• Agricultural Chemistry
• Anatomy and Histology
• Applied Mathematics
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Cell Pathology,
• Chemistry
• Computational Science
• Computer Science
• Environmental Studies
• Geography
• Geology
• Geophysics
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Immunology
• Information Systems
• Mathematical Statistics
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Physics
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Pure Mathematics
• Soil Science

Honours projects

Honours projects in the Faculty of Science

Typical workload and assessment

Generally, the honours year after the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) consists of the following three components, however there may be variations to this, depending on the school or discipline area in which you complete honours:

1) a supervised but independent research program
2) additional courses in experimental design/technical training,
3) some coursework units of study (classes)

Honours awards and classes

(1) The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) are awarded as either Pass or Honours. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science.

(2) Candidates for the award of the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree merited.

Ethics and honours research

As a general principle, any research involving human or animal subjects requires Ethics Committee approval, including, but not limited to, projects involving the following kinds of methodologies:

1. questionnaires
2. surveys or interviews (including oral history)
3. telephone interviewing
4. recording by audio or video tape
5. observations of behaviour (including ethnographic fieldwork)
6. experiments involving animals or animal tissue

Please note that a key part of the approval process involves ensuring that the University complies with its duty of care to students. Safety protocols must be prepared for all students conducting any research off-campus, whether in Australia or overseas.

Applying for ethics clearance

Please consult the Faculty of Science for advice about ethics clearance applications.

Closing dates for ethics applications

Please consult the Faculty of Science, or the school/department through which you are undertaking honours, for advice about closing dates for ethics clearance applications.

Postgraduate research at the University

The Faculty of Science has an outstanding reputation for the quality of its postgraduate research programs across a wide range of science disciplines. With significant levels of funding from various research councils and bodies, and the provision of major research facilities, the faculty is committed to providing leading education and research training to its students.

There are a range of research programs available, depending on which stage you are at in your academic career. Whether at the doctoral or masters level, you undertake self-directed, supervised research in your specialised area of science, and produce a thesis considered to be a substantially original contribution to the subject concerned.

The honours year in science provides a research training pathway to our higher research degrees, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MSc). The postgraduate research programs offered by the faculty attract a large number of domestic and international students each year.

More information about science research programs at Sydney.

Joint and double honours

Joint and double honours programs are possible across science disciplines, at the discretion of each discipline.

Joint honours is normally completed over the course of one year (worth 48 credit points) and involves the completion of one research project involving two disciplines. Your project is guided by two supervisors, one from each discipline involved. Discussion between disciplines should determine arrangements for your completion of joint honours.

Double honours involves completing all the honours work in two disciplines and thus normally lasts for two consecutive years (96 credit points). Students will be expected to inform both disciplines of their enrolment in two programs for double honours.

Applying for honours

All students must apply to be admitted to an honours year. This includes students who are already enrolled in a four year course with a compulsory honours year, e.g. Bachelor of Psychology.

Gaining entry into honours is competitive - the standard that you need to achieve must meet certain minimum requirements but will also depend on the number and quality of other applicants in that year. You normally need to apply for honours in the semester prior to commencement.

To apply for honours, you will need to:

1. Download and read the Honours Application Information

2. Fulfil any requirements of the school or department prior to lodging an application at the Faculty. This might include matching projects and available supervisors with students.

3. If you are applying for Honours in more than one area then list your areas in order of preference on the application form. You will need to repeat step 2 for each area you are applying to. Please list the discipline area (eg. Biology, Cell Pathology) as appears on the coordinator contact list, or your application may not be considered.

4. Apply online - this will require you to upload relevant documents as outlined below.

All applications require the following to be uploaded:
• Proof of contact with the relevant School/Discipline for each Honours preference area listed in the Honours application. If undertaking joint or double Honours, proof of contact will be required for both Honours areas. A second or third preference will not be assessed if proof of contact is not provided.

External applicants also need to upload:
• An Official or Certified copy of a Transcript
• Proof of Identity and Citizenship Status

NB: All documents must be certified prior to being uploaded.

Documentation examples:

Proof of Contact:
• Different Schools/Disciplines have different application processes and therefore expression of interest documentation can vary depending on which School students apply to.

