Questions & Answers about Honours

What is Honours?

Honours is a fourth year of study comprising two units: BIO4100 or GEN4100, devoted largely to a research project, and BIO4200 or GEN4200. BIO4200 deals with advanced methods of analysis and presentation of scientific data, and GEN4200 is a unit of advanced coursework in Genetics. Research projects are designed by students in consultation with a supervisor, and with advice from other members of the academic staff who act as examiners. Honours research is time-consuming and demands a lot of independence and initiative, but it is also an exciting and rewarding year. An Honours research paper reporting the results of your work is written at the end of the year. Many of these papers are eventually published in scientific journals. The Honours year will sharpen your skills in independent research, critical analysis of data, and the oral and written presentation of your work, and also provide training in specialist techniques for field and laboratory.

What are the Prerequisites?

Entry to Honours requires course completion and a minimum mark of 70% averaged across 24 points of relevant third-year BIO or GEN subjects, or an equivalent third-year sequence.

Students with an average of 65-70% in 24 points of third-year biology or genetics subjects may be considered for Honours if they have achieved an average of at least 65% in 24 points of other third-year study.

Students from other universities, or Monash students with a major in another department, who wish to pursue Honours research in the School of Biological Sciences should have qualifications comparable to those above. Please contact the Honours coordinators for more information.

What projects are offered?

See the research topics and problems under Supervisors and Projects. In most cases, you may also design a project in consultation with a potential supervisor. Areas of interest of supervisors are given on the research pages of the School's Web site.

How do I choose a supervisor?

In addition to meeting the prerequisites noted above, your acceptance in the Honours program requires the consent of a member of the research staff to act as your supervisor. Contact prospective supervisors in your area of interest to discuss potential projects. Honours supervision requires a large time commitment over nearly a year, and supervisors are unlikely to make such a commitment without first having discussed the project with you. (Students from outside Monash may find e-mail to be the easiest means of contact.) Be certain that you understand the amount of work a project will require, and that you have alerted potential supervisors any employment or other time commitments that might constrain you.

Each supervisor may accept a maximum of 2 new Honours students each semester. Supervisors' ability to accommodate honours students varies from year to year, and some supervisors may be able to take on fewer than the maximum.

The Honours application form asks you to list up to four prospective projects and supervisors in order of preference. Although most students receive their first preference, we will assume that you are willing to take on any project you list on the application.

May I start at mid-year?

Yes for BIO Honours. Depending on the project, entry can take place at either Semester 1 (late February) or Semester 2 (late July). Note that some projects, particularly those involving field work, may require a Semester 2 start due to the seasonal nature of the subject matter.

If you wish to start mid-year 2009 because you will not be course-completed until the end of Semester 1, 2009, then please contact supervisors and apply for honours in November 2008. The application form allows you to indicate when you anticipate course completion and when you wish to start. Supervisors generally make plans for the entire upcoming year; thus, the School wants to have all honours applications for next year made in the current year.

GEN Honours ordinarily has an intake only in Semester 1. However a mid-year start is possible in some circumstances, please see the Genetics coordinator for more information.

How do I apply?

Please complete two forms:

1. a School of Biological Sciences Project Preference form either for Biology Honours (pdf 98kb) (doc 749kb) or Genetics Honours (pdf 83kb) (doc 296kb), and
2. a Faculty of Science application form (pdf 85kb) (doc 151kb).

Submit the project preference form by 14th November 2008:

The Science Faculty form is available here (pdf 85kb) (doc 151kb). This can be submitted via our School at the same time as the preference form, or directly to the Faculty office by their due date (14th November for internal applicants and 28th November for external applicants).

External applicants: Please contact Mrs. Hardie or the relevant Honours coordinator for assistance with obtaining signatures and submitting these forms.

What happens then?

The School will check your project preferences against the availability of supervisors. If a nominated supervisor is unavailable, your next preference will be considered. Applications will then be forwarded to the Science Faculty office.

The Faculty of Science checks for course completion and the Honours entry standard. The ultimate decision on Honours entry is made at the Faculty level. Notification of acceptance (or of a pending application that will be fully assessed upon course completion in 2008) will be sent by letter from the Faculty office by mid-December, 2008. You will receive separate notification later about about enrolment date and procedures. You will also receive notification by letter early in 2009 about the School's introduction day for new honours students, which takes place at the beginning of each semester.

It is important that the School and the Faculty be able to contact you between your application date and the start of your Honours year. Remember to notify the Honours coordinators and the Department Secretary, Barbara Hardie, if you change your honours plans, your postal address, your e-mail address, or your telephone number after you apply. All applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application. If you are in doubt about where you stand or what is supposed to happen next, ask us.