1. Purpose

1.1 These procedures outline the processes required to support the implementation of requirements for undergraduate programs leading to the award of a bachelor honours degree by the University.

1.2 These procedures must be read in conjunction with the linked Bachelor Honours Degree - Academic Policy.

2. Scope and application

2.1 These procedures apply to all staff and decision-making bodies involved in the development, approval and delivery of programs leading to the award of a bachelor honours degree.

2.2 This policy also applies to undergraduate students enrolling in a program leading to the award of a bachelor honours degree.

3. Definitions

3.1 Refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for definitions as they specifically relate to policy documents.

Honours Coordinator means a member of academic staff who administers an honours program or programs.

Honours Supervisor means a member of academic staff who undertakes supervision of an honours student’s research.

4. Program structure

4.1 The content and design of all honours programs must be in accordance with the Bachelor Honours Degree - Academic Policy, Coursework Curriculum - Academic Policy and Coursework Curriculum - Procedures.

4.2 Coursework

4.2.1 End-on Honours

4.2.1.1 An End-on Honours degree is a 1 year program of 96 units of AQF level 8 (400 coded) courses.

4.3 Research

4.3.1 In all bachelor honours programs the required research training course must at a minimum include:

(a) the formulation of research proposals;

(b) research techniques; and

(c) research ethics.

4.3.2 The size of the research project must be representative of the unit value allocated to the research component and be consistent with the discipline standards (or norms) for length in words, pages or other content.

4.3.3 End-on Honours

4.3.3.1 The research project for End-on Honours must:

(a) consist of a student’s own account of the research undertaken by the student, the greater part of which must have been completed subsequent to admission to the End-on Honours program. Work undertaken conjointly with other persons can be accepted provided the relevant Dean is satisfied that the research project is solely the work of the student; and

(b) not contain as its main content any work or material which has previously been submitted for assessment for a tertiary qualification.

4.3.3.2 A student entering an End-on Honours progam shall normally submit the dissertation topic for approval as part of the admission process. Once approved, the dissertation topic may only be changed with the approval of the Honours Coordinator.

4.3.4 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

4.3.4.1 The research project for Embedded Honours (Four Year) must:

(a) consist of a student’s own account of the research undertaken by the student. Research done conjointly with other persons can be accepted provided the Program Coordinator is satisfied that the research project is solely the work of the student; and

(b) not contain as its main content any work or material which has previously been submitted for assessment for a tertiary qualification.

4.4 Information on the honours programs and pathways

4.4.1 Each Honours Coordinator must ensure that an Honours Handbook is prepared and published for the information of students, supervisors and staff in their School. The information in the Handbook must be consistent with the relevant policy documents and include specific information on:

(a) structure of the program and pathway;

(b) supervisors;

(c) application, enrolment and progression process;

(d) milestones requirements;

(e) assessment in the Honours program (including the process for the selection of examiners);

(f) guidance on presentation requiements of the research project for examination;

(g) the marking criteria to be supplied to the examiners;

(h) grievance resolution mechanisms;

(i) resources and financial support available to students; and

(j) key staff.

5. Admission

5.1 This section related to the admission of students into the bachelor honours degree programs and must be read in conjunction with the Admissions - Procedures.

5.2 End-on Honours

5.2.1 An applicant for admission to an End-on Honours program must:

(a) have satisfied the requirements for the award of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree;

(b) meet the English language requirement as identified in the Admissions - Procedures; and

(c) have achieved a GPA of at least 5.0 over all 200-level and 300-level courses in the bachelor degree. An exemption to this criterion may be approved by the School Dean and must be recorded with a justification in the official record keeping system; and

(d) have consulted with a proposed supervisor or supervisors when preparing their admission application.

