Study area_

Honours in Science

Enhance your future career opportunities with a single year of additional study

Honours provides a unique opportunity for you to explore your research potential and extend your undergraduate studies.

The honours year in science is a widely recognised and highly regarded additional year of study available to you after you complete your undergraduate course.

An honours qualification in science is not only impressive in academia, but also in industry where research experience and a command of critical thinking are highly sought after. Honours is a unique opportunity for students to explore their potential by designing and conducting an independent research project and producing a thesis of their work.

Honours also provides you with a pathway to higher degree by research, such as a PhD.

More information about honours can be found on the understanding honours page.

If you are looking to undertake an honours year in Science, you can consider the appended Bachelor of Science (Honours) or Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Honours).

Please read the scenarios below to see which applies to you.

Students who are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree at the University of Sydney, see our advice on the current student website.
If you’ve completed a qualifying bachelor’s degree and are either returning after graduation or transferring from another institution:
- Our appended honours degree, the Bachelor of Science (Honours), is an option for students who did not complete two majors in their single bachelor’s degree.
- If you completed a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science degree, you can apply for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Honours).

Honours areas

Relevant disciplines

How can I undertake honours in science?

Options depend on how many majors you have or will complete in your undergraduate degree, as well as when you started your degree.

If you have some discipline-specific questions about honours or honours projects, get in touch with a coordinator below.

Honours coordinators

Agriculture: Dr Malcolm Possell
Anatomy and Histology: Associate Professor Elizabeth Clarke
Animal and Veterinary Bioscience: Associate Professor Sonia Liu
Animal Health, Disease and Welfare: Associate Professor Sonia Liu
Animal Production: Associate Professor Sonia Liu
Applied Medical Science: Associate Professor Elizabeth Clarke
Biochemistry: Associate Professor Andrew Holmes
Biology: Professor Ashley Ward
Cell and Developmental Biology: Dr Carol Dobson-Stone and Associate Professor Andrew Holmes
Chemistry: Professor Gregory Warr
Computer Science: Professor David Lowe
Data Science: Associate Professor John Ormerod
Environmental Science: Dr Floris Van Ogtrop
Environmental Studies: Dr Josephine Gillespie
Financial Mathematics and Statistics: Professor Marek Rutkowski
Food Science: Dr Malcolm Possell
Geography: Dr Josephine Gillespie
Geology: Dr Josephine Gillespie
Geophysics: Dr Josephine Gillespie
Genetics and Genomics: Dr Emily Remnant
Health: Dr Sophie Lewis
History and Philosophy of Science: Professor Peter Godfrey-Smith
Human Movement: Dr Sophie Lewis
Immunology: Dr Nicholas Hunt
Infectious Diseases: Dr Nicholas Hunt
Information Systems: Dr Josiah Poon
Marine Science: Dr Mitch Gibbs
Mathematics (Applied): Professor Marek Rutkowski
Mathematics (Pure): Professor Laurentiu Paunescu
Mathematics - Statistics and Data Science: Associate Professor Uri Keich
Medicinal Chemistry: Professor Gregory Warr and Dr Carol Dobson-Stone
Microbiology: Associate Professor Andrew Holmes
Molecular Biology: Associate Professor Andrew Holmes
Neuroscience: Dr Carol Dobson-Stone
Nutrition Science: Associate Professor Andrew Holmes
Pathology: Dr Nicholas Hunt
Pharmacology: Dr Carol Dobson-Stone
Physics: Associate Professor Bruce Yabsley
Physiology: Associate Professor Elizabeth Clarke
Psychology: Dr Bruce Burns
Plant Production: Dr Malcolm Possell
Soil Science and Hydrology: Dr Malcolm Possell
Statistics: Associate Professor Uri Keich
Taronga Conservation: Professor Dieter Hochuli

Honours topics and projects

Chemistry

Honours projects available in:

Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry

An honours year in the School of Chemistry provides the opportunity to undertake a research project and advanced training in contemporary chemistry. In the honours year, each student undertakes a research project under the supervision of a member of the academic staff, writes a thesis which explains the problem, outlines the research undertaken and the results obtained, and also attends advanced lecture courses and seminars.

You will join a large and active research community of honours, masters, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral and senior research staff in the School of Chemistry. You will have the opportunity to work on research for 90% of your Honours year.

