine a candidate shall be required to provide evidence of a significant original contribution to the study of Veterinary Medicine.

Standing of candidates.

2. Any person may apply to be registered as a candidate for the degree who

  1. either(a)holds a degree of the University,
  2. or(b)holds a University office or an unestablished appointment on the staff of the Veterinary School,

and also holds one of the following qualifications:

  1. either(i)a veterinary degree giving entitlement to provisional or full registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
  2. or(ii)a degree recognized by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for the purpose of full registration,
  3. or(iii)a veterinary degree approved by the Vet.M.D. Committee for the purpose of candidature.

No one shall be registered as a candidate for the degree until five years have elapsed since the date of his or her admission to a veterinary degree as specified above.

Vet.M.D. Committee.

3. There shall be a Vet.M.D. Committee, which shall consist of:

  1. (a)the Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine or a deputy appointed by the Head of the Department, who shall be Chairman;
  2. (b)six persons appointed by the Degree Committee for the Faculties of Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Medicine;
  3. (c)not more than six persons co-opted by the Committee.

Members in class (b) shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for three years from 1 January following their appointment. Members in class (c) shall serve for such period as the Committee shall determine at the time of their co-optation.

Quorum.

4. No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Committee unless four of the members in classes (a) and (b) are present.

Applications.

5. Any person who wishes to be registered as a candidate for the degree shall submit an application to the Secretary of the Vet.M.D. Committee. The application shall specify:

  1. (a)the applicant's proposed subject of study or research, including a plan of the work to be undertaken and an account of the methods to be used;
  2. (b)the place where the work is to be undertaken;
  3. (c)the method of financing the work;
  4. (d)the name of a suitably qualified person who is proposed as supervisor of the work.
  5. Each application shall be accompanied by an application fee.51

6. Each application shall be submitted to the Vet.M.D. Committee, who may refer it to one or more referees for their opinion and advice before deciding whether to approve or reject the application or to suggest some modification of the applicant's proposals. Each referee appointed under this regulation shall receive a fee.51 The Secretary of the Vet.M.D. Committee shall maintain a record of persons who are registered as candidates for the degree; when an application has been approved, the applicant's name shall be entered on the record. The Committee shall determine the conditions, if any, of an applicant's registration and shall assign to him or her a date of commencement of candidature.

Examination.

7. The examination for the degree of Vet.M.D. shall consist of:

  1. (a)the submission of a dissertation embodying the results of the candidate's study or research, which shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulations 9 and 10;
  2. (b)an oral examination on the subject of the dissertation and the general field of knowledge within which it falls.

By special permission of the Vet.M.D. Committee, candidates may submit with the dissertation published work which they wish the Examiners to consider; such work may be considered by the Examiners at their discretion.

8. A candidate may submit his or her dissertation not earlier than two years and not later than six years after the date of registration for the degree, provided that the Vet.M.D. Committee may give a candidate special permission to delay submission until a later date. When submitting a dissertation a candidate shall pay a submission fee.51

9. In submitting their dissertations, candidates shall state, generally in a preface and specifically in notes or in a bibliography, the sources from which their information is derived, the extent to which they have availed themselves of the work of others, and the portions of the dissertation which are claimed as original. They shall also be required to declare that the dissertation submitted is not substantially the same as any that they may have submitted for another degree or for a diploma or similar qualification. A dissertation, apart from quotations, shall be written in English. The Degree Committee for the Faculties of Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Medicine shall have power to specify a maximum length for dissertations.

10. Two copies of each candidate's dissertation, accompanied by two copies of a summary of about 300 words in length, shall be sent to the Secretary of the Degree Committee for the Faculties of Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Each dissertation shall be referred to two Examiners, appointed by the Degree Committee. Each Examiner shall make an independent report to the Degree Committee on the dissertation. The two Examiners shall jointly conduct the oral examination specified in Regulation 7(b), and shall sign a joint certificate of the result. If the Examiners do not agree in their recommendations or if for any other reason the Degree Committee or the Board of Graduate Studies need a further opinion or opinions on the merit of the work submitted, the Degree Committee may appoint an additional Examiner or additional Examiners, provided that not more than one additional Examiner shall be appointed without leave of the Board of Graduate Studies. Each additional Examiner so appointed shall make an independent report on the dissertation to the Degree Committee. Each Examiner shall receive a fee, and shall be entitled to claim travelling expenses and a subsistence allowance as appropriate.51

Re-examination.

