Maybe you’ve just finished your undergraduate degree and you’re thinking about further study. Or you might be looking to start an undergraduate degree with a research component. Either way, you’ve probably heard the term ‘honours’ thrown around – but what does it actually mean?

An honours degree is a chance to take your studies to the next level. It’s a higher level of undergraduate study that often involves a research project, advanced coursework or both. It can open doors to further study and give you valuable skills for your career.

For some, honours can be part of the plan. For others, it can come unexpectedly. Take Charles Sturt University’s Olive Lockett, for example. She had no thoughts of doing an honours degree when she first graduated with a Bachelor of Business¹, specialising in marketing. Elated with the successful culmination of three years of study, Olive wasn’t considering tackling any more.

But those around her had other ideas! Olive was doing casual work at Charles Sturt and her then boss, together with a former lecturer (and soon to be honours supervisor) began to sow the seed of doing an honours degree. Fast forward one year, and Olive graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) – and was recognised with a University Medal to boot!

So, we asked Olive to give us some insight into what an honours degree is and how to get one. So, if you’re wondering if it’s for you – let’s find out!

What is an honours degree?

An honours degree is typically an additional year of study after completing an undergraduate degree. You’ll choose a topic from your field that you’re interested in exploring and then conduct a research project on it. Depending on your area of study, it might involve completing a thesis or a major research project. Let’s break it all down.

There are two main types of honours degrees

• Add-on honours: A separate one-year program you take after finishing a bachelor’s degree to earn an honours qualification.
  
• Integrated honours: A four-year bachelor’s honours degree that includes honours from the start so you’ll graduate with it built into your degree.

Some of the key characteristics include:

• Higher academic standard: Requires strong undergraduate performance (e.g. distinction/credit average).
• Research focus: Emphasis on independent research project and thesis/dissertation.
• Additional study/coursework: Often an extra year of full-time study or embedded within a longer degree.

As an honours student, you’ll define a problem, design and conduct experiments and/or surveys and then wrap it all up in a dissertation.

“Doing honours is colloquially known as the fourth year of your bachelor’s degree. Everyone who undertakes an honours year has to conceive an area of research that is unique, research it and then write about it in a dissertation. Honours is a year of conducting original, rigorous and challenging research and then presenting your findings.

“For me, the whole year was one giant research project. You work towards producing one document that addresses one theme.”

Honours vs a bachelor’s degree

A bachelor’s degree usually takes three years to complete if studying full-time and will give you a broad understanding of a subject, while an honours degree is an optional fourth year of study and is more advanced and research-based. The table below outlines some of the key differences:

Why pursue an honours degree?

If you’re interested in learning more about a subject or considering further study, such as a master’s or PhD down the track, then an honours is definitely worth exploring. Having an honours degree under your belt can help you stand out with potential employers too. They’ll see that you bring advanced expertise, critical thinking, dedication and can work independently.

Here are some reasons you might choose to pursue honours study:

• Challenge yourself: take your skills to the next level with advanced study and research.
• Put something unique into the world: conduct original research and contribute your own ideas.
• Make an impact. Your work could influence your field or community.
• A springboard to further study: it’s an essential prerequisite for postgraduate study such as a master’s or PhD.
• Enhanced research skills: Develop critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Career advantage: Signals advanced skills, specialised knowledge and academic excellence to employers.
• Deeper expertise: Opportunity to become an expert in a chosen field.

Olive’s dissertation looked at developing a holistic framework for the organisation of LGBTQIA+ pride events in rural communities.

“I interviewed professional people who organised rural pride events, and I discovered it took a very ambitious individual to transform public perception.

“So, importantly, honours is your chance to have an impact. Make a difference. My supervisor motivated me by reminding me that what I was undertaking would help people. As I kept researching throughout my honours year, I realised what I was doing was so important.

“And it grew into something more than a year of challenging research. After my dissertation, I’m still helping people. Because I’ve created a foundation of knowledge, event organisers reach out to me, pick my brains, and I’ve sent my paper out. That’s what’s exciting about it. Now I get to speak with people who really need assistance and help.

“Through honours, you can scratch the surface of an idea, and it can become something much bigger. So, if there’s something you are passionate about, you can turn it into your research area and really make a difference in this world.”

What does an honours degree involve?

You can undertake honours as part of a four-year integrated degree or as an additional year after a three-year undergraduate degree. While both involve advanced study, an add-on honours includes separate coursework and a supervised research project.

