Handbook 2008

Honours Studies: A General Guide

Courses | Structure of Honours Degrees | Application Process | Withdrawal/Intermission/Transfers/Extensions

The following information should be read in conjunction with Study at Murdoch: a General Guide in this Handbook. In addition, students should read the Bachelor Degree Regulations.

Courses

Course descriptions and requirements are set out in the Courses section of this Handbook. Further information can be obtained from the Faculty Student Administration and the Prospective Students’ and Admissions Centre.

Structure of Honours Degrees

Details of individual honours courses appear in the Courses section of this Handbook.

Honours normally requires an additional academic year of study (24 points) after completion of the ordinary degree. The exceptions to this are:

Bachelor of Theology (BTheol): an additional 12 points are required
Bachelors of Engineering (BE), Environmental Science (BEnvSc), Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS), and Laws (LLB): the length of study is the same as for the ordinary degree. For the Environmental Science and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degrees much of the following information is not applicable; further details should be obtained from the Faculty Student Administration instead.

Each honours student has an individual honours program of study, which must be approved by the end of the second week of the first semester of the student’s honours enrolment. This details the thesis topic area and any coursework to be undertaken. The extent of coursework varies between courses, but the honours thesis must have a value of at least eight points (usually it is more). The coursework will be at fourth-year level, but may include up to four points at second- or third-year level and up to eight points at Masters-level. Honours students must complete a minimum of 18 Part II points of Murdoch units out of the total 24 points required in order to obtain the degree.

The honours course must be completed within two semesters full-time, or four semesters part-time, or one semester full-time and two semesters part-time. Provision exists for enrolment in a joint honours course. For further information, see the Bachelor Degree Regulations.

Changes to the Honours Program of Study

Any change to the approved honours program of study requires the approval of the Dean of School on the recommendation of the Chair of the Honours Sub-committee.

Honours Thesis

There are University guidelines on the format of honours theses. These are available from the Faculty Student Administration and online:

http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/admin/codes/honscode.html

Application Process

Domestic applicants for honours must apply via the Prospective Students’ and Admissions Centre, and international applicants via Murdoch International.

Each School and Faculty is free to establish its own minimum requirements for admission. Normally, subject to the availability of a suitable supervisor, students who have obtained Distinctions or better in most Part II units taken in the area of the proposed honours course will be admitted to honours. Graduates of other universities with equivalent backgrounds may also apply for admission to honours at this University.

(Students do not need to apply for admission to merit honours degrees, as in these degrees merit honours is awarded on the basis of the standard of performance in the ordinary degree. Merit honours is not available in all courses. Degrees in which merit honours is available are listed in the Courses section of this Handbook.)

Applications for honours for the following year close towards the end of November. However, students completing their Murdoch degree mid-year may apply in May to commence honours in Semester 2.

Honours studies for the degree of Bachelor of Theology normally begin one semester prior to completion of the Bachelor of Theology ordinary degree.

Enquiries about entry to specific honours courses should be directed to the Faculty Student Administration, or to the Program Chair.

Withdrawal/Intermission/Transfers/Extensions

Students wishing to withdraw from a component of an honours course (or to postpone a component to another semester) should do so before the census date, as any changes after then will be recorded on their academic transcript, will increase their liability and will not entitle them to extra time to complete their honours.

A student who withdraws from an honours course is not permitted to enrol again in an honours course in the same or closely related disciplinary areas, unless the withdrawal takes place before the end of the first semester of the course (or, for a part-time enrolment, before the end of the second semester).

If a student needs to intermit (suspend) their honours enrolment, an application should be submitted to the Faculty Student Administration. An intermission may be granted for a maximum period of two consecutive semesters.

A student may be permitted to transfer from one honours course to another within the first two weeks of honours, provided that he or she is qualified for admission to the second honours course and is admitted to it through the normal selection procedures.