Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)

The Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) is a one-year program for students who have achieved academic excellence and wish to build upon their undergraduate degree. It is a pathway to further studies in graduate research such as a PhD.

Integrate what you learned in your undergraduate degree with advanced studies in a specialised field while working on an exciting piece of original research.

The degree will enhance your ability to acquire advanced research and analytical skills to develop and test original ideas. You can specialise in one area of study (pure honours) or two (combined honours) depending on your specialisation.

This extra year of study on top of your three-year Bachelor of Science degree is designed to qualify you for graduate research degrees (Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Philosophy). Honours gives you advanced research, analytical and communications skills, plus greater experience working on independent projects. It can also reduce the length of time by up to a year for some Masters degrees offered at the University of Melbourne.

This degree is available to students who have completed a Bachelor of Science degree within the last ten years.

Why study Honours?

• Adds value to your Bachelor of Science degree with an advanced undergraduate year
• Sets you apart as a student with experience of research methodology and practical research
• Provides a possible pathway directly into a Doctor of Philosophy – Science or other graduate research program
• Can be credited towards the first year of a Masters by Coursework degree, providing your research is in a related discipline

Honours involves both coursework and supervised independent research. It is very different from earlier undergraduate years, with a greater degree of independence and flexibility. This will help you develop the maturity and skills for a transition to employment in a range of occupations, or to a higher degree.

In the advanced coursework component, you will have the opportunity to gain further in-depth knowledge in your chosen discipline. It also expands on the theoretical basis on which your research work will be based.

By completing the research component, you will acquire advanced analysis skills, develop original ideas, and apply innovative solutions to complex problems. You will also develop valuable transferrable skills in project implementation and communicating research outcomes.

More information

View the Handbook entry