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Earning an honours degree is no joke. It’s like taking your bachelor’s experience and hitting the nitro boost. An honours route means you’re signing up for a way more intense academic journey. The curriculum is charged with extra research and critical thinking drills. At the end of the day, walking away with an honours degree is a huge flex. It shows future employers (and yourself!) that you’ve got the academic stamina and drive to go above and beyond. Basically, it’s a wearable badge of honour that proves you’re at the top of your game. Our blog aims to explain that the honours path could be exactly what you need!
What Is An Honours Degree?
An honours degree is an undergraduate degree that involves an enhanced level of study beyond a standard bachelor’s degree, showcasing a higher standard of academic achievement and education at the undergraduate level.
If you’re considering this programme, it’s important to understand what an honours degree is and how it differs from a bachelor’s degree. This post-secondary academic programme can be taken on top of another post-secondary credential (like a diploma or certificate) or as part of your first degree.
An honours education often takes longer than a regular four-year programme because its curriculum typically incorporates more courses per semester than standard Bachelor’s programmes do. Students opting for this programme should check with their institution beforehand about whether they’ll have enough time between terms without missing any credits required for graduation!
Types Of Honours Degrees
Now that we know what is a degree with honours, let’s look into its types. The best thing about earning this is that you can do so in various ways depending on your goals and preferred study methods.
Integrated Honours Degrees
These are the standard undergraduate programmes in certain countries, like the UK, where the bachelor’s degree itself is an honours route. They include an additional layer of advanced study, including a final year project or thesis, within the regular timeframe of the degree.
Separate/Additional Year Honours
In countries such as Australia and New Zealand, you can opt for an extra year of study after completing your bachelor’s degree. This additional honours year focuses on independent research and may include extra coursework, allowing you to dive deeper into your field.
Honours with Specialisation
These degrees let you truly specialise in a specific area within your broader field. For instance, you could pursue honours in sciences, arts, engineering, or social sciences, with the curriculum tailored to provide intensive study in that one area, giving you an edge in that specialisation.
Cum Laude and Other Honours (Primarily in the USA)
This is not a separate degree but rather a recognition of outstanding academic performance across all disciplines. Students who maintain a high GPA may graduate with distinctions like cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, honouring their consistent excellence.
Four-Year Honours Bachelor’s (Canada)
In Canada, honours bachelor’s degrees are a more intensive and specialised version of a regular bachelor’s, requiring four years of study. Completing this rigorous programme is often a prerequisite for gaining entry into most master’s programs in the country.
Joint or Combined Honours
This flexible option allows students to study two subjects at the honours level, either within the same faculty or across different faculties. It offers a broader academic perspective and skill set, making it an ideal choice for those with interests spanning multiple fields.
Honours with Thesis or Research Project
A defining feature of many honours degrees is the requirement to complete a significant research project, thesis, or dissertation in the final year. This intensive component demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research, think critically, and showcase in-depth knowledge in a specific topic area.
Global Perspectives On Honours Degrees
The way honours degrees are structured, and the criteria for earning them differs significantly across the globe, reflecting the diverse educational traditions and systems in different regions. Let’s take a closer look at how honours degrees are approached in various parts of the world.
US: In the United States, they don’t offer specific “honours degrees” per se. Instead, outstanding academic performance is recognised through Latin honours distinctions like cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude, which are based on a student’s overall grade point average (GPA).
Canada: Canadian universities, on the other hand, do offer four-year honours bachelor’s degrees. These programs emphasise a higher level of specialisation and research experience. Earning an honours degree in Canada is often a prerequisite for gaining admission into master’s programmes.
UK: In the United Kingdom, the majority of bachelor’s programmes are honours degree routes. They incorporate a final-year thesis or research project as a core requirement. A student’s overall performance throughout the degree determines their degree classification, with distinctions like First-Class Honours, Upper Second-Class Honours and so on.
Australia & New Zealand: Both these countries provide honours degrees either as an additional year of study after completing a regular bachelor’s programme or as an integrated programme from the start. Either way, these honours routes involve a significant independent research component and a thesis.
