Course variations

Course summary

The goal of the Cornell Dual DVM/PhD Degree Program is to train students to become outstanding clinician-scientists. By integrating Cornell's veterinary and graduate curricula in a single Program, we prepare students to become leaders in science, medicine, and society, able to excel in basic research, cutting-edge medicine, and teaching. Our Program therefore opens numerous doors to prepare students for careers in academia, industry, and government service. This program enables students to bring a basic scientific approach to their veterinary training, allowing them to identify exciting research possibilities that affect animal and human health. Conversely, completion of veterinary training prior to the completion of graduate training allows students to bring their new expertise in animal health to the laboratory, where comparative approaches can spur scientific development, and where students can identify opportunities to translate their research into real-world applications. Group activities and special training sessions expose students to leaders in science and medicine, while simultaneously building a supportive network of student colleagues and faculty mentors. The structure of the DVM/PhD Program provides students the opportunity to complete their degree requirements in approximately 1.5 years less than would typically be required if they enrolled in the veterinary and graduate programs sequentially. Although the length of a student's program will vary with their choices and area of training, all students accepted into the program are guaranteed full support for both degrees for the total duration of their studies, contingent upon continuing successful completion of requirements in both the Veterinary College and Graduate School.

Entry requirement for international students

The minimum admission requirements are: A one- or two-page statement stating the reasons for undertaking graduate work, as well as an explanation of student’s academic interests, including their relation to their undergraduate study and professional goals. Student must submit official, complete transcripts from each college or university previously attended to the field to which they are applying. All transcripts or academic records must be official documents provided in the original language. If that language is not English, they must be accompanied by certified translations into English. If not issued by the college or university as original documents, they should be notarized, full-sized photocopies. They should include grades received in each subject each year, and the number of weeks and hours per week that each subject was studied. Two or three letters of recommendation (depending on the field) must be submitted from faculty members acquainted with their work. Application for merit-based aid-fellowships, assistantships, and tuition awards is part of the application for admission; no additional form is needed. All applicants are eligible to be considered for merit-based aid. All awards are made by the field. GRE requirements vary by field. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL and have the official score reported to Cornell from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Only students who have studied full-time for two or more years at a college or university where English is the language of instruction located in a country where English is the native language are exempt from the TOEFL.

Qualification

Doctoral

Awarding body

Cornell University

Department name

College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences