9. Honours degrees

9.1. Course Overview

The honours year in Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Forest Science, Bachelor of Horticulture, Bachelor of Resource Management, Bachelor of Rural Business, Bachelor of Animal Science and Management and Bachelor of Food Science comprises advanced coursework, and an individual research project designed to extend students' knowledge and skills in solving research problems. After successfully completing the program, students will be prepared either to enter the workforce and pursue a career or to pursue further research study through a masters or doctor of philosophy degree.

9.2. Duration and Commencement

These honours programs can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. The program can commence either in February or July. February commencement concludes in November. July commencement concludes in June of the following year. Most students study full time and commence in February.

9.3. Course Structure

The honours course is comprised of coursework and a research project. The coursework subjects consist of core subjects, and electives to be selected essentially from 400-level subjects offered by the Faculty of Land and Food Resources and other faculties of the University. They will enable students to gain sufficient familiarity with the fields relevant to their research project. Up to two subjects not appearing on the recommended list can be taken for credit, subject to course coordinator approval. Students may select two 300-level subjects for credit, subject to course coordinator approval. Applicants to the program will need to demonstrate the completion of appropriate prerequisite subjects in their undergraduate courses when selecting coursework subjects. Students will also be expected to participate in research discussion groups or 'journal clubs' and to attend the Faculty's research seminar series.

9.4. Honours Research Project

Students will select a project from a list formulated by supervisors through the Honours Research Project subject coordinator. Some of these projects may be offered in collaboration with industry, and collaborating institutions. Project proposals detailing the experimental plan and a literature review will be presented before the Honours Panel for discussion and approval prior to commencing experimental work. Students will be required to present seminars on both their project proposal and the outcomes of their research. The expected length of the thesis (including references) will normally be limited to 20 000 words (approximately 50 A4 pages).

9.5. Honours eligibility and honours scores in LFR degrees

1. Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Horticulture, Bachelor of Forest Science, Bachelor of Natural Resource Management, Bachelor of Rural Business, Bachelor of Animal Science and Management, Bachelor of Food Science.

To be eligible for consideration for entry into honours in the above-named degrees, applicants must have:

achieved an average of at least 65 in the third year (300-level) subjects in their Faculty undergraduate degree; or
completed an equivalent qualification to the Faculty undergraduate degree, this qualification being recognised by the Faculty, at a level of academic performance equivalent to that required in the point above.

On completion of the fourth (honours) year, the Faculty determines the award of honours degrees on the basis of average mark of the weighted average of all fourth-year subjects. The resulting figure is the 'Honours Score'.

2. Bachelor of Forestry/Forest Science (four-year course)

On completion of fourth year, the Faculty determines the award of honours degrees on the basis of average marks in third-year and fourth-year subjects. The third-year average mark is the weighted average of the seven best third-year subjects. The fourth-year average mark is the weighted average of all fourth-year subjects. These year averages are then weighted by multiplying the third-year average marks by 0.333 and the fourth-year average marks by 0.666. The resulting figures are summed to give the 'Honours Score'.

3. Combined degrees

Calculation of honours scores for Forestry, Agriculture, Forest Science and Agricultural Science in the combined BFor/BSc, BAg/BCom, BForSc/BSc and BAgSc/BCom degrees occurs similarly to the respective single degree. Honours in Commerce or Science is awarded independently. The honours score is the weighted average of the 400-level LFR subjects given their full points value, and the average of the 300-level LFR subjects scaled down to total 100 minus the points value of the 400-level LFR subjects.

The above formulae for calculation of honours scores are phrased to produce the same scores as those derived from the School of Graduate Studies formulae for calculation of scholarship eligibility.

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