Responsible officer: Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Designated officer: Director, Teaching and Research Services
Approving authority: Council
Approval: Council Resolution C10/17(i), 23 February 2010
Last amended: Vice-Chancellor and President, 4 March 2010 (minor amendment)
Effective starting date: 24 February 2010
Any policies replaced by this policy:
Policy number: G30.
Related policies:

• Coursework Programs and Awards – Governing Policy
• Program Accreditation and Course Approval – Governing and Institutional Operating Policy
• Enrolments – Institutional Operating Policy
• Student Grievances and Appeals – Governing Policy

Due date for next review: 23 February 2015

Part A: Preliminary

1. Purpose of policy

The following policy prescribes the requirements and provisions that apply to all Bachelor Honours programs of the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Bachelor Honours degree is a program of one year of full-time study or part-time equivalent, normally taken after the completion of a three year Bachelor degree, through which the student demonstrates a high level of academic achievement through advanced study and research. The policy specifies the administration requirements for students in Bachelor Honours degrees, where these differ from or are additional to the standard student administration requirements.

The policy aims to provide a framework for Bachelor Honours degrees that ensures transparency and equity across all disciplines and provides the basis for valid comparison of Honours results from different disciplines.

2. Application of policy

This policy applies to all Bachelor Honours degrees including the Deans Scholars Program. It does not apply to the award of Merit Honours on the basis of study within a Bachelor degree of at least four years, which is addressed in the Bachelor Degree Policy.

3. Definitions

In this policy the following definitions apply:

Creative arts product means an original product designed and created or constructed by a student using one or more creative arts or graphics or media techniques.

Deans Scholars program means a double degree program that allows students to accelerate their Bachelor degree by a combination of overloading in semesters and undertaking additional studies in other teaching sessions.

Dissertation means a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research and typically including an introduction, a literature review, theoretical framework, methodology and methods, research data analysis and findings, discussion and conclusion.

Exegesis means a scholarly, critical commentary or explanation of a work or collection of works, resulting from research and work undertaken and produced during a student’s enrolment.

Merit Honours means an honours degree awarded by a faculty on the basis of academic merit achieved in the Bachelor degree program. In such cases there is no requirement for an honours dissertation.

Part B: Policy

4.0 Aims of the Bachelor Honours degree

The Bachelor Honours degree is designed to:

• provide an educational experience in which high achieving graduates from a minimum of a three year Bachelor degree acquire a more advanced level of skills and knowledge;
• provide high quality graduates with research training through supervision by academic staff who are engaged in research in an environment that supports high rates of completion; and
• prepare high quality graduates to enter a research higher degree or to undertake research related tasks within the workplace.

5.0 Structure of the Bachelor Honours degree

5.1 Structure and requirements

The structure and requirements of each Bachelor Honours degree are approved by the Academic Board in accordance with the Program Accreditation and Course Approval Policy. The approved structure and requirements of each Bachelor Honours degree shall conform to the general framework specified in this policy.

A Bachelor Honours degree consists of 96 units of work, to be undertaken over two standard semesters of full-time study or part-time equivalent (see section 6.6). The structure must contain a coursework component of least 24 units and a dissertation component of at least 48 units. The approved structure of each Bachelor Honours degree includes the specification of the number of units of the coursework component and the dissertation component that are required.

5.2 Coursework component

The coursework component consists of a specified number of coursework units, which may comprise a prescribed set of courses or may be designed for each student individually.

The courses approved for a particular Bachelor Honours degree or approved for an individual student are normally Honours courses (400 level). However the approved coursework may include:

• a maximum of 12 units of 300 level courses;
• courses taken from a postgraduate degree;
• Honours courses (400 level) from another Honours degree within the University or at another university where such courses provide a coherent and good quality degree and study program for the student which meet the aims of the Honours degree as set out in section 4.0.

Where a Bachelor course or a postgraduate course is included in an Honours degree or in the study program for an individual student, the Dean must be satisfied that the standard of assessment is undertaken at Honours level.

5.3 Dissertation component

The approved dissertation component shall be either:

• a dissertation that embodies the result of an investigation or design or other research undertaken by the student; or
• a creative arts product designed and created or constructed by the student together with an exegesis.

The dissertation:

(a) must consist of a student’s own account of the research undertaken by the student, the greater part of which must have been completed subsequent to admission to the program. Work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted provided the Dean is satisfied with the student’s contribution in the joint research, and
(b) must not contain as its main content any work or material which has previously been submitted for a University degree or other similar qualification.