Ireland: Similarly, universities in Ireland offer honours bachelor’s degrees that demand more rigorous coursework, have higher admission standards and typically include a substantial research element compared to regular bachelor’s programmes. This approach mirrors the UK model.
Qualifications In Various Countries
Distinct Honours Degrees
In certain countries, universities provide an honours degree as a separate qualification, requiring an additional year of study beyond the standard three-year undergraduate program. The countries offering this separate honours qualification include:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Scotland
- Ireland
- South Africa
- United States
Integrated Honours Designation
In other countries, the honours designation is integrated into the undergraduate degree program, depending on the student’s level of achievement. These countries include:
- England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
UK Undergraduate Grading System & Degree Classification
In countries where the UK undergraduate grading system is adopted, a degree with honours is awarded based on a student’s performance and achievement throughout their course of study. It is important to note that it is granted only in countries where it is offered as part of the degree structure. Students should always verify this with their desired educational institution.
The UK undergraduate grading system assesses student performance using various classification levels. The table below highlights the possible levels of achievement and their equivalent grades:
| Classification | Mark | OU Mark | Equivalent Grade |
| First class (1st) | 70% + | 85% + (OU) | A |
| Upper second class (2:1) | 60-69% | 70-85 + (OU) | B |
| Lower second class (2:2) | 50-59% | 55-70% (OU) | C |
| Third class (3rd) | 40-49% | 40-55% (OU) | D |
| Fail | 0-39% | 0-39% (OU) | E/F |
| OU – Open University |
Note: The Open University (OU) grading scale is included for reference purposes.
Grading and Classification Of An Honour’s Degree
The grading and classification of an honour’s degree differ depending on the country of study. In the United Kingdom, a designated classification system is used, which considers specific grade thresholds and their corresponding percentages within the degree. Conversely, in the United States and Canada, grading is typically based on the Grade Point Average (GPA), which is then associated with a percentage or letter grade score.
Admission Requirements: In countries where an honour’s degree is offered as a separate qualification, aspiring students usually need to attain a minimum pass percentage of 70% or a B+ grade to be considered for admission into an honour’s degree program. The competition for placement, especially in certain subjects, can be intense, underscoring the importance of maintaining consistently high grades to secure a spot.
International Grading System: To gain insight into how an honour’s degree is marked and graded, referring to the international grading system can be helpful. The following table illustrates the percentage ranges, letter grades, and corresponding descriptions commonly used:
| Percentage | Letter Grade | Description |
| 80 – 100% | A | Excellent |
| 70 – 79% | B | Very Good |
| 60 – 69% | C | Good |
| 50 – 59% | D | Average |
| 49% & lower | E / F | Unsatisfactory |
Note: The above table provides a general overview of the international grading system, which can vary slightly between institutions and countries.
Honours Degree vs. Bachelor’s Degree
The primary distinction between an honours degree and a bachelor’s degree lies in the level at which one studies during their undergraduate academic journey. It is important to note that while some bachelor’s degrees are offered with or without honours, achieving the honours qualification typically requires additional steps. Read the table below to know in depth about the differences among them:
| Feature | Bachelor’s Degree | Honours Degree |
| Level of Study | Undergraduate | Deeper level within the Undergraduate |
| Honours Designation | May or may not be awarded with honours | Earned through additional requirements |
| Programme Structure | Can be offered as a single program or separate programs for bachelor’s and honours | Often integrated within a single programme or requires applying for an honours programme after a bachelor’s |
| Specialisation | Broader subject area | Focused specialisation within a chosen subject |
| Curriculum | General courses with electives | Advanced courses with a research component, potentially leading to a thesis |
| Abbreviation | BA, BSc (without “Hons”) | BA (Hons), BSc (Hons) |
How Much Harder Is An Honour’s Degree Than A Bachelor’s Degree?
