DVM Syllabus in Pakistan: Subjects by Semester (HEC/PVMC Scheme)
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The DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) is a 5-year, 10-semester degree.
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Its curriculum is set by the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) with HEC. The latest national revision is 2026.
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Semester 1 covers Veterinary Anatomy-I, General Veterinary Histology, Veterinary Physiology-I, Biochemistry, Mathematics, English-I, Islamic Studies/Ethics, Animal Welfare and Ethics, and Quran Translation-I/Ethics-I.
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Semester 10 pairs two theory courses with the internship.
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Universities adapt the scheme, so check your own university's version (links below).
The DVM prepares veterinarians for clinical practice, livestock and poultry health, and public health. Its first years teach the normal animal and how disease develops. The later semesters shift into clinics: medicine, surgery and theriogenology rotations, then an internship.
Who sets the DVM syllabus?
Two bodies share the job. The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) regulates veterinary education. HEC supervises curricula nationally. The latest DVM revision came out of joint PVMC-HEC committee meetings in February 2020. It added a textbook for every course, updated recommended reading, and built in One Health, animal welfare and biorisk content.
Credit hours are written as total (theory-practical). So 3(1-2) means three credit hours, one theory and two practical.
DVM subjects by semester (PVMC-HEC 2020 scheme)
Semester 1
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Veterinary Anatomy-I |
3 (1-2) |
|
General Veterinary Histology |
2 (1-1) |
|
Veterinary Physiology-I |
3 (2-1) |
|
Biochemistry |
4 (3-1) |
|
Mathematics |
2 (2-0) |
|
English-I (Functional English) |
2 (2-0) |
|
Islamic Studies / Ethics |
1 (1-0) |
|
Animal Welfare and Ethics |
2 (2-0) |
|
Holy Quran Translation-I / Ethics-I |
1 (1-0) |
Semester 2
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Veterinary Anatomy-II |
3 (1-2) |
|
Systemic Veterinary Histology and Embryology |
3 (2-1) |
|
Veterinary Physiology-II |
4 (3-1) |
|
English-II (Communication Skills) |
2 (2-0) |
|
General Veterinary Microbiology |
3 (2-1) |
|
Introduction to Poultry Production |
1 (1-0) |
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Fundamentals of Livestock Production |
2 (1-1) |
|
Pakistan Studies |
1 (1-0) |
Semester 3
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Principles of Animal Nutrition |
3 (2-1) |
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General and Systemic Pharmacology |
4 (3-1) |
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General Veterinary Pathology |
3 (2-1) |
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General Veterinary Parasitology and Protozoology |
3 (2-1) |
|
Veterinary Immunology |
2 (1-1) |
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Molecular Biology |
2 (1-1) |
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Lab and Zoo Animal Management |
1 (0-1) |
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Anthropology |
1 (1-0) |
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Holy Quran Translation-II / Ethics-II |
1 (1-0) |
Semester 4
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Livestock Feed Resources and Forage Conservation |
3 (2-1) |
|
Veterinary Chemotherapy and Toxicology |
4 (3-1) |
|
Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology |
3 (2-1) |
|
Systemic Veterinary Pathology |
3 (2-1) |
|
Veterinary Helminthology |
4 (3-1) |
|
Animal Breeding and Genetics-I |
2 (1-1) |
Semester 5
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Poultry Nutrition and Feed Technology |
2 (1-1) |
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Animal Breeding and Genetics-II |
3 (2-1) |
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Veterinary Clinical Pathology |
1 (0-1) |
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Veterinary Entomology and Acarology |
3 (2-1) |
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Veterinary Virology |
3 (2-1) |
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Biorisk Management |
2 (1-1) |
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Veterinary Reproductive Physiology |
3 (2-1) |
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Veterinary Internal Medicine-I |
3 (3-0) |
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Holy Quran Translation-III / Ethics-III |
1 (1-0) |
Semester 6
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Zoonosis and Food Safety |
3 (2-1) |
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Principles of Dairy Production |
3 (2-1) |
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Veterinary Internal Medicine-II |
3 (3-0) |
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Meat Inspection and Necropsy Practice |
3 (2-1) |
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Diagnostic Imaging |
2 (1-1) |
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Obstetrics and Genital Diseases |
3 (2-1) |
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Medicine Clinic-I |
1 (0-1) |
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Surgery Clinic-I |
1 (0-1) |
|
Theriogenology Clinic-I |
1 (0-1) |
Semester 7
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Beef and Mutton Production |
2 (1-1) |
|
Veterinary Internal Medicine-III |
3 (3-0) |
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Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care |
