Begin your research journey in communication.
Break new ground and help drive innovation in your field with an intensive one-year Honours degree. Honours graduates benefit from advanced research, planning, critical thinking and written communication skills, and help uncover new knowledge and solutions.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Break new ground and help drive innovation in your field with an intensive one-year Honours degree. Honours graduates benefit from advanced research, planning, critical thinking and written communication skills, and help uncover new knowledge and solutions.
- Design and conduct your own research project, or solve a real-world problem for an industry partner
- Study relevant research methods and theories, and engage with experts in your field
- Develop your presentation skills by delivering at least two lectures on your research progress
- Work one-on-one with a supervisor from USC’s School of Communication and Creative Industries
Career opportunities
A USC Honours degree provides a pathway to further postgraduate or higher degree by research study.
The Bachelor of Communication (Honours) allows you to work with an industry partner on a real-world problem, which gives you a competitive edge when applying for roles in journalism, professional writing, public relations, event management, advertising, corporate communication, creative writing and web editing.
Admission requirements
Students must have completed a related undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution, with at least 8 courses completed in the area of study of their thesis topic. A level of high achievement in the intended area of study will need to be demonstrated. These will be considered the minimum entry requirements and won't automatically guarantee a student's entry into the program. Enrolment is contingent upon the Faculty's capacity to provide appropriate supervisor in the intended field of study.
Special selection criteria
The research proposal accompanying the honours enrolment application is normally two to three pages in length. It includes an outline of the research topic, its rationale, an indication of the research methodology, and should refer to relevant literature in the topic area.
Program structure
The Bachelor of Communication (Honours) structure is as follows:
- A 48 unit coursework component (consisting of a combination of courses weighted from 12-24 units) including 1 required course
- A 48 unit thesis component
Coursework component
Thesis component
The thesis component consists of a sustained scholarly project developed from the research proposal a student submits with their Honours enrolment application. The nature and topic of this component is determined by the student's interests, the availability of specified industry research projects, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.
The research proposal accompanying the honours enrolment application is normally two to three pages in length. It includes an outline of the research topic, its rationale, an indication of the research methodology, and should refer to relevant literature in the topic area.
The completed thesis is normally 15,000-25,000 words in length. The required length is determined by the precise nature of the research, in consultation with the supervisor and subject to the approval of the Executive Dean.
Satisfactory participation in the Faculty Honours Seminar is also required. If completing the Honours program part-time over two years, the first year will normally comprise coursework and the second will be dedicated to a student's thesis.