Policy on Honours Programs

Approving Authority:

1

Scope

1.1

This policy applies to 36 unit (one year full-time equivalent) Honours programs taken after completion of an appropriate undergraduate Bachelor's degree.

2

Preamble

1.2

The policy has been developed with reference to the Universities Australia Universities and their Students: Principles for the Provision of Education by Australian Universities [August 2005] which may be found at: http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/documents/publications/policy/statements/Principles_final_Aug2005.pdf

3

Purpose of Honours Programs

3.1

The main purpose of Honours programs is to foster research training. However, recognising that many Honours graduates do not subsequently undertake research degrees, there will also be opportunity for the development of attributes associated with research practice that have wider application. Within this broader context of introducing students to research and research practice, faculties will formulate and explicitly state the aims and objectives of their Honours programs. The content of the program, and the assessment processes, will clearly reflect the objectives.

3.2

Faculties should identify the particular purposes and character which distinguish their Honours programs from their other undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs.

4

Admission to Honours

4.1

The standard admission criterion for entry to an Honours program will be the completion to a required standard of a three year undergraduate bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline (or another qualification deemed to be equivalent by the relevant faculty). The standard required for admission will be stated by each faculty.

4.2

Where additional admission procedures are involved these will be explicitly described and published.

4.3

Students will be advised that enrolment in an honours program may be subject to the Administrative Organisational Unit (AOU) being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

5

Structure

5.1

The Honours program will require the satisfactory completion of 36 units of work (one year full-time equivalent). Where part-time enrolment in an Honours Program is available, Faculties will identify provisions for the completion of Honours on a part-time basis.

5.2

Normally, Honours programs will contain a mix of advanced theory, professional training (where appropriate), research training, and a research project leading to a thesis (in some fields, for example the performing arts, an alternative form of presentation may be appropriate). The research project leading to a thesis will be a minimum of 12 units and a maximum of 24 units.

5.3

Honours programs will include components involving the development of both written and oral communication skills. For example, students may be required to provide a seminar on their thesis or to engage in an oral defence of their work.

6

Supervision

6.1

Normally, the academic staff involved in supervising Honours students will be active researchers or at least have a sound background in research. The principal supervisor will be a Flinders University academic staff member or a person holding full academic status. Co-supervisors may also be appointed.

6.2

Where appropriate, involvement in supervision by qualified non-academics, for example from industry, will be encouraged. In some instances it may be appropriate to appoint these external contributors as co-supervisors.

6.3

The University will provide opportunities for supervisor training and development, and will ensure that University guidelines on good practice in Honours supervision are provided by faculties to all supervisors (Appendix A).

6.4

University guidelines on the responsibilities of Honours supervisors and students will be provided by faculties to all supervisors and students (Appendix B).

7

Administration

7.1

Systematic information and advice regarding Honours programs will be provided to potential students at appropriate points in their undergraduate degree. As well as individual advice and encouragement, documents will be provided which set out entry requirements, expectations, the structure of the Honours program and facilities available, including financial assistance. In particular, admission criteria will be carefully spelt out.

7.2

Faculties will ensure that Honours students receive information (in the form of a Handbook or in other appropriate publications) on the aims, nature and benefits of the Honours program, together with such matters as: details of staff interests; availability of thesis projects; supervision; facilities available; course requirements and assessment procedures; thesis requirements (including style guide and word limit); information on the criteria used for decisions concerning the assessment in the Honours program; weightings of the various components; submission dates; and guidelines for such activities as laboratory, field, performance or studio work.

7.3

Faculties will provide induction programs for incoming Honours students, including provision, where appropriate, for mid-year intake.

7.4

Collaboration between faculties and AOUs and across institutions will be encouraged so that the range of specialist topics and the pool of students for them can be increased.

7.5

Faculties will ensure that AOUs involved in joint or cooperative Honours programs give particular attention to determining consistent assessment standards.

7.6

Faculties will ensure that each Honours program has a formal organisational and administrative structure (for example Honours Coordinator or Course Committee) for such matters as monitoring or making recommendations on:

- thesis proposals;

- the selection of coursework topics;

- the structure and coherence of course offerings;

- the selection of supervisors;

- the effectiveness of supervision;

- assessment procedures.

7.7

Faculties will regularly evaluate their Honours programs in terms of the suitability of objectives, success in achieving objectives, the comparability of standards, and student equity. There will be regular reviews of all Honours Programs, in accordance with the University's Policy on Course and Topic Evaluation, Monitoring and Review, to provide on-going monitoring of the conduct and standards of Honours Programs.

8

Assessment

8.1

Assessment of individual Honours topics will be conducted in accordance with the University's Assessment Policies [see main index].

8.2

Faculties will develop explicit criteria for the assessment of theHonours program, with reference to clause 6.2 of the Assessment Policies, including expected standards of performance for the various classifications. All students and examiners, particularly external examiners, will be provided with a clear statement of the criteria and standards.

8.3

Where the derivation of the final classification for the Honours program as a whole is not simply a weighted average of the individual components, Faculties will describe the calculation process and ensure that this is known publicly.

8.4

Faculties will ensure that AOUs provide regular and systematic feedback to students on all elements of their performance in the Honours program as it proceeds.

8.5

The assessment process will include written reports on the thesis incorporating a short statement of the reasons for the grade or mark awarded to the thesis.

8.6

Faculties will establish policy on the number of examiners who will comprise the Examination Panel and the use of external examiners.

8.7

A supervisor will not normally be an examiner for an Honours thesis that they have supervised. On a case by case basis, a Faculty Board may, on the recommendation of an AOU, permit a supervisor to be an examiner for a thesis that they have supervised. In such cases there must be at least two other examiners of the thesis.

8.8

Faculties will ensure that AOUs maintain written records of the criteria used for grading Honours performance to facilitate comparability from year to year. Written records of the considerations entered into in reaching final grades for students will be maintained.

8.9

Faculties will ensure that external assessors or moderators are used to benchmark and maintain standards by comparison with other universities. External moderation should normally take place at least every 5 years within a particular discipline. The results of this moderation will be included in the information considered in course reviews.

9

Related matters

9.1

Grievance and appeal matters are covered by the University policies and procedures detailed in Section B of the Student Related Policies and Procedures, 'Appeals and Complaints' section.

9.2

Intellectual property matters are covered by the University policies and procedures detailed in Section M of the Student Related Policies and Procedures, 'Intellectual Property' section.

9.3

Faculties will ensure that, where relevant, students are aware of the need to obtain ethics approval. Faculties will ensure that approval is obtained as early as possible. More information regarding ethics approval processes can be obtained by contacting Office of Research.

9.4

Faculties will ensure that Honours students are aware of scholarships and prizes offered by the University at honours level, and at the postgraduate level in anticipation of enrolment in a Higher Degree.