Honours programs
Specialisations
We offer two generic Honours programs in Life & Social Sciences: N052 - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Z0466 - Bachelor of Science (Honours). Both programs have several streams to choose from.
There may be specific eligibility criteria to join a particular specialisation, such as prior skills, prerequisite subjects or degree. If accepted into the program you will be required to elect your specialisation upon enrolment, which should be discussed with your respective supervisor and may need approval from the stream Convenor.
N052 Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
- Culture, Nature & Civilisation
- Industry and Community Studies
- Media and Multimedia
- Psychology
- Social Science
Z0466 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Biomedical Technology
- Environmental Sustainability
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Sport Science
Eligibility
As a general rule, there is a minimum results requirement for entry into Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Honours programs. Please use the following as a guide, but be aware that this can vary for individual streams.
An average result of 65% or more over the 3 years of your bachelor or an average of 70% or more in your final year.
Applicants from universities other than Swinburne should submit a certified copy of their official academic transcript with their application so that the appropriateness of their academic background can be confirmed. An additional rule for international students is the strict requirement of an IELTS score of 6.0 (with no individual band less than 6.0), or equivalent.
Please note that admission into the Psychology stream is governed by additional, specific selection criteria. Please refer to the following webpage for further details: http://courses.swinburne.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Arts-(Honours)-N052/local
Prospective students who do not meet the minimum entry requirements are encouraged to consult with the respective Honours Coordinator as early as possible when considering applying. Special consideration may be given but such cases need to be formally submitted to the Faculty Academic Committee for approval.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a place in Honours. Prospective Honours students must also obtain acceptance from a potential supervisor (a member of the academic staff in the Faculty of Life & Social Sciences). Students are strongly encouraged to approach research leaders directly to discuss their interests.
Duration of Honours
Formal enrolment for Honours is for the duration of the academic semesters. However, usually Honours students are permitted to commence their research prior to the commencement of classes and continue working on their thesis during the mid-year break.
Full time students are enrolled in two academic Semesters for Honours. Some Honours streams allow part-time enrolment, which extends this period.
Scholarships
From time to time, discipline specific scholarships are offered for Honours. Further information about these will be posted on this website. You may also approach individual researchers to enquire about funding opportunities from industry.
Special Opportunities
External Research Projects and Thesis by Project
Some discipline areas offer you the option of conducting the research part of your Honours year off-campus while attending lectures at the Hawthorn campus. It is also possible in some streams to complete your thesis in project form. For further information about the availability of these opportunities please speak to individual stream convenors.
How to Apply
Step 1
Think about what you would like to focus your research on.
Step 2
Approach staff in your preferred area to discuss the feasibility of your desired research topic and the possibility of supervision.
Step 3
Follow the steps online at https://swinburne.onlineappform.com.au/ to submit your application for either N052 Bachelor of Arts (Honours), or Z0466 Bachelor of Science (Honours). Please ensure that you clearly indicate, in your application, which stream you are applying for and what your proposed area of study is.
Useful Contact Information
For further details about the programs on offer, you are encouraged to approach the persons listed below:
General Student Enquiries
| Type of enquiry | Please contact |
|---|---|
| The application process or enrolments | Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Graduate Admin Office +61 3 9214 5209 lssinfo@swin.edu.au |
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
| Type of enquiry | Please contact |
|---|---|
| All Science Honours enquiries | Dr François Malherbe +61 3 9214 5361 fmalherbe@swin.edu.au |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
| Type of enquiry | Please contact |
|---|---|
| General Arts Honours enquiries | Dr Esther Milne +61 3 9214 8195 emilne@swin.edu.au |
| Culture Nature & Civilisation stream | Associate Professor Arran Gare agare@swin.edu.au |
| Industry & Community Studies stream | Dr Deborah Dempsey ddempsey@swin.edu.au |
| Social Science stream | Dr Deborah Dempsey ddempsey@swin.edu.au |
| Media & Multimedia stream | Dr Esther Milne emilne@swin.edu.au |
| Psychology stream | Dr Christine Critchley ccritchley@swin.edu.au |