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2023

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Also consult the General Academic Regulations G30 – G41.

A master's degree in Veterinary Medicine (MMedVet) is a clinical specialty degree at NQF-level 9 of 360 credits to be completed in 3 years of full-time study as part of a residential training program. The training program consists of clinical work (at least 90 weeks of supervised clinical training), coursework, culminating in a multi-component examination (270 credits) and a research project resulting in a mini-dissertation (of 90 credits) and subsequent publications as required for SAVC registration as a specialist.

1. The MMedVet degree may entitle the holder to registration as a specialist with the South African Veterinary Council together with other requirements as determined by Council. Candidates are encouraged to review current Council guidelines on specialist registration. 
2. The candidate will be required to work full-time at the faculty in the field of specialisation under supervision of an approved supervisor for the required duration, or with approval from the SAVC, conduct clinical practice in specified facilities and based on a programme approved by the supervisor.
3. Students are required to confirm whether a module will be presented in any particular year. This enquiry should be directed to the Faculty PG Student Administration co-ordinator according to the syllabi information provided in the list of modules in this yearbook.

Minimum admission requirements:

1. BVSc degree or an equivalent veterinary degree
2. Applicable experience of at least two years as a veterinarian, or training of at least one year in the specific field as an intern at a recognised training facility
3. An entrance examination may be required
4. Registration as a veterinarian with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) or authorisation by the SAVC to be enrolled for MMedVet studies

Additional requirements

The candidate will be required to work full-time at the faculty in the field of specialisation under supervision of an approved supervisor for the required duration.

      Notification

While the MMedVet is an advanced professional programme equivalent to specialist certification, registration to practise as a specialist is controlled by the SAVC or international equivalent. These bodies may have additional requirements for registration that are not university requirements. Please check their requirements as well.

Also consult the General Academic Regulations G35 – 38 (coursework) and G39 – G40 (mini-dissertation).

The MMedVet is conferred by virtue of completion of a minimum of 90 weeks of clinical training, examination in specialist module, and a mini-dissertation. 

Examination in specialist module: Also consult the Faculty’s SOP MMedVet examinations guidelines as reflected in the study guides.

The examination(s) in the specialist field of study may only be taken on completion of the minimum clinical training which includes successful presentation of seminars. Special permission will have to be obtained from the HOD if the examination is conducted at an earlier stage. The examination will consist of a theoretical component (the addition of an oral exam is optional and dependant on the discipline) and a practical component (optional; dependant on the discipline). The nature and duration of the specialist module's examination(s), which must fully test the theoretical knowledge as well as the practical skills of the student, is determined by the head of department in which the chosen field of study is presented.

A minimum examination mark of 50% is required in each of the theoretical and practical sections of the specialist module. 

The Faculty regulations do provide for supplementary and special examinations as per General Academic Regulations G37.4 and G37.5; however, only after an additional period of training (theoretical and/or practical) as prescribed has been completed.

Note: Students who intend applying for membership of a specialist college abroad later on, should bear in mind that many of these colleges require a minimum examination mark and a final mark of at least 60% for admission. The student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the relevant college requirements and regulations that might be applicable.

Mini-dissertation: 
A mini-dissertation is submitted to the Head: Student Administration, before the closing date for the relevant graduation ceremonies as announced annually (i.e. 31 October or 31 March to qualify for the Autumn or Spring graduation, respectively), after permission is granted by the supervisor and co-supervisor(s). (Also consult the General Academic Regulation G39 with regard to the submission and technical editing of the thesis).

If a mini-dissertation is submitted after the due date specified above, the student takes the risk that the examination of the mini-dissertation may be delayed and the student will not be considered for the graduation concerned. A student will only be allowed to graduate if the student has successfully complied with all the requirements for the particular programme.

The mini-dissertation will be evaluated by two examiners (for the appointment of the examination panel, consult the General Academic Regulation G39.12.1). 
The average of the separate marks awarded by the two examiners, constitutes the final mark for the mini-dissertation.

Before or on submission of the final copy of the dissertation, a student must submit a draft first-author research article for publication to the supervisor (Also consult the General Academic Regulations G39 - G40). The draft article should be based on the research study undertaken (and as approved by the Faculty Research Ethics committee) during the master’s study, and be approved by the supervisor(s) concerned. The supervisor should then have the opportunity to take the paper through all the processes of revision and resubmission as may be necessary and/or appropriate in order to achieve publication. The affiliation of both the student and the supervisor(s) should be listed as the University of Pretoria.
 

Also consult the General Academic Regulation G38.

All students should register for (and pass) the module Research methodology (VRM 813) (non-credit-bearing). If a student has already completed a similar module for a previous degree (within the past five years) and can show sufficient evidence of competence in research skills required at postgraduate level, a student may apply for exemption from this module.

The MMedVet master’s degree consists of a minimum of 90 weeks of clinical training, coursework modules as well as a mini-dissertation of 90 credits. The basic requirements and Faculty expectations of an MMedVet mini-dissertation are: 

1. The student should show the ability to undertake a research project and write up the project.
2. The student does not need to make an original contribution to science, but still show the ability to do research.
3. Please note that explicit hypothesis-testing, i.e. experimental work is not necessarily mandatory.

The MMedVet master’s degree mini-dissertation is based on a research project or related research projects (which need not be original), planned and written down by the student within the theme of the chosen specialization. (Assistance with statistical processing, applied specialised procedures, etc. is allowed, but must be acknowledged.) The student may use appropriate research done previously, to add to the writing of the mini-dissertation.

Research undertaken by an MMedVet master’s student is conducted in accordance with the University’s Code of ethics for scholarly activities. All research proposals must be submitted for ethics clearance/approval/exemption to the relevant faculty research and/or research ethics committee. Faculty research ethics committees may consider and approve or reject research proposals in accordance with the guidelines of the general policy.

Compliance with degree requirements 
Also consult the General Academic Regulation G40.

1. A professional master’s degree, will be conferred on a student only after the successful completion of every requirement of each component of the relevant degree programme, including the achievement of a pass mark for the prescribed coursework module, the submission and successful evaluation of the mini-dissertation or other research-relevant output, and compliance with all the requirements for the particular programme. 
2. A professional master’s degree is not deemed to be completed if the electronic version of the mini-dissertation has not been submitted to the relevant faculty administration prior to the date of closure of the graduation/finalist list for the forthcoming graduation ceremony.
3. No one is entitled to any privileges pertaining to a professional master’s degree before the qualification has been conferred on him or her at a graduation ceremony. In respect of professional registrations, faculties may issue confirmation letters to the relevant professional bodies prior to the graduation ceremonies.

A professional master’s degree is awarded with distinction if a student meets the following requirements:

1. Obtained at least a final mark of 75% (not rounded), based on the module prescribed for the professional master’s degree in question; and
2. Obtained a final mark of 75% or above for the mini-dissertation; and 
3. Completed the qualification within the maximum period allowed for master’s study, but not in less than the prescribed minimum period of one academic year. Note: the maximum allowable time is twice that of the prescribed duration time period in relation to postgraduate students who study part-time. (i.e. study while working full-time).

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project

The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.