Bachelor of International Studies (Honours)
Overview
| This page was first published on 13 November 2025 and was last amended on 18 November 2025. View details of the changes below. |
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The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) is an additional year (full time) of study following completion of the Bachelor of International Studies (or equivalent). It provides students an opportunity to conduct original research and complete a thesis in International Studies. The course enables students to develop the interdisciplinary expertise to understand, and work effectively on, matters of international scope that cross disciplinary and linguistic boundaries.
The honours year is both a capstone to an undergraduate degree and a preparation for higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. For some students, honours is the culmination of their formal education, an experience that extends their intellectual range, hones their abilities in research, analysis, and communication, and helps them develop the body of personal and professional skills needed to see a major project through to completion. For other students, honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics.
Students complete:
- two ‘seminar’ units of study relevant to their research project, from the disciplinary areas of History, Languages and Cultures, and Social Sciences, which provide training in critical analysis and the application of theoretical approaches to case studies; and
- a substantial independent research project, culminating in the submission of a thesis of approximately 20,000 words. Students work on their thesis throughout the course, under the supervision of an academic staff member. The research should identify an area for investigation which makes an original contribution to knowledge.
Admission criteria and course requirements
Please refer to the course resolutions for admission criteria and course requirements. A summary of course requirements and list of units of study available in the course can be found in the honours unit of study table.
Contacts and further information:
Post-publication amendments
Date |
Original publication |
Post-publication amendment |
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| 18/11/2025 | Overview section published as: The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) is an additional year (full time) of study following completion of the Bachelor of International Studies (or equivalent). It enables students to conduct original research and complete a thesis in International Studies. The course will enable students to develop interdisciplinary expertise to understand matters of international scope that cross disciplinary and linguistic boundaries. The honours year is both a capstone to an undergraduate degree and a preparation for postgraduate study. For some students, honours is the culmination of their formal education, an experience that extends their intellectual range, hones their abilities in research, analysis, and communication, and helps them develop the professional skills needed to see a major project through to completion. For other students, honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics. Students select from one of three alternative sets of seminar units: Social Science, History, or Languages and Cultures. Each provides training in critical analysis and in applying theoretical approaches to case studies. Students complete: – two seminar units; and – a substantial independent research project culminating in a thesis of approximately 20,000 words. |
Overview section amended to: The honours year is both a capstone to an undergraduate degree and a preparation for higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. For some students, honours is the culmination of their formal education, an experience that extends their intellectual range, hones their abilities in research, analysis, and communication, and helps them develop the body of personal and professional skills needed to see a major project through to completion. For other students, honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics. Students complete:
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| 18/11/2025 | Honours admission requirements section published. | Honours admission requirements section removed. |
| 18/11/2025 | Admission criteria and course requirements section missing from overview page. | Admission criteria and course requirements section added to overview page: Please refer to the course resolutions for admission criteria and course requirements. A summary of course requirements and list of units of study available in the course can be found in the honours unit of study table. |
| 18/11/2025 | Contacts and further information section missing from overview page. | Contacts and further information section added to overview page: |
