Single degree

The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) requires 192 units (24 courses + Honours), including:

• *A maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses
• A minimum of 22 courses from the alpha codes listed in the APHSC, which must include a minimum of 5 x 3000-level courses.
• A minimum of 2 x transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses
• A maximum of 10 courses from the lists in the APHSC not previously taken or other ANU electives
• An average of 75% in courses with the alpha codes listed in the APSHC must be maintained each semester to remain in the program
• Completion of 6 x Advanced Studies including a minimum of 3 x Advanced Studies Courses (ASCs)
• 1 x Honours specialisation
• To qualify for the degree Honours must be completed with first class Honours

Double degree

When taken in a FDD you must complete 240 units, of which a minimum of 2 courses must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD.

 

The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) component of an FDD requires 144 units, including:

• *A maximum of 6 x 1000-level courses
• A minimum of 22 courses from the alpha codes listed in the APHSC, which must include a minimum of 5 x 3000-level courses.
• A maximum of 2 courses from the lists in the APHSC not previously taken or other ANU electives
• An average of 75% in courses with the alpha codes listed in the APSHC must be maintained each semester to remain in the program
• Completion of 6 x Advanced Studies including a minimum of 3 x Advanced Studies Courses (ASCs)
• 1 x Honours specialisation
• To qualify for the degree Honours must be completed with first class Honours

 

Timing of Science Honours year for students in a Flexible Double Degree program:

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) as part of a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) will only be able to commence the Honours year after satisfaction of the progression hurdle into Honours and should note that many Science Honours disciplines only support full-time enrolment in the Honours year (24+24 units).

 

Where the second bachelor's component of the FDD program has not yet been completed before the intended start term for Science Honours, it is strongly recommended that students seek appropriate academic advice from a the College Student Services Team.

About this degree

Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses

In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.  

 

Course choices

While you do not need to complete majors in this degree, the Science majors are helpful to give you an idea of possible areas you might like to focus on in your degree. In addition, you can choose up to ten elective courses  from 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.

 

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

Duration

The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)  typically takes four years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.

In total, students need to complete 192 units of study towards the Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons). This will be 24 courses in the first three years if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken. This is followed in the fourth year with a "+1 Honours year", worth 48 units.

If you combine the Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons) with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 240 units (32 six-unit courses plus the 48 units for the Honours specialisation.. This will typically take five years full-time. 

 Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.

If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.

International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.

Maximum time for completion

The maximum period for completion of the Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons) degree, either as a single or double degree, is eleven years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This eleven years includes any periods of leave.

A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

In your first year, you will enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. Eg CHEM1201, PHYS1001, MATH1013.

• You can take a maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses across your degree, the majority of which will be in your first year as many 2000-3000 level courses build upon specific knowledge (prerequisites) achieved through the 1000-level courses.

 

There is room in your first year to pick and choose first year courses depending on your interests but, it is important to select, in your first year of study, the 1000-level courses that are prerequisites for second and third year courses and pay close attention to the semester of delivery. This is particularly important if you have a preferred major in mind. Details on course  prerequisites can be found in the Programs and Courses entry for each individual course.

 

If unsure, seek academic advice in one of the Orientation week advisory session or book an appointment with the PhB program convener.

Majors and Minors

See available majors and minors for this program

Remember, you do not have to undertake a formal major in this degree but you might like to check out the 60+ Science majors, minors and specialisations available for you to study. A list of these is available from the Bachelor of Science website: http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/Bsc.

 

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 Convenor and your academic mentor 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.

Electives

How do I use my electives?

Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).

In your first year, we recommend taking some electives from a range of discipline areas in science to help you get a feel for which major could be the best fit in your second year. This will give you some flexibility to change plans if you find your preferred subject area isn’t what you expected it to be.

We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.

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).

Study Options

Typical first year enrolment pattern for Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) - combined degree

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons) (degree A) with another three year degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts (degree B). It is advisable that a minimum of 4 x 1000-level APHSC courses are taken in first year depending on preferences for later year courses.

Study Options

Academic Advice

For further information on prerequisites and Science disciplines you can:

• Download the Science first year course guide available here, or
• View the information at our New commencers & first year students page, or
• Email us at students.cos@anu.edu.au, or
• Come and talk to someone - you can make an appointment with an academic advisor here

If you need help on any aspect of university life, our "Need Help" webpage is a good place to start and can link you to services across the University.