Applying for Honours in 2010

The majority of students who apply to our Honours programs will have completed (or are due to complete by the end of 2009) one of the following degrees with a major in one or more of the four discipline areas in level III courses offered by the School (or their equivalent elsewhere):

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)
• Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology)
• Bachelor of Biotechnology
• Bachelor of Health Science 

Students who have completed other degrees may also be eligible to apply, depending on their background and proposed project area (see below). The programs for:

• Honours Biochemistry (Biochem 4000A,B),
• Honours Genetics (Genetics 4000A,B),
• Honours Microbiology and Immunology (Micro 4000A,B) and
• Honours Physiology (Physiol 4000A,B)

have unique elements and remain largely independent of one another. Each course has a separate entry in the University Calendar (click the links above).

Applications to study Honours are made to the central Faculty of Sciences office. To read about the process and to download an application form click here.

The closing date for your application to be considered for the first round of offers is in early November. The exact date will be announced soon. Students are notified of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible after the results of the third year subjects are finalised. Note that there are usually two or three rounds of offers. Late applications will be considered, but the range of available projects will be limited the longer you delay.

Early offers of Honours places

Note that some disciplines also make early, informal offers of Honours places to students studying third year courses when the students' results for first semester courses in that discipline are known. These offers are usually made to students achieving a Distinction grade or higher. Note that only one student can be allocated per research group using this procedure. This means that, in most cases, there will still be Honours places in the same research group for people applying in November. Note also that all students, (including those with informal offers after first semester) must formally apply for Honours in November. Students with informal offers from research groups after first semester are not bound to apply to the same research group in November (i.e. you can change your mind). Please contact the Honours Coordinator for each discipline to see whether early offers of Honours places are available and how to apply.

Mid-year entry and part-time Honours study

Some disciplines will consider allowing students to begin studying Honours in mid-2010 or on a part-time basis (i.e. over two years). Please contact the Honours Coordinator for each discipline to see whether this is possible.

Applications from people with qualifications in other disciplines or from other universities/institutions

Our Honours courses are open to students from diverse tertiary level science backgrounds. University of Adelaide students enrolled in Level III subjects offered by the School of Molecular & Biomedical Sciences will need to have achieved an acceptable standard in the final examination, preferably at credit level or above. Students with equivalent grades in relevant subjects offered by other Schools or Institutions are also eligible to apply. Students who have majored in one or more of the four discipline areas in Level III courses at the University of Adelaide (or their equivalent) will be considered for Honours projects in any of the discipline areas, so long as the background is considered appropriate for the particular project. Contact the Honours coordinator(s) in the discipline(s) you are considering if you have any questions about eligibility.