University of New South Wales - BEES Home

Honours can be taken in BEES in the following disciplines: Biological Science, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography (Human), Geography (Physical), Geology, Marine Science, Zoology

Coordinated by David Edwards,
Tel: (02) 9385 8064
Fax: (02) 9385 1558
D.Edwardsunsw.edu.au

A pre-honours meeting will be held for all interested 3rd years on Tuesday 12-1 pm in Week 7 of each session. Weeks 6 & 7 will be the Introductory Seminars for those starting honours (Monday and Tuesday), and would be a good venue for prospective honours students. For further information see Application for Honours [.pdf]

Check out the various scholarships for Honours Students available at UNSW.

CONTENTS

This bundle includes the relevant forms to register and enroll in honours in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences;

An overview of the honours program
Possible courses in your honours year
Application for Honours to be submitted to the Honours Coordinator the session before your honours year. If you satisfy all the requirements for honours and have a supervisor, you will be sent a letter of admission from the Honours Coordinator, for enrolment at the Science Office.
Click to download the honours manual
Research Project information form (to be submitted to the Honours Coordinator by Monday of Week 1)
A summary and outline of BEES4511-Professional Skills (meeting Week 1, Monday 10 am in Room 456)

ABOUT THE HONOURS YEAR IN BEES

The Honours program provides a final undergraduate year that is a very different experience to earlier years. There are fewer formal classes and more individual work. The honours year provides an opportunity to specialise in an area of particular interest. It is designed to develop a range of skills that are widely applicable outside the particular research specialty: e.g., conducting literature searches, critical evaluation of the literature, and written and oral communication. Surveys of recent graduates of UNSW consistently reveal that the employment prospects of honours graduates are markedly superior to those with pass degrees.

BEES will offer Honours courses to students in the following programs who meet requirements for entry to the Honours year.

Science Degree (Program 3970)
Majors in:
Biological Science, or Botany, Zoology
Ecology
Environmental Earth Science
Physical Geography
Human Geography
Geology
Genetics
Marine Science
Spatial Information Systems, or Remote Sensing

Advanced Science (Program 3972)
Study Plans in:
Biological Science
Ecology
Geoscience
Marine & Coastal Studies

Environmental Science (Program 3988)
With specialisations in:
Biology
Earth Science
Geography
Marine Biology

Applied Geography Degree (Program 3010) - this program is no longer available to commencing students
Applied Geology Degree (Program 3000) - this program is no longer available to commencing students
Students in the Genetics Major must have their program and supervision approved by the coordinator of the Genetics Major.

HONOURS IN ADVANCED SCIENCE

Students in Advanced Science have automatic entry to the honours year, providing only that they maintain the credit average required in the Advanced Science stream. If you are in this stream you need to organise your research project by the end of the third year, and complete an application form for assignment to a supervisor.

HONOURS IN SCIENCE

Students in the Bachelor of Science Program may apply for admission to the Honours year at the conclusion of their Pass degree. Entry requires a consistently good undergraduate performance, and 36UOC at level III in your discipline area with at least a credit average. If you think you are likely to meet these requirements you should give serious consideration to undertaking an honours year at the end of your 3 year degree.

PROCEDURE AND TIMING

Discuss your interests with a range of staff members, and ask them what types of projects they could offer. Staff research interests may be found on either the Academic or Visiting Academic staff pages.

Since entry is dependent on satisfactory arrangements being made regarding a research project, the availability of facilities within the school, and the agreement of a staff member to supervise your work, you are encouraged to start thinking about and discussing possibilities well before the end of the year. You may enter the Honours Year at the beginning of either session I or session II, and take it either full-time (for 2 sessions) or part-time (over 4 sessions).

For further information or assistance with your Honours application please contact the BEES Student Office or email beesinfo@unsw.edu.au.

COORDINATORS

David Edwards coordinates all of the School of BEES Honours programs (i.e. Biological Science, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Geology, Geography),

REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

Below is the assessment for honours in the Biology, Botany, Ecology, Genetics, Geography, Geology, Marine Science, Spatial Information Science and Zoology programs - the ENVS program may have a slightly different assessment depending on your School (see Paul Adam), until the BEES amalgamation is complete.

Requirements

Project: 24UOC
BEES4511 (Professional Skills): 6UOC
3 courses Level 2-4*: 18UOC
TOTAL: 48UOC

*These courses must meet the approval of the supervisor and the Honours Committee (and must be stipulated on the Project Information sheet, due in Week 1). See suggested courses.

Assessment

Thesis (8,000 words): 45%
Final Seminar: 5%
BEES4511 (Professional Skills)*:12.5%
BEES4521 (4,000 word Literature Review)**:12.5%
Best two Level III or IV subject: 25%
TOTAL: 100%

*BEES4511 may be replaced in certain double degree programs with relevant subject.
**BEES4521 may be swapped for any relevant Level III or IV

First Class >85%; 2nd class-I = 75-84%; 2nd class-II = 65-74%; 3rd class or Pass = 50-64%
Examining Committee will be the supervisor and 2 independent examiners

GENERIC SCHEDULE OF ASSESSMENT DEADLINES

Mondays, 4 pm, BEES Student Office (room G27, ground floor of Biosciences Building)

Week 1 Project Information sheet due
Week 3 Risk Assessment due
Week 6/7 Introductory Seminar
Week 12 Literature Review due
Week 14 of your 2nd session Thesis due
Week 15 of your 2nd session Final Seminar

Deadlines will be strictly adhered to unless supported by a medical certificate. General problems with field work, or computer breakdowns are not acceptable.

Penalty of 2.5% per day, up to a maximum of 4 days.