Università degli Studi di Perugia

Degree course in Veterinary medicine [LM-42] D. M. 270/2004

General information

Qualification awarded

Master’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Level of qualification

Single-cycle Master’s degree

Specific admission requirements and specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning

In implementation of the provisions of the Directive 78/IO27/CEE and pursuant to art. 6 of Decree no. 270/2004, to be admitted to the Master’s Degree course in Veterinary Medicine, the student must be in possession of a five-year secondary school diploma or other suitable title obtained abroad. The title obtained abroad is accepted in accordance with the specific Ministerial regulations, and pursuant to art. 19 of the RDA of Law 08/01/2002 n. 1 and in implementation of Directive 78/IO27/CEE, access to the degree course nationwide is of limited enrolment. The number of students eligible for the first year is determined annually by the Ministry of Education and sustainable up to a maximum of 120 students, inclusive of non-EU foreigners living abroad.

Profile of the programme

The Master’s Degree course in Veterinary Medicine aims to prepare graduates capable of addressing issues related to:

- Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of animals of various species, especially those of zootechnical interest and affection, but also wild and aquatic ones;

- Animal welfare in the context of the production of food of animal origin, those used for sports, those of affection and those used for scientific and experimental purposes;

- Protection of Public Health regarding risks related to zoonoses or food consumption (unprocessed, from animal and plant origin) improperly produced, processed and stored;

- The need to support the competent industrial sectors (livestock, pharmaceutical, animal feed, production and distribution of food of animal origin);

- Environmental impact of farming and industrial farming.

The graduate in Veterinary Medicine must also possess the ability to participate in activities related to planning, organizing and carrying through plans for basic and applied research.

Qualification requirements and regulations

The Master’s Degree course in Veterinary Medicine is a unique curriculum, with compulsory attendance, lasting 5 years and divided into 10 semesters during which the student must acquire 300 credits.

The course calendar for the subsequent academic year, containing start dates and timetables, is programmed every year.

Didactic activities for the first year start in the first 10 days of October while in the following years, they begin within the last ten days of September. Didactic activities for the second semester, for all years, begin within the first week of March.

Students are expected to achieve approximately 60 ECTS credits per year, corresponding to a workload of 1500 hours.

Courses are divided into the following formative activities: fundamental, characterizing, and non-departmental key courses, chosen by the student, the final examination, and practical training giving access to the qualifying examination.

For all courses, both fundamental and characterizing, the time allocated to face-to-face teaching consists of lectures, practices, clinics and  are all supervised in the Faculty structures (classrooms, teaching laboratories and multidisciplinary classrooms for dissection and necropsy, University’s Veterinary Hospital (Ospedale Veterinario Universitario Didattico), Livestock Teaching Farm) or in qualified, national facilities (slaughter, IZS, USL).

Each students’ educational formation, in the beginning and/or during the degree course, is supported by staff from the Academic Office (Segreteria Didattica) and tutors (All Professors of the Faculty are engaged in tutoring activities).

Annual tutorial contracts are issued for subjects referred to in DM 198 art.2 (PhDs and capable and deserving students) for the different types of formative activities.

All aspects regarding the organization and management of the CdLM (Master’s Degree course) are described in the appropriate Academic Regulations, available on the Faculty website: https://facolta.unipg.it/veterinaria

Key learning outcomes

The graduate in Veterinary Medicine acquires and knows how to use knowledge relating to subject areas regarding basic formation involving the study of chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology needed to understand and act on biological phenomena.

Graduates will acquire:

- Physical methods specifically for the study of biological systems, tools for the formulation of elementary mathematical models and computer applications for numerical solutions to mathematical problems;

- Chemistry with particular reference to biological macromolecules, biochemical concepts of the structural organization of cells and metabolic processes in animals of veterinary interest Must also have general knowledge on the principles and methods of chemistry and biochemistry analysis, aimed at monitoring environmental pollution and laboratory medicine;AlphaAlpha

- The fundamentals of plant and animal biology, and molecular biology;

- Familiarity with the macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural level of animal organism;

- Fundamentals of cell and general veterinary physiology.

The graduate in Veterinary Medicine acquires and knows how to use skills relating to subject areas regarding basic formation involving an extended veterinary medical formation, in particular, he/she must be able to operate in the breeding, management, pathology, clinical, diagnostics, therapy, prevention of diseases in animals, including in aquatic organisms and the zoonoses fields and, furthermore, in monitoring the hygiene and quality of food with particular reference to those of animal origin.

