Honours Degrees
Overview
Most ordinary bachelors' degrees and many of the specialised bachelors' degrees have Honours degrees allied to them (e.g. Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))).
Honours degrees are awarded at first class, second class and third class level.
Transitional Arrangements for Honours
Subject to approval, it is intended that from 2013 the current four-year programme structure for BA(Hons), BAppSc(Hons), BCom(Hons), BSc(Hons), BTheol(Hons) and MusB(Hons) will be discontinued. Instead, students who wish to complete those Honours degrees will first complete an ordinary three-year degree (BA, MusB, etc.), graduate in that degree, and then complete a one-year postgraduate Honours degree.
Transitional arrangements for intending and current Honours students.
Structure of an Honours degree
In the second and third year of a typical Honours programme you will normally take a number of prescribed papers in the major subject, as well as additional papers in appropriate supporting subjects which are approved by your Adviser of Studies.
The fourth year of the programme normally involves further papers and a research project.
Each subject has its own specifications for Honours programmes. These requirements are set out in the major subject and programme requirements charts of each subject.
Applying for an Honours degree
You generally apply for admission to an Honours programme at the end of your first year, although it is also possible in some subjects to apply at the end of your second or third year. In a number of subjects entry is always at the beginning of the third or fourth year - this is generally in the biological sciences.
Admission to Honours programmes is by application on a set form, submitted before December 10 for the following year (although later applications are also considered). Contact your Department for information about applications.
Combined and Double Honours
There are also Combined and Double Honours programmes.
In a combined Honours programme you take a blend of papers from two subjects, and complete the degree in four years.
For Double Honours, the first three years are as for Combined Honours, but two separate fourth year courses are taken in consecutive years, so a total of five years of study is needed.
It is also possible to take two separate Honours degrees e.g. Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) and Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)). These are normally completed within a six year programme.
