An Honours degree gives you the opportunity to refine your analytical skills and research techniques, while expanding job and study options. You will gain practical skills in research, writing, presentation and communication.

You may wish to complete an Honours year for the intellectual challenge, to deepen your knowledge in a specific area, to give yourself an advantage in the employment market, or to obtain entry into a Master or PhD program.

An Honours year is a fourth year taken after completing the requirements for an undergraduate degree. Honours students normally need to have completed a major and two other courses in the discipline that they wish to study honours in. Most Honours programs involve coursework (usually two or more courses during the year) and a written thesis of around 15,000–20,000 words.

We welcome students doing joint honours programs, for example between English and Spanish.

You can do Honours in a range of disciplines at the School:

• Ancient Greek
• Ancient History
• Classical Studies
• English (including Creative Writing, Drama and Film Studies)
• French
• German
• Italian
• Latin
• Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
• Russian
• Spanish

Your supervisor is the most important person for your research, who will provide advice and guidance to you throughout your Honours year.

In choosing a supervisor, think carefully about your interest area, and whether there may be an academic who shares this interest, and whether you have enjoyed studying with a particular academic during your undergraduate studies.

If you need further advice on choosing a supervisor, speak to one of the Honours convenors from the School.

We encourage ANU students to start thinking about Honours early. Consult with the Honours convenor of the relevant discipline to ensure that you complete all the requirements for Honours entry.

In your third year, start thinking about topics and discuss them with potential supervisors before the deadline for applying for honours at the end of second semester.

We also invite applications from students who have studied at other universities. If you are from another university you should still consult potential supervisors well before the application deadline. For detailed information on the application process and key dates, refer to the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) Honours admission information.

A number of competitive Honours scholarships are available each year. Visit ANU Honours scholarships page for further information.

• Programs & Courses
• CASS Honours information
• Academic Skills Learning Centre