Single degree

• This degree requires 192 units
• A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses
• A minimum of 36 units 3000 or 4000 level courses for students undertaking a focus in science
• 36 units from the completion of Advanced Studies including a minimum of 18 units of Advanced Studies Courses (ASCs) and a maximum of 18 units of Advanced Studies Extensions (ASEs)
• 48 units from completion of either a Science or an Asia and the Pacific Honours research project.
• An average of 80% in courses must be maintained to remain in the program.

About this degree

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In a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), PhB, single degree program you will study a total of 192 units.  Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 courses across your whole degree.

While you do not need to complete majors in this degree, the Science majors and Asia and the Pacific majors are helpful to give you an idea of possible areas you might like to focus on in your degree. You will focus on either Science or on Asia and the Pacific as your main area of interest. In addition, you can choose eight electives from courses right across ANU.  You can use these electives to try a range of courses or to take a cohesive group of courses, such as a language, philosophy or economics. Alternatively, bringing in some Asia and the Pacific courses to complement a science focus would be an exciting combination. Similarly, picking up some science to support studies in Asia and the Pacific could give you a real edge in the employment market.

The core of this degree is the opportunity for you to undertake research projects (known as Advanced Studies). You will probably not undertake an Advanced Studies in your first semester of first year because most PhB students like to use this semester to get used to university and find out about as many disciplines as possible. You will undertake an Advanced Studies (as an Advanced Studies Extension project most likely) in second semester of first year and then some kind of Advanced Studies in each semester of second and third year. You will have lots of help from the program convenor in helping you decide courses and showing you how to organise Advanced Studies.

In your 4th year of study you will undertake the Honours year in a single discipline usually closely related to your main area of focus.

Enrolment Status

It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.

When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses unless you already have some advanced levels of achievement in a subject.  These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as SCNC1234 or ASIA1234

• You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester.
• You can’t study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, so normally eight for the year. (Some students choose to undertake an Advanced Studies Course research project over the summer just because they are fun, exciting and challenging – you don’t have to though.)
• You need to enrol in courses for at least one potential Science focus or one potential Asian and the Pacific focus.
• You may take 1000-level courses later in your program.  But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree.
  

Majors and Minors

See available majors and minors for this program

Remember, you do not have to undertake a formal major of minor in this degree but you might like to check out the 60+ Science majors, minors and specialisations available for you to study or the 53 , majors and minors offered by the College of Asia and the Pacific. A list of these is available from the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies  http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/Bsc and http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/BAPST .

If you aren’t sure what you want to study for your whole degree, that’s fine. Use first year to explore lots of discipline areas and let your interests develop on the basis of this experience. The PhB program convenor will ensure you are choosing something academically sensible and that will allow many paths of study in the later years of your degree.

Because there are so many options available, you will need to take your time choosing what you want to study.

To help you choose Science courses you can go to the following link to download (and print) the Science First Year Guide:

http://cmbe-cpms.anu.edu.au/resources/first-year-course-guide

To help you choose Asia and the Pacific courses you can go to http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/students/undergrad/asia-pacific-studies

Study Options

Typical first year enrolment pattern for Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours):

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) with a focus in courses from the College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP).

Study Options

Typical first year enrolment pattern for Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours):

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) with a focus in Science.

Study Options

Academic Advice

For further information on prerequisites and Science disciplines you can:

• Download the First Year Science Guide: http://cmbe-cpms.anu.edu.au/resources/first-year-course-guide or
• Email PhB.Science.Enquiries@anu.edu.au  or
• Come and talk to someone face-to-face. You can make an appointment with the Science PhB program convenor by emailing science.enquiries@anu.edu.au or phoning 6125 2809.

 

For further information on Asian and the Pacific disciplines you can:

• Email PhB.Enquiries@anu.edu.au, or
• Come and talk to someone face-to-face. You can make an appointment with the CAP PhB program convenor by emailing CAP.student@anu.edu.au or phoning 6125 3207.

Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling?

Contact phb.enquiries@anu.edu.au