The honours program further builds on what you have learnt from your undergraduate studies, adding new dimensions to the skills you have acquired thus far. Honours will equip you with additional practical and problem-solving skills that enhance your immediate employment prospects and your future career potential, broadens the range of employment possibilities, and may lead to the opportunity to proceed to a postgraduate degree.

All students with a sound record in chemistry are strongly encouraged to enrol in an honours program in the School of Chemistry.

How to Apply: Application to Honours is a two-step process. You first submit an Expression of Interest for supervisor and project to the School of Chemistry, then apply for admission through the Faculty of Science.

1. You can search for a supervisor and browse available projects here

2. You will also submit your Expression of Interest (EoI) through this platform, listing up to four supervisor preferences. EoI’s open around the middle of the semester preceding your Honours year, which may start in either semester.

3. After submitting your EoI, you will receive an acknowledgment email which you should attach to your application for admission to Honours to the Faculty of Science.

4. You will be notified of your confirmed supervisor shortly after EoI’s close on November 10^th. Late applications for available supervisors will be considered in the order received.

Computer Science

Honours projects available in:

Computer Science
Data Science
Information Systems
Software Development

Contact:

Professor David Lowe
E: david.lowe@sydney.edu.au

Geoscience

Do you want to graduate from the University of Sydney with a research thesis you can show to prospective employers? The School of Geosciences offers honours in the areas of:

Geography

Honours in Geosciences is available to students with a major in any of the above and who meet the University’s admission requirements for Honours (which include a minimum SCIWAM of 65 and approval by the School of Geosciences). It involves an advanced coursework program of seminars and reports (accounting for 25% of the program’s assessment) and an individually-written Honours thesis of 20,000 words addressing a specific research question (accounting for 75% of the program’s assessment). The process of working with your supervisor in developing your topic, and then generating new knowledge about it through original research, represents an additional dimension to your future employability and long-term career prospects.

The research problem that forms the basis for your Honours thesis will be developed in consultation with a supervisor. The academics in the Geosciences units you have taken during your undergraduate degree are able to act as supervisors, subject to their availability. In the first instance, you should contact an academic and discuss your interest in Honours. It is possible for your Honours thesis to be developed either as part of a wider research project being undertaken by the supervisor, or as a stand-alone project guided by your own interests and passions.

Honours in Geosciences provides the opportunity to develop real-world research skills and apply them to a specific problem. You will work closely with a supervisor, be part of a small group of committed, high-achieving Honours students, and be part of the wider community of staff and students in the School of Geosciences.

Applying for Honours in Geosciences

The application for Honours in Geosciences is a two-step process. First, students should email prospective supervisors and arrange a meeting to discuss Honours. The Honours coordinator in Geosciences should be copied into emails. You should do this in the semester prior to your proposed entry into Honours, and our strong advice is to contact prospective supervisors earlier rather than later. Don’t delay the discussion.

Second, students also need to apply for admission into Honours through the University. Choose the faculty that your degree is administered by on this page for further information on applying.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Honours coordinators:

Associate Professor Jo Gillespie (for queries about admission, supervision, the program and Geography, Environmental Studies)
Dr Vasilis Chatzaras (for queries about Geology & Geophyscics)
Queries about Honours in Marine Science can also be directed to us.

Health Sciences

Honours projects available in:

Health
Human Movement

History and Philosophy of Science

Studying fourth year Honours in history and philosophy of science can lead to many different career paths such as science policy, science administration, science education, science journalism, and science writing, and, in particular, serves as an excellent preparation for an academic career.

Working closely with an academic supervisor in a lively and supportive department, HPS honours students gain experience in formulating a research question and producing a substantial piece of original research.

While some students have pursued PhDs in our Unit, several students who have obtained an honours degree with us have continued their postgraduate education at leading programs at the most prestigious universities around the world, among them the University of Cambridge and Princeton, Johns Hopkins, and Pittsburgh Universities.

The structure of the HPS honours year

Honours students are expected to complete four Honours level Units of Study successfully and write a 15,000 words thesis based on independent research. A thesis supervisor will guide you through the steps of conducting research for your thesis and writing up the results.

We currently offer four honours level units, which provide a comprehensive background in history and philosophy of science.

Semester 1

Semester 2

In addition, there are four units of study in which you need to enrol which represent work on your thesis.

