Science (Honours) - 4500

Program Summary

1. Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines, and knowledge of research principles and methods;
2. Demonstrate cognitive skills that review, analyse, consolidate and synthesize knowledge;
3. Identify and formulate solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence;
4. Demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas;
5. Demonstrate an ability to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts;
6. Demonstrate initiative and judgement in scholarship;
7. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters;
8. Demonstrate communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences;
9. Construct a research project that demonstrates technical skills in research and design;
10. Construct a research project that demonstrates critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding.

• Anatomy
• Applied Mathematics
• Aviation
• Bioinformatics
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Climate Science
• Ecology
• Environmental Management
• Exercise Physiology
• Genetics
• Geography
• Geology
• Marine Science
• Materials Science
• Medical Science
• Microbiology
• Molecular and Cell Biology
• Neuroscience
• Palaeoscience
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physical Oceanography
• Physics
• Physiology
• Pure Mathematics
• Statistics
• Vision Science

1. Students are expected to complete all the requirements for the Honours program as listed for their chosen discipline in the plan pages of this Handbook. Where a student does not complete a particular requirement of the program, their grade and hence graduation will be withheld until the item is completed.
2. Students must abide by UNSW policies and procedures with regards to Occupational Health & Safety, Ethics, and Research. Details of these will be provided to students in an Honours Handbook or information session by the relevant School.
3. Students will typically complete a research project of 24-48 UOC. Each student will have a supervisor for their project who is expected to have at least a Masters (AQF level 9) qualification. Students may be supervised by a person external to UNSW, especially where a research project is industry-based. However, where a student has an external supervisor a joint-supervisor must be nominated who is an employed academic of the relevant School.
4. As part of their research project students will be required to complete, at a minimum, a literature review and/or research proposal, present a seminar on their findings and complete a written thesis. Some disciplines may require additional assessment for the honours program such as additional seminars or reports. Details of all assessable components of the honours program for each discipline is described in the relevant plan pages of this handbook.
5. All students will be required to complete a written thesis. Details of thesis requirements such as word limits, format, and submission deadlines will be provided by the relevant School. A student’s thesis will be assessed by two markers, which may not include a student’s supervisor. One marker should also be external to the research group in which the student has completed the project. Individual Schools relevant to the Honours project have processes for managing discrepancies in marks submitted by thesis examiners.
6. At the end of a student’s first semester, an EC grade will be awarded provided that all requirements for the semester have been satisfactorily completed, and the supervisor is satisfied with a student’s progress on their project. Where requirements have not been completed or the supervisor feels progress is unsatisfactory, the grade will be withheld and the student given an opportunity to complete the requirement and / or progress their project. If the outstanding requirement(s) has not been completed prior to the commencement of the following semester, the supervisor will discuss this with the Honours Coordinator in the School and the student may be required to withdraw from the program. The Science Student Centre will be notified of this as the Program Authority. Once withdrawn from the program a student will need to reapply for admission to the Honours program.
7. Where a student would like to take leave from the program or defer their commencement, they should discuss this with their supervisor and School, and where the School approves, a recommendation for program leave or deferment is submitted to the Science Student Centre for approval as the Program Authority. Please note that program leave and deferment is not always possible as research groups do not always have ongoing funding for research projects.
8. Where a student decides to change their research project, they should discuss this with their Supervisor and the Honours Coordinator in the relevant School. Changing of research projects will be at the discretion of the School and may not always be possible. Changes to research projects may only occur within a student’s first semester.

• Honours Class 1: mark of 85 or greater
• Honours Class 2 Division 1: mark from 75 to 84
• Honours Class 2 Division 2: mark from 65 to 74
• Honours Class 3 or Pass: mark below 65