Documentation can include but is not limited to:
• Email correspondence with an Honours Co-ordinator/Potential Supervisor
• A copy of a completed Expression of Interest or School/Discipline Honours application form which the student would have also lodged with the School/Discipline concerned.
• A receipt of Honours application notice from the School/Discipline

Admission requirements

To qualify for admission to the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours), a student must satisfy both the faculty and the relevant school entry requirements. In order to be considered for admission to honours, you must:

1) have qualified for or be a graduate with a relevant pass degree from the Faculty of Science, or hold an equivalent qualification from another institution;
2) have completed a relevant major relating to the intended Honours discipline;
3) have a grade average of at least 65, averaged across at least 48 credit points of undergraduate units of study. These 48 credit points should not include Junior Units where the degree is available on a full time basis to high school graduates;
4) have met the Science Weighted Average Mark (SCIWAM*) requirement of at least 65;
5) satisfy any additional criteria set by the Head of School concerned; and
6) be aware that admission is also subject to an appropriate supervisor and project being available.
7) In some Schools and disciplines the SCIWAM requirement is much higher for consideration for entry into Honours, particularly when entry is very competitive. For example a minimum of a Distinction average is generally required in the School of Psychology.


*In some schools and disciplines the SCIWAM requirement is much higher for consideration for entry into honours, particularly when entry is very competitive. For example, a minimum of a distinction average is generally required in the School of Psychology. SCIWAM is the average over all second and third year units attempted.

Students who are not admitted to the honours program may consider the Graduate Diploma in Science. The diploma is offered as either a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time course with similar content, structure and assessment as the honours year. The Graduate Diploma in Science is a full fee-paying postgraduate program.

Domestic students

How to apply

To apply for honours, you will need to:

1. Download and read the Honours Application Information

2. Fulfil any requirements of the school or department prior to lodging an application at the Faculty. This might include matching projects and available supervisors with students.

3. If you are applying for Honours in more than one area then list your areas in order of preference on the application form. You will need to repeat step 2 for each area you are applying to. Please list the discipline area (eg. Biology, Cell Pathology) as appears on the coordinator contact list, or your application may not be considered.

4. Apply online - this will require you to upload relevant documents as outlined below.

Further requirements

All applications require the following to be uploaded:
• Proof of contact with the relevant School/Discipline for each Honours preference area listed in the Honours application. If undertaking joint or double Honours, proof of contact will be required for both Honours areas. A second or third preference will not be assessed if proof of contact is not provided.

External applicants also need to upload:
• An Official or Certified copy of a Transcript
• Proof of Identity and Citizenship Status

NB: All documents must be certified prior to being uploaded.

Documentation examples:

Proof of Contact:
• Different Schools/Disciplines have different application processes and therefore expression of interest documentation can vary depending on which School students apply to.

Documentation can include but is not limited to:
• Email correspondence with an Honours Co-ordinator/Potential Supervisor
• A copy of a completed Expression of Interest or School/Discipline Honours application form which the student would have also lodged with the School/Discipline concerned.
• A receipt of Honours application notice from the School/Discipline

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University's International Office, or (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).

To apply for honours, you will need to:

1. Download and read the Honours Application Information

2. Fulfil any requirements of the school or department prior to lodging an application at the Faculty. This might include matching projects and available supervisors with students.

3. If you are applying for Honours in more than one area then list your areas in order of preference on the application form. You will need to repeat step 2 for each area you are applying to. Please list the discipline area (eg. Biology, Cell Pathology) as appears on the coordinator contact list, or your application may not be considered.

4. Apply online - this will require you to upload relevant documents as outlined below.

Further admission requirements

All applications require the following to be uploaded:
• Proof of contact with the relevant School/Discipline for each Honours preference area listed in the Honours application. If undertaking joint or double Honours, proof of contact will be required for both Honours areas. A second or third preference will not be assessed if proof of contact is not provided.

External applicants also need to upload:
• An Official or Certified copy of a Transcript
• Proof of Identity and Citizenship Status

NB: All documents must be certified prior to being uploaded.

Documentation examples:

Proof of Contact:
• Different Schools/Disciplines have different application processes and therefore expression of interest documentation can vary depending on which School students apply to.

Documentation can include but is not limited to:
• Email correspondence with an Honours Co-ordinator/Potential Supervisor
• A copy of a completed Expression of Interest or School/Discipline Honours application form which the student would have also lodged with the School/Discipline concerned.
• A receipt of Honours application notice from the School/Discipline

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.