This course is the first of two parts and is undertaken prior to PTRL4041 Research Thesis B. Successful completion of Parts A and B are required to obtain the equivalent of 12 UOC. Students must complete a Honours Research Thesis application form and submit to the School's office before the commencement of the semester enrolment.

The Honours Research Thesis may describe directed research work on an approved subject and will be completed under the guidance and supervision of a member of the academic staff. The research may involve a directed laboratory or field investigation, analytical or numerical modelling, a detailed design, literature review or such other individual research project approved by the Head of School. Research Thesis Part A involves the satisfactory formulation of the literature review, the definition of the research problem, completion of a significant part of the research and the development of a thesis outline.