Build your research skills in the business arena.
This program gives you the opportunity to research an area you’re passionate about. You’ll build your research skills as you design and conduct a thesis study to contribute to business research, with the support of a supervisor with relevant research interests and expertise in your chosen area of study.
- 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.
This program gives you the opportunity to research an area you’re passionate about. You’ll build your research skills as you design and conduct a thesis study to contribute to business research, with the support of a supervisor with relevant research interests and expertise in your chosen area of study.
You'll learn to critically review relevant published literature and undertake useful and meaningful research. You'll also develop your presentation skills and deliver at least two lectures on your research progress.
Join our research student community and attend thesis seminars and discussion groups with fellow research students. At the end of your honours program, continue your research with further postgraduate study or a higher research degree.
Specialisations
Human resource management; information systems; international business; management; marketing; tourism, leisure and event management.
Career opportunities
Depending on the research area selected: academia, government / corporate positions in business management, human resource management, marketing management, market research, international business, computing, systems analysis.
Admission requirements
- Students must have completed a Bachelor of Business, or a related degree, from a recognised higher education institution, with at least eight courses in the area of study that will form their thesis topic.
- Potential applicants should have sustained a minimum GPA of 5.0 over the final two years of their undergraduate degree.
- A high level of achievement in the intended area of study must be demonstrated.
These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Importantly, enrolment is contingent upon the University's capacity to provide appropriate supervision in the intended field of research.
Program structure
The Bachelor of Business (Honours) structure is usually as follows:
- a 48-unit coursework component (consisting of four 12-unit courses), and
- a 48-unit thesis component
Coursework component
Required courses (4) 48 units:
BUS512 Introduction to Research Concepts and Design
BUS513 The Literature Review
BUS514 Qualitative Research Methods
BUS515 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
Thesis component 48 units
A research project is conducted over the full year of enrolment, resulting in a thesis. The nature and topic of the thesis is determined by the student's interests, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.
Students are required to complete a literature review and detailed methodology by the end of the first semester for full-time students, and the end of the second semester for part-time students.
The completed thesis is normally 12,000 to 20,000 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 Head of School, Business.
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 96
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements and notes
Faculty Honours Seminar Program
The University’s Honours Seminar Program helps build an honours research culture within USC, and provides opportunities for honours students from across the University to meet. Students are required to attend the Faculty’s fortnightly research seminar and thesis seminar with other research students, and will be required to present a minimum of two oral presentations on the progress of their studies.
Typically, the first oral presentation will occur after the formulation of the research project, while the second presentation will take place prior to formal preparation of the thesis.
Assessment and examination
All coursework is normally graded internally. A copy of your thesis will be sent to two independent examiners, one of whom is normally internal and the other of whom is external to the University of the Sunshine Coast.
To be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Business (Honours), students are required to pass both the coursework and thesis components of the program. Satisfactory participation in the Faculty’s honours seminars, including completion of at least two oral presentations, is also required.
Enrolment and fees
- In any semester, standard full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL
- In any semester, standard part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 census date
- Commonwealth supported students pay student contributions
- Students who are not Commonwealth supported pay full tuition fees
EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL.
Classes of Honours
The degree will be awarded in one of the three classes:
- Class 1
- Class 2 (awarded as Division 1 or Division 2)
- Class 3
The class of honours awarded may not be more than one grade higher than the grade for the thesis. For example, if you receive a ‘Credit’ grade for your thesis, you may not be awarded the honours degree at a higher level than Class 2 Division 1, regardless of the average mark.