Bachelor of Science (Honours)
What you’ll study
Typical workload and assessment
Generally, the honours year after the Bachelor of Science 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: a supervised but independent research program, additional courses in experimental design/technical training, and some coursework units of study (classes).
Honours awards and classes
(1) The Bachelor of Science is 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 Coursework Policy and 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.
For further details about honours and who to contact for more information, please visit the Science Honours page.
Sample study plan
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
| Year | Sem | Units of study | ||||
| 1 | 1 | Honours semester one | ||||
| 2 | Honours semester two | |||||
Fees
Admission criteria
How to apply
Before applying
All students who plan to undertake the Bachelor of Science (Honours) must submit an application to the University.
Students are encouraged to commence the application process in their final year of the Bachelor of Science, or equivalent degree.
A guide to the application process is found below, more detailed and faculty-specific information on the application process for current University of Sydney students can be found by visiting Applying for honours and for students studying a comparable degree at another institution visit How to apply for an honours degree.
Steps to apply
1. Prepare a research topic proposal
2. You need to choose a research topic for your honours study. This should be an area of interest to you and considered of academic importance to the relevant faculty. Most disciplines have an honours coordinator to assist with preparing your research topic proposal, and in some cases may provide a list of available projects.
It is best to submit your research topic proposal as early as possible (see the faculty pages for more details). For stand-alone programs this should be before the end of your final semester. Be aware that pre-approval of your topic doesn’t guarantee entry to the honours program, you will still need to meet the other eligibility requirements.
In some faculties and schools, you may need to provide a preliminary topic proposal first for approval. Once this is approved, you then develop the more detailed research proposal that will form the basis of your thesis.
3. Find a supervisor
You may need to arrange a supervisor before you apply.
Contact the honours coordinator in the relevant faculty or school for information about honours projects and potential supervisors. It is best to find a supervisor with experience in your topic area.
- You may need to meet with your proposed supervisor to see if they are able to supervise your honours program and discuss your proposed research topic. You should provide evidence of their support with your application.
4.Submit your application
Submit your application form with any required supporting documents. The way this is done and the application deadlines vary depending on the type of honours you are completing and the faculty or school.
Your application will be assessed by the relevant faculty or school. You will be offered a place in the honours program provided there are places available and you have met the eligibility criteria, including completion of any prerequisites.
Part-time study is permitted for eligible students (excluding student visa holders) if approved by the faculty.
Submit application
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 – 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 – 25 June of the commencing year