1 (0-1) |
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Reproductive Biotechnology |
2 (2-0) |
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Commercial Poultry Production |
2 (1-1) |
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Bio-statistics |
3 (2-1) |
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Medicine Clinic-II |
1 (0-1) |
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Surgery Clinic-II |
1 (0-1) |
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Theriogenology Clinic-II |
1 (0-1) |
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Holy Quran Translation-IV / Ethics-IV |
1 (1-0) |
Semester 8
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
Breeder and Hatchery Management |
3 (2-1) |
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Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health |
3 (2-1) |
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Small Animal Surgery |
3 (2-1) |
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Fisheries and Aquaculture |
1 (0-1) |
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Medicine Clinic-III |
2 (0-2) |
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Surgery Clinic-III |
2 (0-2) |
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Theriogenology Clinic-III |
2 (0-2) |
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Livestock Extension Education |
2 (2-0) |
Semester 9
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
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Entrepreneurship |
1 (0-1) |
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Dairy Technology |
2 (1-1) |
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Poultry Pathology |
3 (2-1) |
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Large Animal Surgery and Shoeing |
4 (3-1) |
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Medicine Clinic-IV |
2 (0-2) |
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Surgery Clinic-IV |
2 (0-2) |
|
Theriogenology Clinic-IV |
2 (0-2) |
Semester 10
|
Course |
Credit hours |
|---|---|
|
English-III (Technical Report Writing and Presentation) |
2 (2-0) |
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Livestock Economics and Business Management |
2 (2-0) |
|
Internship |
Required |
Does every university teach the same DVM syllabus?
Mostly, but not identically. PVMC's curriculum lets institutions add up to 15 credit hours of their own courses, and each university publishes its own scheme of studies. Course placement and credit hours can differ. For example, UAF lists General Veterinary Histology as 3(2-1), while the PVMC scheme has 2(1-1). UVAS places Animal Welfare and Ethics in Semester 2, and the PVMC scheme has it in Semester 1.
Your university's scheme is the one that governs your exams. Check it here:
What changed in the 2020 revision?
If you've seen an older DVM table, compare it with this list:
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Mathematics and Animal Welfare and Ethics now sit in Semester 1.
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Biorisk Management is a new course.
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Veterinary Internal Medicine I, II and III replace the older medicine and preventive medicine courses.
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Small Animal Surgery and Entrepreneurship are added.
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Quran Translation / Ethics runs across Semesters 1, 3, 5 and 7. Non-Muslim students take Ethics.
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Livestock Extension Education moves to Semester 8.
Textbooks
Each course in the 2020 curriculum names a core textbook. For Semester 1:
|
Course |
Core textbook |
|---|---|
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Veterinary Anatomy-I |
Koenig and Liebich, Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Animals |
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General Veterinary Histology |
Eurell and Frappier, Dellmann's Textbook of Veterinary Histology |
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Veterinary Physiology-I |
Cunningham and Klein, Textbook of Veterinary Physiology |
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Biochemistry |
Nelson and Cox, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry |
Others include Tortora's Microbiology: An Introduction (General Veterinary Microbiology) and Pond, Church and Pond's Basic Animal Nutrition and Feeding (Animal Nutrition).
How the syllabus is assessed
The marking scheme varies by course. In the 2020 curriculum, most theory courses divide marks roughly 10% assignments, 30% mid-term and 60% final term. Practicals are split between daily evaluation and a final practical exam. Your university's rules decide the exact weights.
More on DVM: Admissions | Eligibility | Universities | Merit lists | Books | Career
Frequently Asked Questions
How many semesters is the DVM in Pakistan?
Ten semesters over five years. Semester 10 combines two theory courses with an internship.
Who sets the DVM syllabus in Pakistan?
The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) with HEC. The latest national revision is from 2020.
What are the subjects in the first semester of DVM?
Veterinary Anatomy-I, General Veterinary Histology, Veterinary Physiology-I, Biochemistry, Mathematics, English-I, Islamic Studies/Ethics, Animal Welfare and Ethics, and Holy Quran Translation-I/Ethics-I.
Is the DVM syllabus the same at every university?
Largely, but not exactly. Institutions can add up to 15 credit hours of their own courses, and UVAS, UAF and CUVAS publish different schemes of studies.
Does the DVM include an internship?
Yes. The internship is part of Semester 10.