The administrative issues identified the potential for confusion about the number of and AQF level of qualifications combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies graduates achieved.

The remediation plan consists of two components: direct actions to remediate the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees, and identification and remediation of underlying causes.

Direct remediation actions include:

1. If you are completing a coursework pathway, you will receive two level 7 awards, a 'Bachelor of X' and a 'Bachelor of Advanced Studies' on two separate testamurs (where X is the relevant degree, such as Bachelor of Arts).
2. If you are completing an honours pathway, you will receive one level 7 award, a 'Bachelor of X', and one level 8 award, each reflected on a separate testamur.
3. If you have completed, or will complete, an honours pathway, you will be able to elect to receive either a 'Bachelor of X (Honours)' or a 'Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours)'.
4. The pathway for honours for any new Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree enrolments will be to exit to a 'Bachelor of X' and apply to and enrol in a 'Bachelor of X (Honours)' at the time when you have decided to pursue an honours qualification.

Assessment of the underlying causes of the administrative issues is currently being undertaken. Progress and findings will be reported to the University of Sydney’s Academic Board.

No. To be eligible for admission to honours, you still need to meet the relevant academic requirements and to apply for admission. Standard honours admissions requirements will apply. In addition, to be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours), you will need to have enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree prior to 1 July 2024 and complete two majors.

Please note: this option is not available to students who commenced a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree after 1 July 2024 or students enrolled in other degrees.

The changes address the administrative issues identified by the University with the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees. By ensuring you enrol in and complete honours through an appended degree, the University will ensure that the degree certificates issued will accurately reflect the achievement of a Bachelor (Honours) degree.

If you are enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree, you will receive email communications during the week commencing 29 April from the University outlining your options. Emails about future study options will be sent in the lead up to the relevant application deadlines each semester too.

The honours year of study will be identical between the appended Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) and other appended honours degrees. The key difference is the name of the qualification that will be placed in front of ‘(Honours)’ on your testamur, and the admission criteria for the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) still requires the completion of two majors.

There is no difference in terms of the learning and teaching outcomes, research project or AQF level – both will lead to the awarding of an AQF level 8 Bachelor Honours qualification.

The decision is purely a personal consideration for you and should be based on your preference for the respective Bachelor Honours name to attribute, but there are no other differences.

We will be able to adjust your application between the disciplinary honours degree or the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) degree during the admissions process and at your request.

If you commenced your studies prior to 1 January 2021, you may be affected by the Job-ready Graduates fee changes. The Australian Government’s Job-ready Graduates program made changes to fees for CSP students who commence a new course of study from 1 January 2021. Under the package, some students are 'grandfathered students', meaning they continue to pay their original fee rate. If you transfer to a new course to study honours, you may not be grandfathered and may be charged the new fee rates for honours. Read our page on the Job-ready Graduates Package for more information about the changes.

If you’re currently enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree, applications for commencement in Semester 2 (where relevant) close on 25 June of the commencing year.

Please note: it is not possible to commence all subject areas in Semester 2, and you should refer to your respective subject areas for available intakes.

Applications for commencement in Semester 1 close on 15 January of the commencing year.

If you enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree before 1 July 2024, you will receive an email about how to apply when you reach the relevant point of your studies. You do not need to take any further action at this stage.

If you are considering honours, we recommend you consider your unit of study choices in consultation with the relevant honours coordinator to ensure you are on track to meet the relevant admissions requirements.

The choice of appended honours degree is only available to you if you commenced your studies in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree before 1 July 2024. Future commencing students will need to enrol in a disciplinary appended honours degree if they wish to undertake honours study.

If you commenced a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree before 1 July 2024, the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) will be available you. If you commenced your combined degree after 1 July 2024, you will be able to apply for a disciplinary appended honours degree (such as the Bachelor of Arts (Honours)).

If you’re enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree and planning to apply to commence honours next semester, you will receive an email with a link to book a direct consultation with one of our specialist staff.

For all other enquiries, please submit an online enquiry or call us on 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia).