Honours - questions and administration
Most Schools/disciplines produce an Honours booklet covering such topics as prerequisites for Honours, the structure of the fourth year, descriptions of courses, thesis requirements, administrative details, and a timetable for the year. Please refer to these in conjunction with the information below.
Additionally, there is also lots of other honours-related information on the standard current students administration site.
I want to do Honours - how do I apply?
Intending Honours candidates should complete an application form which can be downloaded from the "How to Apply" page or obtained from the Coursework/Faculty Office on the relevant campus, all Schools. You need to complete the form in consultation with the Honours Co-ordinator or nominated representative of the relevant School/ Centre in which you wish to study who will sign your application.
What if I don't want to continue straight on to Honours?
- Deferring Honours
Students who complete their undergraduate degree and do not commence Honours in the following year, but who wish to commence Honours within the following five years, do not need to apply to the Faculty for intermission. You simply need to lodge your application form when you are ready to return for your Honours studies.
Alternatively, applicants who have been offered a place in the Honours program now have the opportunity to defer for one or two semesters. The application will be held and confirmation of enrolment intention will be requested prior to commencement
- Mid-year entry
Entry into Honours is normally at the commencement of the academic year. Mid-year entry into Honours may be offered at the discretion of the Faculty depending on the availability of places. It is not available in all disciplines.
- Mid-year entry may be available to students who have completed their undergraduate degree within the last five years.
- Candidates from other faculties of the university and from other institutions require special permission to commence Honours mid-year.
Is it possible to get extensions in Honours?
Disciplines may grant an extension of time for submission of the Honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Faculty Honours Committee.
Note that theses must normally be completed within two consecutive semesters, or one if so stipulated by the School, and requests for extensions beyond two semesters will only be granted by the Faculty Honours Committee in very special circumstances. Note also that if your results are not ready in time to be submitted to the Arts Faculty Board of Examiners in early December you cannot be considered for a postgraduate scholarship for the following year.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
Will I be able to apply for an extension of my Honours thesis and what sort of an extension can I expect?
Extensions will only be granted for a maximum of one week after the submission date. Thereafter students will need to apply for special consideration. Discipline Honours Coordinators will have the authority to grant a one week extension. Candidates must lodge an application to the School Honours Coordinator – a request from the Honours supervisor will not be accepted. School Honours Coordinators will assess extension applications on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the extension will be of benefit to the student and/or whether an application for special consideration is required. The Faculty Late Submission of Work policy and its associated penalties will apply to Honours work if further time beyond granted extensions is taken.
Note: Where students undertake part of their Honours degree overseas (Study Abroad etc.) they might be given a later submission date. The submission date should be agreed upon by the School Honours Coordinator and the supervisor, and the Faculty should be informed. The student should be made aware that a later submission date might impact on their applications for postgraduate scholarships.
Who will be marking my Honours thesis?
An Honours thesis should always be marked by two independent examiners, and results should be returned separately by two examiners or an examination panel comprising of at least, two examiners. Where the marks differ by 10% or more, or by a grade, an adjudicator who is nominated by the School Honours Coordinator (or delegate), in consultation with the supervisor will recommend a mark based on the reports of the original two markers to the discipline examiners and/or School Honours examiners meeting. In order to reach his/her decision the adjudicator will be permitted to access the thesis. The decision is considered final.
Where a student is successfully appealing a result the same process of adjudication applies.
Library access - how do I organise it?
Information and necessary forms to have your status at the library changed to being an honours student (and therefore gaining the ability to borrow more books for extended periods) will be sent to you as part of your enrolment information.
Can you undertake concurrent studies at fourth-year level?
Under special circumstances students may be permitted to meet the BA pass degree requirements by undertaking an undergraduate unit or units valued at not more than 12 points in conjunction with their fourth year studies. If you are in this position you must make a request, supported by the Honours Co-ordinator, by submitting an Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form available from the Coursework/Faculty Office on the relevant campus and from all School offices.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
Honours students cannot normally undertake studies beyond the 48 points of their Honours course, but the Faculty Honours Committee can permit students to take part-time Honours units concurrently with units in a combined degree program or in special circumstances with any other program taken at Monash.