A student shall normally submit the research topic (or research area) of the dissertation for approval by the Dean before admission. After the dissertation topic (or research area) has been approved it may be changed only with the further approval of the Dean.

The requirements for the presentation of the dissertation are set out in “Guidelines for the Presentation of the Honours Dissertation” (see Appendix 1).

The requirements for the presentation of a creative arts product and exegesis shall be approved as part of the approved requirements for a Bachelor Honours degree where students are permitted to present a creative arts product to satisfy the degree requirements.

6.0 Enrolment management

6.1 Admission

An applicant for admission to the degree shall:

(a) have satisfied all of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor in this University or other recognised institution or its equivalent; and
(b) have demonstrated a high level of achievement in the intended area of study. The normal standard for eligibility for admission is a GPA of at least 5.0 (credit level) over the second and third year of the Bachelor degree.

An intending applicant for admission normally consults with a proposed supervisor or supervisors in preparing their admission application, as the application normally includes the proposed dissertation topic (or research area), the name of the proposed principal supervisor and preferences for proposed associate supervisors. Where applicable, the application for admission shall also include proposed courses for the coursework component.

In assessing an application for admission, the Dean shall consider:

• the suitability of the proposed dissertation topic (or research area);
• the resources available to support the proposed research and the availability of appropriate supervision;
• the preparedness of the applicant to undertake the degree in terms of the elapsed time since the prospective student qualified for the award of a Bachelor degree, and the academic preparation provided by the Bachelor degree for the student’s proposed dissertation topic (or research area);
• any other matters that may be relevant to the application.

An applicant shall not be admitted unless adequate supervision and resources are available, as determined by the Dean.

An applicant seeking credit for prior coursework study must lodge an application for credit accompanying the application for admission (see section 6.5).

6.2 Enrolment

In admitting a student to a Bachelor Honours program, the Dean approves:

(a) the program of coursework the student is to undertake
(b) the dissertation topic (or research area) and the supervision arrangements (see section 7.0)
(c) whether the candidature is full-time or part-time.

To accept the offer of admission, the student enrols as prescribed in the University’s Enrolments - Institutional Operating Policy.

6.3 Variation to enrolment

A student who wishes to vary the schedule of coursework or the dissertation topic (or research area) or supervision arrangements approved on admission must seek the approval of the Dean.

6.4 Concurrent enrolment

Except with the permission of the Dean, a student enrolled in a Bachelor Honours degree shall not be concurrently enrolled as a student for any other degree or award, whether of this or another tertiary institution.

6.5 Credit for prior study

A Bachelor Honours student may be granted credit for up to 24 units of honours level courses or postgraduate courses which have been undertaken in other degrees at this or another University prior to admission to the Honours degree.

The student’s percentage marks in a course for which credit is given shall be included in the calculation of the Honours classification.

Credit will only be given where:

• the prior study has not previously been used to satisfy the requirements of an award;
• the Dean considers that the prior study has been undertaken and assessed at a level applicable to an Honours degree;
• the granting of credit does not compromise the coherence and quality of the Honours degree or the student’s study program; and
• the prior study for which credit is given has been completed within the maximum time allowed for the completion of an honours degree, that is two years (see section 6.6);
• the granting of credit does not contravene professional standards where appropriate.

Credit may not be given for undergraduate Bachelor degree coursework.

6.6 Maximum time for completion of degree requirements

In order to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, all requirements for the degree, including any coursework for which credit is given, must normally be completed within two years. In exceptional circumstances, as approved by the Dean, an extension to this time limit may be approved.

6.7 Leave of absence

A student may take a period of leave of absence from the program. Students should be advised of any consequences arising from this in satisfying the requirements for the maximum time for completion (see section 6.6). The Dean may take any extenuating circumstances into account when considering whether there are grounds for approval of a possible extension of the final date for completion.

On return from leave of absence, the student must enrol prior to submission of the dissertation.

6.8 Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from enrolment in the degree by advising their Supervisor and completing the necessary formal withdrawal procedures through USC Central. The withdrawal shall take effect from the date of withdrawal on USC Central. The effect of withdrawal on the student’s academic record is prescribed in the University’s Enrolment Policy.

6.9 Progress

For the purpose of assessing a student’s progress, the supervisor may submit reports on the student’s progress to the Dean at any time.

The Dean, after considering any reports and other evidence of unsatisfactory progress, may terminate the student’s enrolment or place conditions on the continuation of enrolment.

