Sydney vet student exchange program between Australia and Indonesia

7 April 2015

The Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science is the first veterinary school in Australia to establish a formal exchange program with a veterinary school in Indonesia.
February saw four University of Sydney final-year veterinary students (Irwin Ting, Darlene Lam, Dini Hapukotuwa and Isabel MacPhillamy) head to Indonesia for an exchange program with the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta. The four-week placement fulfilled the requirements for the final-year Public Practice rotation in the BVSc degree.

University of Sydney Veterinary School
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Isabel reports: “First we had a two-week placement at the reproduction unit. This saw us jumping right into things, heading out to smallholder farmer collectives and participating in reproductive investigations on cattle. The key issues found were reproductive failures due to nutrition (inability to provide adequate year-round nutrition), heat detection issues, and dystocia. Our suggestion of forage plots to improve smallholder cattle nutrition was well received.
“A field trip to the Sirijo Wagyu Bull Centre and the Barturaden Dairy in Java showed us that this large scale dairy is not dissimilar to many Australian dairies. Lameness, mastitis and reproductive failure being the key health issues.
“Other highlights were an interview on local Yogyakarta radio with many callers asking questions about farming practices in Australia; getting to meet and help treat a 4-metre-long olive python suffering from stomatitis; and refresher lessons on key diseases exotic to Australia at the Government Disease Investigation Centre.
“Everyone at UGM showed us the most amazing hospitality, making sure we experienced many of the culinary delights that Indonesia has to offer and got to visit some tourist sites around Yogyakarta.”
This exchange program is led by Prof Aris Junaidi at UGM and A/Prof Jenny-Ann Toribio at Sydney Veterinary School. Accommodation for USyd students was kindly provided at the Faculty Guest House by UGM Dean Joko Prastowo.

Story by Isabel MacPhillamy and Jenny-Ann Toribio

University of Sydney Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Program title: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Semester intake: February each year
Program duration: 4 years
Application Deadline: January 4, 2015; however, Canadian students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to provide time for the pre-departure process.
Entry Requirements
Students can apply for a position into the Sydney DVM after completing any kind of bachelor degree at a recognized university, as long as program prerequisite units of study have been met.
Applicants must have completed the following prerequisite units of study at bachelor-degree level to be eligible for entry:

  • general chemistry (physical and inorganic)
  • organic chemistry
  • biology
  • biochemistry

The minimum GPA for entry is a 2.8 on a 4.0 scale; however, places are limited and there is a strict quota for this course. Entry is highly competitive so students who have achieved the minimum GPA (and other admission requirements) are then ranked on academic performance. The higher your GPA, the better your chances of receiving an offer.

Apply to the Sydney Veterinary School!

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If you have questions about Sydney Veterinary School and the new Sydney DVM program, please contact OzTREKK’s Australian Veterinary Schools Officer Rachel Brady at rachel@oztrekk.com or 1-866-698-7355.

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