Your thesis will be graded by two independent academics who are familiar with the thesis topic. The final grade for your Honours year is: 50% (average grade for Units of Study) and 50% (thesis mark).

Applying for Honours in HPS

To be eligible to enrol in the Honours program, you need to have a bachelors degree with an average grade of at least a credit. If you graduated from the University of Sydney, you are expected to have majored in HPS. If you are from another university, you are expected to have a similar background.

However, we have accepted students with a minimal background in HPS if they have good reasons to pursue an honours degree with us. You could acquire the required knowledge by taking units of study or reading courses either before or during your honours year. Whether this option is appropriate and what should be the courses taken will be decided for each applicant personally, according to the judgment of the Unit.

If you would like to pursue this option, please contact HPS Honours Coordinator.

Application process

Make appointment to speak to relevant supervisor or honours coordinator
Complete and submit the HPS honours application form

Life and environmental sciences

Honours projects in the following areas:

Agriculture
Animal and Veterinary Bioscience
Animal Health, Disease and Welfare
Animal Production
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Environmental Science
Food and Agribusiness
Food Science
Genetics and Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Marine Science
Microbiology
Nutrition Science
Plant Production
Quantitative Life Sciences
Soil Science and Hydrology

Do you want the chance to do real research under the guidance of some of the most highly respected scientists in Australia? Your honours year of research in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences will give you that and much more, as you delve into your area of interest in a year-long research project.

Choose from an array of exciting projects in life and environmental sciences, and delve into detail like you’ve never had the chance to before, as you focus on your sustained research project.

You’ll get technical training in research techniques and instrumentation, as well as invaluable skills in communication, project management and critical analysis.

Contact soles.education@sydney.edu.au if you have any questions or issues.

More information on the Current Students site on how to apply and the SOLES Student Portal on Canvas (internal student access only).

Mathematics and statistics

Honours projects available in:

Data science
Financial Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics (Applied)
Mathematics (Pure)
Statistics

For more information about pursuing Honours in those programs, including available projects, application deadlines and expressions of interest, please refer to the School’s Honours Program webpage

Honours Information and Expression of Interest (PDF, 414kb)

Medical sciences

Honours projects available in:

Anatomy and Histology
Applied Medical Science
Cell and Developmental Biology
Immunology
Infectious Disease
Medicinal Chemistry
Neuroscience
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology

An honours year in medical sciences is undertaken in one of the specified honours areas listed above, either within a research laboratory at the Camperdown or Westmead campuses, or externally in an affiliated Research Institute or Clinical School. For more information about pursuing Honours in medical sciences, including projects available, application deadlines and expressions of interest, please refer to Honours in medical sciences page.

Physics

To obtain an honours degree in physics it is necessary to complete a fourth undergraduate year which is devoted to the study of physics: 50% on coursework, and 50% on a research project. Projects are available in a very wide range of research areas.

Students can commence honours in either first or second semester. Honours is full time. In some cases it is possible to take honours part-time over two years, with special permission from the Associate Dean.

Upon completion, a student is eligible for the award of First Class Honours, Second Class Honours (Division 1 or 2) or Third Class Honours. University Medals in Physics are awarded to the top students if the standard achieved is sufficiently high.

The same course is taken by candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Science (Physics).

Psychology

Honours in Psychology is a full-time year of study requiring completion of coursework (50%) and a major research project produced under the supervision of an academic from the School (50%) – successful completion of Honours in Psychology makes you eligible to apply for APAC-accredited postgraduate professional programs and/or Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs.

Applying for Honours in Psychology

All applicants must complete the school application, and then all applicants (except Bachelor of Psychology students) must also complete a University Application – more information about both applications can be found in the Honours Information Booklet for 2024 [PDF, 265KB] and a general overview of the Honours in Psychology program can be found in the slides from the Honours Information Session for 2025.

Due to the competitive nature of Honours in Psychology, all applicants will be ranked on their Honours Application Mark (HAM) – prospective students can get an idea of where they stand with our Honours Application Mark (HAM) Calculator [xlsx, 15KB].

Other key information

Prospective Supervisors and Topics [PDF, 185KB].
School Application (opens on mid December 2024, closes on 6 January 2025).
University Application (to be completed after you submit the School Application – see the Honours Information Booklet for relevant links).

How to apply for honours

Steps to apply

Canvas login

For current honours students