Before such action, the Dean shall give the student an opportunity to make representations orally or in writing and shall take such representations into account before reaching a decision.

6.10 Termination of enrolment

Enrolment in a Bachelor Honours degree shall be cancelled, if:

• the student advises that they wish to withdraw from the Honours degree and undertakes the necessary withdrawal process on USC Central; or
• the student withdraws from all courses without having advised that they are taking a period of leave of absence from the degree; or
• the student withdraws from the dissertation; or
• the Dean terminates enrolment on the grounds of unsatisfactory progress, as provided for in section 6.9.

7.0 Supervision

Honours students will normally have one supervisor appointed by the Dean. However an additional supervisor may be appointed where appropriate. Where more than one supervisor is appointed, one must be designated as principal supervisor.

The principal supervisor is required to be an academic staff member of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Dean is responsible for approving the dissertation supervision arrangements for each Honours student, in consultation with the relevant Head of School. The Dean is also responsible for ensuring the continuation of effective supervision arrangements throughout the student’s enrolment, in response to any situation which may arise which requires a change of supervisor.

8.0 Examination of dissertation

8.1 Presentation of dissertation for examination

The student shall prepare their dissertation in accordance with “Specification for the Presentation of the Honours Dissertation” (see Appendix 1) and shall submit their dissertation for examination by the due date as advised by the Dean.

In exceptional circumstances, the Dean may approve an extension of time to submit the dissertation. Where an extension of the submission date is granted, students are advised that they may be ineligible for research higher degree scholarships as their honours results may not be available in time for the selection process.

For the examination process, the student shall submit to the relevant School or Faculty, an electronic copy and a hard copy of the dissertation in the required format, together with a certificate signed by the student that the dissertation complies with section 5.3. If the student so desires, any documents or work published by the student bearing on the subject of the dissertation may accompany the dissertation as it is submitted.

The student’s Principal Supervisor shall provide a report confirming that the student has completed the program in the University under the direction of the supervisor in accordance with the requirements of this policy.

8.2 Dissertation examination

The Dean shall appoint a minimum of two examiners, of whom at least one must be external. The identity of the examiners shall remain confidential until the examination process is completed and the degree awarded.

Each examiner shall provide a percentage mark to indicate their assessment of the dissertation in terms of the standard Honours classification marks, together with a report on the dissertation which includes the rationale for the percentage mark awarded.

A dissertation supervisor shall not be an examiner of the dissertation.

8.3 Marks for dissertation

The final marks for the dissertation to be used in calculating the class of Honours, as specified in section 9.1, are determined by the average of the marks of the examiners.

8.4 Appointment of additional examiner(s )

Where the spread of the marks awarded by the examiners is 10 marks or more, the Dean shall normally investigate and resolve the discrepancy. The following guidelines will normally be observed in dealing with discrepancies in dissertation marking –

• In the first instance, each examiner is provided with the report and result submitted by the other examiner(s), and is asked to review their original mark in the light of the other examiner’s views. The examiners’ identities remain confidential through this process.
• In the event of the discrepancy still existing, an additional examiner (not the supervisor) shall be appointed.

• Where an additional examiner is appointed, the final honours dissertation mark shall be decided by averaging the results of the set of examiners (at least two) which the Dean determines to best represent the most appropriate academic judgment.

9.0 Honours classification and award of degree

9.1 Calculation of Honours classification

The Bachelor Honours degree shall be awarded: Class 1; Class 2, Division 1; Class 2, Division 2; and Class 3.

The class of Honours degree to be awarded each student will be determined by combining the marks awarded for each Honours course and the final honours dissertation mark, taking account of the weighting of each component, using the formula approved by the Academic Board at the time of accreditation of the program.

The standard cut-offs for Honours classifications shall be:

Class 1 (High distinction level) Overall percentage 85% - 100%
Class 2 Division 1 (Distinction level) Overall percentage 75% - 84.4%
Class 2 Division 2 (Credit level) Overall percentage 65% - 74.4%
Class 3 (Pass level) Overall percentage 50% - 64.4%

A student who achieves an overall percentage and/or a dissertation percentage of less than 50% is not awarded the Honours degree.

9.2 Award of degree and Honours classification

To be awarded the degree students must successfully complete all components of the program.

For each Honours student who has completed all components of the program, the Dean reviews the reports of the examiners, the dissertation marks, and the grades and marks for all courses undertaken. The Dean recommends to the Faculty Assessment Board the Honours classification for each student calculated as described in section 9.1.

