WHY DO HONOURS?
An Honours degree equips you with highly sought after and respected skills and knowledge, giving you a competitive advantage. Studying the Bachelor of Science (Honours) gives you the opportunity to contribute to the development of knowledge in your field of interest by working one-on-one with an academic on their research. An Honours degree can also lead to a research career in academia or elsewhere.
The Honours experience has some key features
- Research training, and a chance to try out research for yourself (a taste of postgraduate life),
- An intellectual challenge,
- A chance to work on a project that particularly interests you,
- An edge in the employment market – shows employers that you can work in a professional relationship
- Sharing ideas, maintaining your own point of view, co-operating, balancing respect with integrity and
- Independent thought,
- Scholarship opportunities,
- Accelerated entry to postgraduate courses,
- Coursework that can be more interesting, in depth, in smaller classes,
- A chance to refine your skills (analysis, project and data management, writing, original thinking, using initiative) for research or for use in the field/on the job.
CONSIDER POSSIBLE PROJECTS AND SUPERVISORS
Ask yourself some questions:
- What aspects of your degree have you found most interesting?
- What career options would you like to pursue once you graduate?
- What topics/issues have you studied that you would like more time to explore?
- What topics/issues have you not had a chance to explore in your degree so far?
- Which academic staff have you enjoyed studying courses with?
- Which academic staff have similar interests to you?
Talk to past Honours students and look at past Honours projects.
CHOOSING A TOPIC
Consider these general criteria when choosing an Honours topic:
- Word, time, space and cost limitations of your Honours project
- Available supervision
- Available resources such as equipment, sources, methodology, sites, experimental material
- Your academic strengths (eg in handling theory, primary sources, etc)
- Familiarity with the area
- Intellectual and/or emotional appeal
- Professional advancement
APPLY FOR HONOURS
To be accepted for entry you must have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science or equivalent with a credit grade point average (GPA). It is recommended that you apply by December so that the Honours year can be effectively planned, organised, time managed and completed within the given timeframe. However, several topics may become available to start mid-year.
Find out more about Honours scholarships – http://www.newcastle.edu.au/scholarships
CHECKLIST FOR GETTING STARTED ON HONOURS
Have you:
- Chosen a supervisor?
- Negotiated a plan of work with your supervisor?
- Chosen a topic that is achievable within the parameters of Honours?
- Developed a brief project description? (~200 words)
- Planned your coursework (which courses, when)?
- Familiarised yourself with the facilities Earth Science offers Honours students?
- Submitted a Direct Admission 2016 Application form and Faculty of Science and IT Honours Application Form by the end of 2015
- Organised a desk space in room G04 (contact the earth science technical officer)
- Organised access to any laboratories, equipment, buildings or rooms
CONTACT
Honours Coordinator
Danielle.Verdon-Kidd@newcastle.edu.au