5.2.2 Application for an honours program is made in accordance with information published on the University website.

5.2.3 In assessing an application for admission to an End-on Honours program, the Honours Coordinator shall consider as appropriate:

(a) the academic ability of the applicant, including the preparedness of the applicant to undertake the program in terms of the elapsed time since the prospective student qualified for the award of a bachelor degree, and the academic preparation provided by the bachelor degree for the student’s proposed research project;

(b) the suitability and level of the proposed research project;

(c) the resources available to support the proposed research and the availability of appropriate supervision; and

(d) any other matters relevant to the application.

5.2.4 An applicant seeking credit for prior coursework study must lodge an application for credit at the same time as the application for admission in accordance with the Credit Transfer - Procedures. No credit is available towards the research project.

5.2.5 The offer of admission to an End-on Honours program must include:

(a) the program of coursework the student is to undertake;

(b) the research area;

(c) the supervision arrangements; and

(d) whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time and the anticipated completion date.

5.2.6 To accept the offer of admission, the student enrols in accordance with the Enrolments and Graduation - Procedures.

5.3 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

5.3.1 Applicants seeking admission to an Embedded Honours (Four Year) program must submit an application in the usual manner for coursework programs at the University, as published on the UniSC website, in accordance with the Admissions - Procedures.

6. Enrolment management

6.1 This section of these procedures must be read in conjunction with the Enrolments and Graduation - Procedures.

6.2 Honours Milestones Agreement

6.2.1 End-on Honours

6.2.1.1 Within two weeks of being accepted to End-on Honours, the student must complete, in consultation with their intended Honours Supervisor:

(a) an enrolment form identifying the courses to be undertaken; and

(b) the Honours Milestones Agreement.

6.2.1.2 The Honours Milestones Agreement is used to plan and manage a student’s progression and completion of the research project. It should include at least an agreed date for:

(a) commencement of the program; and

(b) submission of research project.

6.2.1.3 The Honours Milestones Agreement should be expressed in weeks from the date of the student’s commencement of the program.

6.2.1.4 The Honours Coordinator must ensure that the Honours Milestones Agreement is accurately and appropriately completed and signed by both the student and supervisor, and is responsible for developing a systematic approach to the recording, reporting and monitoring of the student’s progress against the Honours Milestones Agreement.

6.3 Research project supervision

6.3.1 End-on Honours

6.3.1.1 Each student in an End-on Honours is appointed at least a principal supervisor for the honours research project. More than one supervisor can be appointed, however only one must be designated as the principal supervisor.

6.3.1.2 The principal supervisor must:

(a) be an academic staff member of the University;

(b) have a qualification of at least AQF Level 9 (Masters level); and

(c) be a currently active researcher, or have a proven research record, or have previous successful experience in supervising honours or Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) students.

6.3.1.3 An academic staff member who does not meet these requirements can be appointed as part of the supervisory team, but cannot be the principal supervisor.

6.3.1.4 An adjunct academic of this University cannot act as a principal supervisor. An exemption to this criterion can be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on a case-by-case basis.

6.3.1.5 The relevant Dean is responsible for monitoring the honours supervisory load of eligible individual staff.

6.3.1.6 Staff who agree to undertake the role of supervisor have a responsibility to assess students’ work fairly, objectively and consistently. Any staff member who considers that they have a conflict or a perceived conflict of interest should bring this to the attention of their relevant Dean as soon as possible and must be managed in accordance with the Conflict of Interest – Governing Policy and Procedures.

6.4 Maximum time for completion

6.4.1 End-on Honours

6.4.1.1 To be eligible for the award of End-on Honours all requirements of the relevant program must be completed within 3 years’ from commencement.

6.4.1.2 In exceptional circumstances, an extension to this time limit can be approved by the relevant Dean.

6.5 Change of mode of study

6.5.1 End-on Honours

6.5.1.1 A student wishing to change their mode of study and extend their enrolment should discuss it with their supervisor. Where the supervisor and student agree, the change of mode of study and extension to enrolment is approved by the relevant Dean on the recommendation of the Honours Coordinator.