The Faculty Assessment Board is responsible for final approval of the Honours classification and for reporting the outcomes to Academic Board through the Dean of each Faculty.

The Faculty Assessment Board is responsible for monitoring the assessment outcomes of the Bachelor Honours degrees, including the distribution of classifications, the standards implied by the classifications and the comparability of standards across degrees.

10.0 Availability of Honours dissertation

Following the examination process, the Dean, on advice from the relevant Honours Program Leader, may invite students to place their dissertation in electronic form on the Coast Research Database. Students who have been invited to do so and wish to accept the invitation shall be required to make editorial corrections recommended by the examiners to the satisfaction of the Principal Supervisor and relevant Honours Program Leader before the dissertation is included on the Database.

Electronic and hard copies of all Honours dissertations shall be retained by the relevant School or Faculty and shall be available for perusal by persons who are approved for this purpose by the relevant Honours Program Leader.

11.0 Appeals

Under the Student Grievances and Appeals - Governing Policy, an Honours student may appeal against the grade awarded for a coursework component, the grade awarded for their dissertation and/or their Honours classification.

Where the student’s appeal refers to the dissertation grade and/or Honours classification, the Appeals Committee may require the Dean to review the assessment of the dissertation, in which case, the provisions of section 8.4 shall apply, including the possible appointment of an additional examiner for the dissertation.

Appendix 1

Guidelines for the presentation of the Honours dissertation

1. Word length

The length of a conventional honours dissertation should normally be no more than 15,000 words, excluding appendices and footnotes.

2. Structure

The dissertation should incorporate, in the following order:

Title page
A title page, giving the name of the dissertation in full, the full name and academic qualifications of the student, the full details of the degree for which the work is submitted, the name of the Faculty associated with the work, the name and address of the University associated with the work, and the date of submission.

Abstract
A one page abstract of the work of no more than 300 words. This abstract may be used for citation purposes, and should clearly outline the essence of the submitted work.

Declaration of originality
A declaration of originality, attesting that the work does not contain material which has been previously published or written by any person other than the student except where due and proper reference has been given in the text. The declaration should be signed and dated by the student.

In the case of work that is based upon joint research or publications, the statement should include a statement disclosing the relative contributions of the respective authors, and, where practical, be counter-signed by all contributors.

Acknowledgements
An acknowledgements page, in which due scholarly acknowledgements are made by the student to persons or organisations that have materially assisted with the work. Due care must be exercised here to preserve the anonymity of persons or organisations who have been protected by research ethics conditions.

Table of contents
A table of contents, listing page references to the major sections and subsections of the text. Usually, pages that precede the main text are numbered using small Roman numerals, and the main text is numbered using Arabic numerals.

Lists of tables, illustrations and figures
A list of tables, a list of illustrations, and a list of figures.

Body of the dissertation
A possible example of a traditional dissertation format could include chapters such as:

Introduction
Literature Review
Theoretical Framework
Methodology and Methods
Research Data Analysis and Findings
Discussion and Conclusion

A reference list, containing full details of all works referred to in the text, using a standard referencing system. There are many accepted referencing systems, but it is usual that a discipline will have a preferred system. The supervisor and student should ensure that the referencing system is followed precisely and accurately. In the case of cross-disciplinary studies that might imply different referencing systems, the supervisor and student should decide upon one of these systems, and not mix referencing conventions.

Bibliography
In some dissertations, a bibliography will be expected, that lists all works that have contributed to the development of the scholarly ideas behind the dissertation. In certain specialist areas, it will also be usual to distinguish between primary sources and secondary sources, and it is recommended that a student seek out recent examples of dissertations published in the area and use these as a model.

Appendices
Any appendices referred to in the text.

3. Format

Presentation and style should be consistent with any existing discipline-based presentation standards. Where these standards are not specified, the following type of approach may be adopted for the format of the dissertation:

• International Standard Paper Size A4 (297 x 210mm) may be used;
• The typing should be 1.5 spaced, presented in a clear and legible font and would normally be expected to be double-sided;
• Left and right margins should be no less than 30mm and page numbers should appear inside the margins;
• Pages should be numbered consecutively and clearly;
• Folding diagrams or charts should be arranged so as to open to the top and right;

• Before producing final copies of a dissertation for submission, the student should ensure that all the spelling, grammar, punctuation and choice of language are of a higher degree standard and the bibliography is complete and exact. It is recommended that students have their dissertations proof-read before producing final copies.

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