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School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences

Honours information

Honours process

HONS410/411 Bachelor of Science (HONS) for all disciplines in the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

This guide is for students considering Honours in the following Bachelor of Science disciplines - Archaeological Science, Geology, Environmental Chemistry, Environment, Physical Geography, Biological Sciences and Marine Science.

Admission into Honours is competitive. To be considered for entry into the Honours program students will:

  • be expected to qualify for, or be a graduate with, a relevant degree from the University of Wollongong, or hold an equivalent qualification from another institution;
  • normally have completed at least 24 credit points of 300-level subjects relating to the Honours discipline;
  • normally have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 75 for the 24 credit points of 300- level subjects relating to the Honours discipline (Archaeological Science, Geology, Environmental Chemistry, Environment, Physical Geography, Biological Sciences or Marine Science)
  • Discuss potential Honours projects with academics in the School to gain more information about topics and possible projects
  • negotiate a project and supervisor
  • complete a HONS410/411 Expression of Interest form
  • have their Expression of Interest approved by the Honours Academic Program Director and Head of School. 

Please note: Admission is also subject to an appropriate project being available, and acceptance by an Academic Supervisor.

An information session for students contemplating honours is held each semester. These sessions are advertised in third year subjects. You can also contact AskUOW at any time to discuss the process.

  • Students may commence Honours in February (Autumn Session) or July (Spring Session) and may study on a full-time (HONS410) or part-time (HONS411) basis.
  • An information session for students contemplating honours is held each semester, usually in September (for the following Autumn session) and in May (for the following Spring session). These sessions are advertised in third year subjects.

Honours Program Academic Program Director

Archaeological Science, Geology, Environment, Physical Geography, Environmental Chemistry

Senior Lecturer Gerrit (Gert) van den Bergh (gerrit_van_den_bergh@uow.edu.au)
Phone:  4221 5946
Room:  41.175

Biological Sciences, Marine Science

Associate Professor Tim Cohen (tim_cohen@uow.edu.au)
Phone: 4239 2375
Room: 41.G10

Students should start the process of developing their Honours project mid-way through the semester immediately before their preferred honours start date.

Students enrolled in a Deans Scholar program and meeting its requirements are automatically guaranteed a place in Honours, but still need to arrange a project, a supervisor and submit an expression of interest to the School prior to the honours start date.

Groundwork and submitting an expression of interest to the Faculty

  1. Read the UOW Honours Policy and make sure you are aware of your responsibilities as outlined. All current UOW policies and guidelines are available in the UOW Policy Directory.
  2. Attend the Honours information session An information session for students contemplating honours is held each semester, usually in September (for the following Autumn session) and in May (for the following Spring session). These sessions are advertised in third year subjects. 
  3. Discuss potential Honours projects with Academic Supervisors to gain more information about topics and the projects and to determine whether the academic will agree to supervise you.

You can do this before or after the information session. It is better to make enquiries about more than one project as there may be some competition for projects, and you may not get your first choice.

  1. Complete the HONS410/411 Expression of Interest Form. 

Notification

School staff will consider all expressions of interest after final exam marks are confirmed.

Students will receive a notification of success to enter honours (or otherwise) from the School. Successful students will receive their EOI form back with both Honours Academic Program Director and Head of School signatures included. It is this completed EOI form that needs to be used for the next steps.

Application

  1. Apply for a Course completion of their 3-year Bachelor degree through SOLS. This is because Honours is a new course; which can only be entered into when your Bachelor Degree Course is complete.

If you have been successful in your expression of interest for Honours (ie you receive your EOI back with both Honours Academic Program Director and Head of School signatures) you can now use this EOI to apply to the University for entry into end-on honours - HONS410/411 course number 741.

  1. Complete an ‘Undergraduate Application Form’ available on the UOW Apply website. Attach your completed and approved Expression of Interest form with all four signatures (yours, your Supervisor, the Honours Academic Program Director and Head of School) and any other paperwork that is requested. This should be submitted as soon as possible to avoid delays.

Offer to study and activation

You will receive an offer to study Honours from UOW Admissions.

  1. After you receive your offer, you yourself must activate your new course enrolment (end –on Honours 741) in SOLS.
  1. Add you relevant Honours subject (HONS410 or HONS411) to your enrolment record by completing the online Subject Management Form

Students accepted into Honours will receive an email inviting them to a Welcome to Honours Meeting to be held during the first week of the honours session. This meeting is compulsory.