The Committee may also permit students to take an additional unit valued at no more than 12 points in order to complete a second major required as a teaching discipline, or because the unit complements the Honours studies. The Committee will only grant such permission where the student's past performance warrants it, and the School strongly supports the application.
Are results available for Honours coursework as well as the thesis?
Results for all honours units will be available at the end of the semester in which they are taught. Your final overall Honours grade will be reported in the following way at the end of the final semester of your honours degree:
Final Honours Grades
- N (0-49)
- HIII (50-59)
- HIIB (60-69)
- HIIA (70-79)
- HI (80-100)
W here should I go for advice during my Honours candidature?
The first port of call is the Honours Co-ordinator in your chosen School(s) or discipline(s). If he or she cannot help you, you can seek advice from the Head of School and also the Faculty course advisers.
Can I make changes to my Honours course/units?
Any unit changes must be approved and signed by the Honours Co-ordinator of your School. For other changes to your enrolment, such as taking a unit outside the discipline/centre or an alteration of points, approval from the Honours Co-ordinator of your School should be in writing and should be presented at the Coursework Office when making the change.
The dates for discontinuing a unit in Honours are the same as for all undergraduate students. Refer to your Student Diary or check with the Coursework Office. These dates are most important. If you fail to make your changes on time normal penalties apply.
Normally thesis work cannot be discontinued, and must be completed within two consecutive semesters.
With Faculty approval you can withdraw from one coursework unit during your Honours year without penalty, providing you do so before the usual cut-off date for late withdrawals. After that date you must seek a dispensation from the Faculty Honours Committee and argue that you have grounds for special consideration.
Please remember that all changes to your enrolment must be made through the Coursework Office.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
Is it possible to transfer from full-time to part-time Honours?
Under special circumstances a full-time student may apply for permission to transfer to part-time study. They can do so by submitting an Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment with written support from the Honours Co-ordinator of your School. Students who transfer to part-time may do so by discontinuing a unit or units.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
Can I discontinue my thesis?
Approval to discontinue the thesis may granted by the Faculty Honours Committee only in exceptional circumstances. Requests must be made by completing an Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment with written support from the Head of School or Honours Co-ordinator.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
What if I want to take an Intermission?
Special leave from the Honours program is only granted under exceptional circumstances. Requests must be made by completing an Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment with support from the Honours Co-ordinator of your School.
You can download the Application to the Honours Committee for Change of Enrolment form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
What happens if I fail a coursework unit?
If you fail a coursework unit, you will be required to repeat the unit or a suitable substitute. In such cases you will only be eligible to receive the maximum mark/grade of 50/Pass.
What happens if I fail the thesis component?
If you fail the thesis component you will be deemed to have failed the entire program and will be ineligible to take out the Honours degree.
Is it possible to withdraw and return at a later stage if my circumstances change?
Approval to Withdraw in Good Standing may be granted in circumstances where Intermission is not appropriate and the student requires an extended period of leave from their studies.
You can download the Application to Withdraw in Good Standing form or it can be obtained from the Coursework Office.
Can I get credit for previously completed unit at Level 4?
Credit will be awarded for previously completed units at Level 4, or equivalent, that has not been used to take out any other degree or award. All credit decisions are at the discretion of the Chair of the Faculty of Arts Honours Committee, who will liaise with the Honours Co-ordinator in the relevant school(s). For applicants who have completed Level 4 units in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, the maximum credit will be 75%. For all other applicants, the maximum credit will be 50%, not including the research component.\
What are the student grievance and appeals procedures?
The Faculty has introduced student grievance and appeals procedures to cover problems and grievances that students may have over academic and administrative matters at the School or Faculty level. These procedures are designed to resolve problems quickly and efficiently while protecting the rights of students and staff. All cases of this kind will be treated as confidential. These procedures are provided for cases where the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily through discussion with the supervisor or the Head of School.
What about academic grievances?
Academic grievances are those where students have complaints about aspects of their course, assessment or other matters which are the responsibility of academic staff and of Schools in the Faculty. Please contact the Coursework Office to obtain a copy of the university's procedures.
What if I have an administrative grievance?
Administrative grievances are those where students have complaints about matters relating to enrolment or to information, advice or services on matters provided by the administrative staff of the Faculty. Students who have an administrative grievance should in the first instance discuss the matter with the Faculty Manager, who will advise how to proceed.