While the difficulty increase varies across disciplines, honours curricula are broadly considered substantially more demanding than the jump between any two years of undergraduate study. This heightened intensity stems from honours degrees essentially mirroring the expectations of a master’s-level first-year. While the advanced coursework offers greater academic stimulation, students must also be prepared for a considerably higher workload and time commitment, which can be an initial challenge after multiple years of a bachelor’s pace.
Top Colleges With An Honours Degree
Picking the perfect university for your honours degree is a huge deal – it can make or break your whole academic and career path. Every school on this list brings something different to the table in terms of helping you level up your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and get prepped for that dream career down the line.
| Country | University | Popular Honours Degree |
| Canada | University of Toronto | Kinesiology (Hons), Applied Psychology (Honours) |
| University of British Columbia | Honours Bachelor of Arts | |
| UK | University of Oxford | (Hons) Chemistry, Business Marketing (Hons) |
| University of Cambridge | BA (Hons) in Creative Writing | |
| Australia | University of Melbourne | Law (Hons), Engineering (Honours) |
| Australian National University | Environmental Science with Honours | |
| New Zealand | University of Auckland | Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Massey University of New Zealand | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – BA(Hons | |
| Ireland | Trinity College Dublin | Business (Hons), Literature (Honours) |
| University College Dublin | Honours degree in Computer Science | |
| US | Harvard University | Latin honours (summa, magna, cum laude) |
| Stanford University | Honours in the Arts Program |
What Is An Honour’s Degree Actually Worth To Employers
In the eyes of potential employers, an honours degree commands greater weight and prestige than a standard bachelor’s credential. A Bachelor of Arts (Hons) means advanced academic achievement, often positioning holders above their bachelor’s-only counterparts. However, when pitted against a master’s degree, the honours distinction holds comparatively less sway. A master’s is typically viewed as the highest standard degree offered by most UK universities, barring doctorates and thus carries more clout than either a bachelor’s or honours bachelor’s degree in the job market.
Benefits Of Studying For An Honours Degree
Knowing what is an honours degree isn’t enough; studying for an Honours Degree is a big commitment, and it will be a challenge. However, there are many benefits to undertaking this extra work.
- An Honours Degree is generally more challenging than a Bachelor’s degree; many students find that they learn more from their coursework as well as from their research projects and dissertation – which means that when you graduate, you’ll have a much better understanding of the subjects you studied
- Having an Honours can help you stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs or university places. Many employers look favourably at applicants who hold higher academic qualifications because they know this shows dedication and determination in your studies (and all other aspects of your life!)
- If your goal is to get into one of the world-class universities like Oxford or Cambridge, then having an A+ grade in your final year may give you an advantage over other applicants who don’t have the same kind of high grades at AS/A2 level too
Conclusion
By now, you must have a proper idea of what is an honours degree. Studying for this programme can be a challenging time, but it’s worth it in the end. You will gain a deeper understanding of your chosen subject area, as well as develop valuable skills that will help you excel in your career. If you want to go on to do further studies or work in the field of business administration or management, then an honours degree is definitely worth considering.
FAQs
1. What is an Honours degree in university?
Ans: An Honours degree in college refers to an undergraduate degree programme that includes an additional level of study beyond the standard bachelor’s degree. It typically involves more rigorous coursework and a higher level of academic achievement.
2. How do you get an Honours degree?
Ans: To obtain an Honours degree, students usually need to meet specific academic criteria, such as achieving a certain grade point average or completing a designated number of credits or modules at an advanced level. The requirements may vary depending on the educational institution and country.
3. Can you do an Honours degree in any subject?
Ans: Yes. Honours degrees are available in a wide range of subjects, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and more. However, the availability of honours programmes may vary depending on the specific discipline and educational institution.
4. Is an Honours degree necessary for further study?
Ans: While an Honours degree is not always a mandatory requirement for pursuing further studies, it can be advantageous when applying for postgraduate programmes, especially in competitive fields or for prestigious scholarships.
5. Can I upgrade my regular degree to an Honours degree?
Ans: Some universities may offer options for students with a regular degree to upgrade to an Honours degree by fulfilling specific requirements, such as completing additional coursework or a research project. It is advisable to consult with the educational institution for their policies and procedures.
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