Honours FAQ

Can I do an honours degree at CCRC?

Candidates with a credit average in the UNSW advanced or science program will be viewed favourably for an honours degree with CCRC.

An honours degree with CCRC is also possible for candidates with an equivalent three-year undergraduate degree from any faculty at UNSW or another Australian or New Zealand university.

When selecting an honours project, take into consideration your disciplinary background and future plans for study and work.

Some of the potential honours projects can be found here.

To ensure the project fits with UNSW semesters, make contact with supervisors either around October (for an S1 start the following year), or January (for an S2 start in the same year).

You can audit courses at UNSW in subject areas that cover gaps in your knowledge or develop skills required in your honours project. Many courses only run over one semester, so you need to think ahead.

How do I find a supervisor?

Please look at the list of CCRC honours supervisors to see which CCRC staff member is most suitable as your supervisor. Approach them well ahead of time as many CCRC staff have limited new student spaces each year.

What is the timetable for a CCRC honours program?

Six to two months prior to starting your honours year

Identify potential honours supervisors at CCRC who fit your interests. Email a brief outline of your interests and a copy of your marks so they can consider your request.
Organise a time to talk in person with your potential supervisor to discuss honours topics.
Once the topic has been agreed upon, begin scoping the project (this will involve a preliminary investigation of literature).
Identify what course work you will need to enrol in for your honours year. Your supervisor will help you with this.
Ask your supervisor whether you qualify for the CCRC honours scholarship.

First month of your honours year

Discuss the project’s timeline and expectations with your supervisor.

Within the first three months

Refine the scope of your project after discussing with your supervisor
Complete your literature review
Prepare an informal 10 min talk about your project.

By the fourth month

Present an informal 10 min talk at the CCRC on your topic

The honours coordinator, and at least one other staff member who is not your supervisor, will be present to give you feedback on the progress and direction of your project. They will give you either a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade. This will help identify any areas that need to be addressed.

During months five to eight

Carry out your project and begin the complete first draft of your thesis

By the eighth month

Revise the final draft of your thesis. Your supervisor will organise two external examiners to mark your thesis.
This is a good time to consider applying for an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship for PhD work (applications for APA scholarships are due BEFORE final honours marks are given). To get one of these scholarships, you need to get a first class honours mark.

Week 12 of second semester (check the manual for exact date)

Make sure you have adequate time to copy, edit, print and bind your thesis to hand in before deadline.

For any additional questions, please get in touch with the honours coordinator.

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