Be S.U.R.E - Become a WOS Honours student:

• Be Smart - The Honours year with WOS puts you in a smart cohort - of like minded, clever, sharp students - you will develop with them and meet challenges.


• Be Unique - The Honours year with WOS (an extra year on a pass degree) is a unique opportunity to turn your pass degree into something very special.


• Be Ready - The Honours year with WOS gives you the academic skills necessary to be ready for postgraduate study.


• Be Employable - The Honours year with WOS boosts employability. Why? Because you develop critical research and writing skills; as well as connection with business/workplace problems and challenges - all our Honours students have great jobs

Entry Requirements

To undertake the Final Honours Year you must achieve a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65% across all units taken within your undergraduate degree, and a minimum of 70% in all senior units within your Major in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management and/or Management

Final Honours Year in Work and Organisational Studies

Objectives of Final Honours Year in Work and Organisational Studies

The objective of the Honours Year is to produce high quality graduates who are capable of securing challenging and rewarding professional employment, or undertaking advanced research degrees (Masters or PhD) at leading universities. During the year students will enhance their research and analytical skills and develop strong problem solving skills. Students will also improve their ability to work independently and to manage projects.

Structure

The Final Honours Year program is a full time year of study commencing in semester one. The Final Year program has two components: course work and a thesis.

Students work on their thesis over the whole year (February-October). The thesis is a 20,000 word research-based dissertation on a work-related or organisational studies topic in which the student has a strong intellectual interest.

Examination/Assessment of Theses

From 2013 Final Honours grades comprise a 70% weighting on the 4th year thesis and 30% weighting on three coursework units.

Theses are independently marked by two examiners and the final thesis grade reflects an average of these two marks. Where a difference of more than 5% exists between these two examiners a third examiner will review the thesis.

The final grade of honours will be determined on the following University scale:

The Business School may award a university medal to suitably qualified candidates. This takes into account the whole academic career as well as the Final Honours Year. The criteria are very strict. Students should note that being the top student in the Final Year cohort does not guarantee nomination for a medal.

Thesis Submission

Two soft-bound copies of the thesis must be submitted - one for each examiner.

Student/Supervisor Protocols

The Business School has developed student/supervisor protocols which outline the expectations that a student and supervisor can reasonably have of each other, during the honours year. Please refer to the Honours and Honours Preparation - Administrative Procedures page for details on this.

Administrative Procedures

Students need to ensure that administrative procedures are taken up with the Student Information Office for the Business School including notification of ill-health or misadventure. For other queries not covered in the information here, contact the honours coordinator.

Scholarships

In addition to the University of Sydney honours scholarships and other Business School scholarships, the Qantas Honours Scholarship in Industrial Relations is awarded to a student in the third year honours program proceeding to the Final Honours Year who has achieved excellence in their undergraduate Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management Studies. Several other prizes ranging in value from $2000 to $225 also exist. The recipient is nominated by the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies between January and March the following year, and there is no application process.

Other Financial Assistance

Discipline funding may be available to Final Honours Year students to assist with research-related expenses and thesis binding, and for the most outstanding students there is also a special grant to assist converting their theses into papers for submission to peer-reviewed academic journals. Contact the Discipline Honours Coordinator for further details.

Careers Information

All notices concerning WOS Final Honours Year, information about employment opportunities, scholarships etc. will be posted on the WOS notice board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay HECS for an honours year?

Yes.

Can I defer my honours year after my pass degree is completed?

Yes, but only for up to two years and subject to supervisor availability.

Can I work while I am undertaking my honours year?

Yes, however you do need to think carefully about how you manage your time throughout the year. There are peak times during the year when your study may be more demanding than at other times.

The Discipline is also willing to consider applications from students who wish to undertake the Final Honours Year on a part-time basis. However, permission to do so is solely on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Discipline.

Why would I choose honours rather than a Masters?

An honours year is quite different to a Masters Degree because honours study mostly consists of undertaking your own research. You need to think carefully, therefore, about what both paths offer. As distinct from a Masters (which is by coursework now), an honours year offers a unique opportunity to develop your own research and writing skills in an area of your choosing. Whilst you need to undertake two coursework units in your 4th year, 60% of your mark in this year involves doing a thesis in an area that interests you. You choose the topic and, in consultation with your supervisor, you choose the research method you use. More than any other course, this year develops and deepens your research skills and enhances the quality of an undergraduate qualification to potential employers. And of course there is no reason why you can't add a masters degree later in working life as your career needs change.