The Honours Year in Australian and New Zealand Science Degrees Explained

What the honours year is

In both Australia and New Zealand, 'honours' in science usually means a distinct additional year of study taken after you complete your bachelor's degree. Rather than more taught coursework alone, the honours year is built around a supervised research project — you work closely with an academic supervisor on an original investigation and write it up as a thesis or dissertation.

This is one of the features that distinguishes the Australian and New Zealand systems. While some degrees in other countries award honours simply for strong marks, here a science honours year is typically a separate research-intensive year with its own enrolment, structure and assessment. Exact format differs by university and department, so check the official department or faculty page.

• A separate, research-focused year after the bachelor's degree
• Centres on a supervised research project and a thesis
• Combines independent research with some advanced coursework

How entry into honours works

Honours is generally selective. Departments usually look for a strong academic record in your major — particularly in the later-year courses relevant to the research area — and you often need to secure a supervisor and a project before you can enrol.

Because places, grade thresholds and supervisor availability vary widely between universities and even between departments, treat the official programme page as the authority. Start conversations with potential supervisors early, as the best-fit projects can fill up. The specific entry marks and application steps are set by each university — verify them on its official site.

Classes of honours and what they mean

At the end of the year, honours is typically awarded in classes — commonly First Class, and divisions of Second Class — reflecting the standard of your research and overall performance. The exact classification scheme and how it is calculated differ between Australian and New Zealand universities, so read the official rules for the institution you are considering.

The class of honours can matter for what comes next. A strong honours result is often what makes you competitive for entry into a PhD and for research scholarships, which is why the honours year is widely seen as the gateway to a research career in both countries.

Why honours is the gateway to research

For students who want to do a PhD or work in research, the honours year is the usual bridge. It is where you learn to design a study, handle data, work in a lab or in the field, read the primary literature critically, and write at research level — the core skills a doctorate demands.

In many cases, a good honours degree (or an equivalent research master's) is a standard entry point into a PhD at Australian and New Zealand universities, and it can strengthen applications for postgraduate research scholarships. The precise entry pathways and any alternatives are set by each university — confirm them on the official graduate research page.

• Builds genuine research skills (design, data, writing)
• A strong result helps PhD and scholarship applications
• Often a standard entry route into a research PhD