11. If a candidate fails to satisfy the Examiners in the oral examination specified in Regulation 7(b), the Degree Committee may permit the candidate to be re-examined by the same Examiners on payment of an additional fee.51 Permission so given shall be communicated to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies and shall not be given on more than one occasion. Each Examiner who takes part in an examination under this regulation shall be paid an additional fee, in addition to any fees to which he or she may be entitled under Regulation 10, and may also claim travelling expenses in accordance with the provisions of that regulation.

12. The Board of Graduate Studies shall be the deciding authority on all recommendations for the award of the degree. If, after considering the reports of the Examiners on a candidate's dissertation and on his or her performance in the oral examination, the Degree Committee are satisfied that the candidate's work is of the requisite standard for the degree, a resolution of the Committee to that effect, with the names of those present and voting on either side, shall be communicated to the Board of Graduate Studies, together with the reports of the Examiners. If the Board, after receiving such communication, at a meeting at which not less than five members of the Board are present, resolve that the candidate be approved for the degree, the Secretary of the Board shall publish a notice of the candidate's approval for the award of the degree.

Failure.

13. If, after considering the reports of the Examiners, the Degree Committee are of the opinion that a candidate's dissertation is not of the requisite standard for the degree, they may recommend to the Board of Graduate Studies that the candidate be permitted to submit a revised dissertation. The communication conveying such a recommendation shall contain the names of those present and voting on either side, and shall be accompanied by the reports of the Examiners. The Board may permit a candidate to submit a revised dissertation on not more than one occasion.

14. If, after considering the reports of the Examiners, the Degree Committee are of the opinion that a candidate's work is not of the requisite standard for the degree, and if they do not recommend that the candidate be allowed to submit a revised dissertation, their resolution to that effect, with the names of those present and voting on either side, shall be communicated to the Board of Graduate Studies, together with the reports of the Examiners. The Secretary of the Board shall communicate this decision to the candidate.

15. A candidate who is not approved for the degree

  1. (a)shall not be eligible to submit a dissertation which is substantially the same in candidature for the Ph.D. or M.Sc. Degree;
  2. (b)may apply to be registered again as a candidate for the degree; such application may be made on not more than one occasion, after a period of not less than five years from the date of the applicant's original registration.
Work to be deposited in Library.

16. Before being admitted to the degree, a successful candidate shall deposit with the Secretary of the Vet.M.D. Committee two copies of the dissertation and of the summary, both the dissertation and the summary being in a form approved by the Committee. The Secretary of the Committee shall deposit copies of the dissertation and the summary in the University Library and in the library of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, where they shall be available for consultation and for making copies for inter-library loan purposes.

17. No fee shall be payable on admission to the degree.

SCHEDULE

Fees to be paid by candidates and payments to Examiners

Application fee (Regulation 5): £220.

Payment to a referee (Regulation 6): £45.

Submission fee (Regulation 8): £500.

Payment to each Examiner taking part in the oral examination (Regulation 10): £135.

Payment to an additional Examiner (Regulation 10): £90.

Additional fee to be paid by a candidate on re-examination (Regulation 11): £135.

Additional payment to each Examiner taking part in a second examination under Regulation 11: £45.

An Examiner may claim travelling and other expenses in accordance with Regulation 12 of the regulations for the Ph.D., M.Sc., and M.Litt. Degrees.

Footnotes

  1. 46. These regulations were last printed in Statutes and Ordinances, 2006, p. 508.a
  2. 47. That is, having taken Part Ia and Part Ib of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos as Affiliated Students. See Regulation 3(e) of the Revised Regulations for the degrees of M.B., B.Chir.a
  3. 48. In this sitting of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination the papers set are Sections I and II of the papers set in the corresponding subjects of Part Ia of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos. See Regulations 15 and 20 of that Tripos.a
  4. 49. That is when the papers of the Second Vet.M.B. Examination are the papers set for the corresponding subjects of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos.a
  5. 50. See also the regulations for the disclosure of examination marks, p. 236.a
  6. 51. See the Schedule to these regulations.a b c d e