Olive says that a successful honours year begins way before you’ve typed the first word of your dissertation!

“The first important step is to sort out your research proposal. That takes a lot of time and effort. Before I even began my dissertation, I regularly met with my supervisors to talk through my ideas. There was a lot of brainstorming to help me clarify my research question.”

Early in your honours year, you’ll frame your proposal, review literature and refine methodology.

Key steps include:

• Draft the project proposal. What are you trying to achieve? How will you achieve it? What’s your time frame?
• Present your plan to your peers for feedback.
• Submit your proposal.
• Prepare for your ethics approvals. You need to follow a very stringent set of criteria and get approval from the relevant Charles Sturt ethics committee.
• Prepare for your research and ensure your methodology is correct.
• Complete your literature review.
• Conduct your research and transcribe, collate and analyse your data.
• Write your dissertation.
• Present your dissertation.

What role does your honours supervisor play?

When you begin an honours year, you’ll either be allocated a supervisor or you’ll choose one yourself. A supervisor acts like a mentor. They’ll guide and support your research journey by offering feedback and ensuring your work meets academic standards.

“Your supervisor plays a massive role. In my case, they wereinstrumental in encouraging me to do honours and constantly motivating me. My supervisor was very generous with his time. Even before the program had begun he went out of his way to schedule time to chat with me. He helped me look at research papers and understand how to dissect them. Then, during honours, he was always available for meetings or chats, and willing to mark any draft I had ready – with an extremely critical eye. His support was invaluable.

“Also, a good supervisor cares about the topic, cares about the student and wants them to succeed. They’re there to help you and if you’re lucky, like me, they’ll become a lifelong friend and mentor.”

Entry requirements and how to qualify

Generally, you’ll need to have achieved a grade point average of 5.0 or a credit average in an undergraduate degree. Some honours courses integrate into your bachelor’s.

Got questions? contact us to find out more. We’re here to help.

Is an honours degree right for you?

Honours is a good fit if you…	Honours might not be the right move if you….
Enjoy research and exploring new ideas	Prefer a faster entry into the workforce
Want to dive deeper into a subject	Would like a break after finishing your undergraduate degree
Enjoy challenging yourself	Work better with more structured classes and exams
Want to continue studying after your undergraduate degree	Aren’t sure what to focus on

If you’re ready to create something meaningful, then an honours degree could be your perfect new challenge. Just ask Olive, who says doing an honours degree was absolutely worth it.

“It can be a roller coaster ride, but when you start to get things right, it’s the most awesome feeling! Doing proper research that will hopefully make a difference, and putting something new out into the world feels amazing. It’s a massive sense of achievement.

“What will keep you going is to focus on and celebrate, the small wins. Doing honours will be made up of a long year of little wins. Every time I was told that I was moving in the right direction there was a little celebration. It helped to keep maintain my momentum.”

Why study with Charles Sturt?

If you have an idea that will push the boundaries of knowledge forward, Charles Sturt University is the place to explore it. As the most experienced online university* we offer flexible study options so you can learn at your own pace.

And with a broad range of courses – from undergraduate programs to research degrees – you can dive into your area of interest and make a real difference.

Check out some of our popular honours courses:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours)
• Bachelor of Applied Research (Honours)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to complete an honours degree?

Completing an honours usually takes one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. Olive chose the former.

“I decided to dive all-in and study full-time, thinking ‘if I’m in this, I’m going to do it properly’, so I dedicated an enormous amount of time to doing honours. It was my focus. At the time, I had three casual jobs, so the first thing I did was decrease my workload.”

Can you earn an honours degree online?

Yes. Many of our honours programs can be studied online, except for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) which is delivered on-campus due to its hands-on, industry-based structure.

What does first-class honours mean?

Also known as Honours Class 1. It is the highest distinction awarded in an honours degree. It is awarded to students who achieve a grade point average of 6.75 or higher. Essentially, if you’ve received first-class honours, it means you’ve achieved top marks and nailed both your research and coursework.

What is the difference between a master’s degree and an honours degree?

An honours is an advanced level of study usually involving a research project and completed in one year. It usually comes after an undergraduate degree or as part of a four-year undergraduate honours degree. It’s often a stepping stone into a postgraduate degree like a masters or PHD.

In comparison, a master’s degree is a postgraduate qualification that allows you to deepen your knowledge in a specific field.

It can generally take one to two years of full-time study to complete. The duration can depend on a few things, such as the subject requirements, research components and your situation.

1. CRICOS 103012F ↩︎