Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Honours)
Overview
| This page was first published on 13 November 2025 and was last amended on 26 November 2025. View details of the changes below. |
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The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Honours) is an additional year of full-time undergraduate study following completion of the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (BPPE) (or equivalent). It provides high-achieving students an opportunity to develop research skills in the discipline of their major (Economics, Philosophy, Political Economy, or Politics) by undertaking advanced-level coursework and conducting a supervised but independent research project. The honours year adds greater depth to the BPPE and provides a pathway to higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. Honours graduates are sought after by employers who value their superior research, analytical, and communication skills.
The honours year serves as both a capstone to the undergraduate degree and preparation for higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. For some students, honours represents the culmination of their formal education—an opportunity to broaden their intellectual horizons, refine their research, analytical, and communication skills, and develop the personal and professional abilities needed to complete a major project. For others, honours is the first step toward a career as a professional researcher or academic.
Students complete:
- ‘seminar’ units of study relevant to their research project as stipulated for the chosen discipline; and
- a substantial independent research project on an approved topic of their choice, culminating in the submission of a thesis of 15 - 20,000 words, depending on the discipline. Students work on their thesis throughout the course, under the supervision of an academic staff member with expertise in the chosen area. The research should identify an area for investigation which makes an original contribution to knowledge.
Admission criteria
Applicants must have:
- completed the requirements of the BPPE from the University of Sydney, including a major in the proposed honours discipline with a minimum weighted average mark of 70, or an equivalent qualification; and
- met any other admission requirements stipulated for the proposed honours discipline: Economics, Philosophy, Political Economy, or Politics.
Admission is subject to the availability of appropriate supervision.
Students interested in undertaking Honours should contact the relevant discipline Honours Coordinator during the final semester of the BPPE (or equivalent). Information on the application process is available on the Honours page.
Course requirements
The course requirements can be found in the course resolutions.
Requirements and units of study for the available honours disciplines are listed in the BPPE (Honours) tables:
Contacts and further information
Post-publication amendments
Date |
Original publication |
Post-publication amendment |
|---|---|---|
| 27/11/2025 | Introductory text published as: Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (BPPE) students have the option to pursue an Honours degree in the discipline of their major—whether in Politics, Philosophy, Political Economy, or Economics. To qualify for the BPPE (Honours) degree, students must meet the Honours requirements for their chosen discipline. Information on Honours admission requirements and units of study can be found on the relevant discipline’s page. |
Introductory text amended to: The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Honours) is an additional year of full-time undergraduate study following completion of the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (BPPE) (or equivalent). It provides high-achieving students an opportunity to develop research skills in the discipline of their major (Economics, Philosophy, Political Economy, or Politics) by undertaking advanced-level coursework and conducting a supervised but independent research project. The honours year adds greater depth to the BPPE and provides a pathway to higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. Honours graduates are sought after by employers who value their superior research, analytical, and communication skills. The honours year serves as both a capstone to the undergraduate degree and preparation for higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. For some students, honours represents the culmination of their formal education—an opportunity to broaden their intellectual horizons, refine their research, analytical, and communication skills, and develop the personal and professional abilities needed to complete a major project. For others, honours is the first step toward a career as a professional researcher or academic. Students complete:
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| 27/11/2025 | Honours section published as: The BPPE (Honours) allows students to undertake advanced coursework and complete a research thesis in the discipline of their BPPE major. The honours year serves both as preparation for postgraduate study and as a capstone to the undergraduate degree. For some students, honours represents the culmination of their formal education—an opportunity to broaden their intellectual horizons, refine their research, analytical, and communication skills, and develop the personal and professional abilities needed to complete a major project. For others, honours is the first step toward a career as a professional researcher or academic. Students interested in pursuing Honours should contact the honours coordinator in their discipline before the mid-semester break of the semester prior to their intended honours year, allowing sufficient time to develop and approve a research proposal before university application deadlines. |
Honours section amended to:Admission criteriaApplicants must have:
Admission is subject to the availability of appropriate supervision. Students interested in undertaking Honours should contact the relevant discipline Honours Coordinator during the final semester of the BPPE (or equivalent). Information on the application process is available on the Honours page. |
| 27/11/2025 | Honours admission requirements section published as: To qualify for admission to the BPPE (Honours) degree, students must:
The requirements for the BPPE (Honours) can be found in the course resolutions. Units of study and requirements for each eligible honours subject area can be found in the BPPE (Honours) tables below: |
Honours admission requirements section amended to:Course requirementsThe course requirements can be found in the course resolutions. Requirements and units of study for the available honours disciplines are listed in the BPPE (Honours) tables: |
| 27/11/2025 | Contacts and further information section published as: (No original contacts section existed.) |
Contacts and further information section amended to:Contacts and further information |