In general, graduates will acquire:

- The ability to identify and critically evaluate the state of health, sickness and welfare of singular/livestock animals, even in aquatic organisms and antropozoonoses aspects, interpreting them in the light of basic scientific knowledge, pathophysiology, organ and apparatus disease and preparing medical and surgical interventions for the removal of disease status;

- The ability to identify and critically evaluate the state of health, hygiene, quality and alterations of food of animal origin that may affect human health, and must also know the processes of production and processing of food of animal origin ;

- The ability to identify and critically evaluate the impact of animal farming on the environment;

- The ability to project, implement and monitor plans of veterinary public health;

- The ability to manage and control the production chains of food of animal origin and their safety;

- The written and oral command of at least one European language (English language level A2), as well as Italian.

The Veterinary Medicine graduate acquires judgement autonomy using it to observe the reliability of the information necessary for activities that characterize his work, to make critical and synthetic decisions in order to solve problems and will also acquire awareness permitting him/her to focus attention on “knowing how to be”(have sensitivity towards environmental issues and risks of technologies used).

Moreover, he/she will have the ability to communicate clearly, and with the appropriate language, information, ideas and solutions to problems to specialist and non-specialists, both nationally and internationally, through proper oral and written forms. Will know how to use the main instruments of Information and Communication Technology and communication and interpersonal skills in order to work in groups and in interdisciplinary areas.

Monitoring learning outcomes and achievements, in terms of communication skills, occurs during singular course exams and, in particular, during the final examination. 

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

Recognition of credits for courses/lessons occurs after passing an assessment exam which may be oral, written, practical or a combination of the latter in accordance with Articles 22 and 23 of the RDA (Didactic Regulations).

The examining board is established, pursuant to art. 23 paragraph 2 of the RDA, by the course professor who presides over it, and at least one other official member chosen among professors, researchers or “cultori della materia” (experts on the subject).

The courses/lessons call for a single exam, examining boards are made up of professors who are in charge of the teaching modules; the President is the professor responsible for teaching modules with the highest number of credits or has the most senior position.

The examining board for each course or formation activity, is determined by the CCL (Composizione e convocazione del Consiglio di Corso di Laurea- composition and convocation of the examining board) before the beginning of exam session of each academic year. The number of exams is established annually by the CCL in accordance with Decree 270/2004. Professors may call for exemptions, which normally, take place during the course. These tests are designed to partially verify the program carried out and, if successful, will be taken into account during the final examination.

Graduation requirements

To be eligible to present his/her thesis during the final examination, the student must have attained all the required credits specified in the course programme and demonstrate that the acquisition of practical and clinical skills has been met as certified in the Log Book. Formative activities related to the preparation of the final examination require a workload of 10 ECTS credits.

Before attaining the Master’s degree, the student must present and publically discuss, before an examining board, a written thesis, experimental or prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed from among Faculty professors.

The subject of the thesis is chosen by the student according to scientific and professional interests and according to the type of research and experimentation carried out by the Faculty. The dissertation aims at demonstrating the acquisition, on behalf of the student, of specific and qualifying professional skills acquired by the student as listed in the Ministerial Decree of 28 November 2000.

The evaluation of the final examination follows the criteria set out in the didactic regulations of the CLM and is assessed on a scale of 110 and where appropriate, with honours.

A Master’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine is granted upon meeting the above requirements.

All formative activities carried out will be listed in the Certificate of Diploma. 

Mode of study (full-time, part-time, e-learning, ...)

Only full time enrolment is permitted due to the degree course modalities (see Regolamento Procedure e Termini dell’Ateneo di Perugia – Regulation of terms and procedures of the Università degli Studi di Perugia). Students are required to attend all courses.

Occupational profiles of graduates with examples

The Veterinary Medicine graduate may find employment opportunities in: National Health Service (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali, ASL, NAS, etc.),

free-lance activities, public and private sectors (livestock, pharmaceutical, animal feed, control of production and distribution of unprocessed food of animal and vegetable origin, specialized laboratories in quality control, HACCP), in local and national organizations, the Armed Forces, international organizations and cooperation agencies, and in research institutions (universities and other public and private research institutes). 

Access to further studies

Graduates in Veterinary Medicine have access to further studies in accordance with Decree 270/2004. The Faculty, whose aim is to produce veterinarians with a highly scientific profile, is engaged in the following post-graduate: Specialization Schools, Doctorate School, First and Second Level Master, Training Center for European College of Veterinary, Higher Education courses, Specialization Courses, Bachelor Degrees and Refresher Courses. These educational activities are also promoted by the Ministry of Labour, by Professional Associations and public or private bodies

Programme director or equivalent

Tabella riepilogativa regolamento

General (Regulations 2011)