6.5.1.2 When an extension is granted, a new Honours Milestones Agreement must be developed and signed by the relevant parties.

6.5.1.3 The length of the extension of the enrolment is subject to the limitations identified in Section 7.1 - Submission of research project.

6.5.1.4 International students must ensure that their visa conditions allow an extension to their enrolment and cannot extend enrolment beyond the CRICOS registered duration of their program. International students must seek advice from International Office before applying for an extension.

6.6 Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

6.6.1 End-on Honours

6.6.1.1 When a student in an End-on Honours fails a course, the student is not awarded a bachelor honours degree.

6.6.2 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

6.6.2.1 Academic progress in an Embedded Honours (Four Year) program is managed the usual manner for coursework programs at the University, in accordance with the Monitoring Academic Progress - Academic Policy.

6.7 Complaints resolution

6.7.1 All student complaints are managed in accorandance with the Student Complaints Resolution - Academic Policy and Student Complaints Resolution - Procedures.

6.8 Review of final grade and special consideration

6.8.1 Students in any bachelor honours degree can formally request a review of their coursework assessment tasks or their final grade in courses (other than the research project) in accordance with the Review of Assessment and Final Grade - Procedures.

6.8.2 Special consideration is available to all bachelor honours degree students whose work is affected by serious documented illness or exceptional circumstances beyond their control in accordance with the Review of Assessment and Final Grade - Procedures.

7. Submission and examination of research project

7.1 Submission of research project

7.1.1 End-on Honours

7.1.1.1 The research project must be submitted by the date identified in the student’s Honours Milestones Agreement, normally, this is the Monday following the last teaching week of the final session of their enrolment or the part-time equivalent.

7.1.1.2 Students seeking an extension and a revision of the agreed submission date, require approval of the Honours Coordinator and the relevant Dean.

7.1.1.3 The relevant Dean is responsible for notifying the Academic Registrar and Director, Student Services that an extension of time has been granted.

7.1.2 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

7.1.2.1 The research project must be submitted by the date identified in the relevant Course Outline.

7.1.2.2 Students seeking an extension and a revision of the agreed submission date requires the approval of the Course Coordinator.

7.2 Appointment of examiners

7.2.1 End-on Honours

7.2.1.1 The relevant Dean, in consultation with the Honours Coordinator, appoints at least 2 examiners per research project, one of whom must be external to the University.

7.2.1.2 It is also recommended that at least one reserve examiner is also identified.

7.2.1.3 Examiners must:

(a) possess a research Masters Degree (AQF Level 9) or Doctorate (AQF Level 10);

(b) be a member of the appropriate professional body where applicable; and

(c) have relevant expertise.

7.2.1.4 An appropriately experienced person without the required qualification can be permitted to examine at the discretion of the relevant Dean.

7.2.1.5 The identity of the examiner remains confidential when requested by the examiner.

7.2.1.6 A member of a student’s supervisory team shall not be an examiner of the student’s research project.

7.2.1.7 An adjunct academic of the University can be appointed as an internal examiner for a research project.

7.2.2 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

7.2.2.1 Examination of the research project in Embedded Honours (Four Year) programs is by an internal examiner plus either:

(a) an examiner external to the University, or

(b) a moderator external to the University

7.2.2.2 Examiners or moderators must:

(a) possess a research Master Degree (AQF Level 9) or Doctorate (AQF Level 10);

(b) be a member of the appropriate professional body where applicable; and

(c) have relevant expertise.

7.2.2.3 An appropriately experienced person without the required qualification can be permitted to examine at the discretion of the relevant Dean.

7.2.2.4 The identity of the examiner remains confidential when requested by the examiner.

7.2.2.5 A member of a student’s supervisory team shall not be an examiner of the student’s research project.

7.2.2.6 An adjunct academic of this University can be appointed as an internal examiner for a research project.

7.3 Examination of research project

7.3.1 End-on Honours

7.3.1.1 Each examiner provides a report to the Honours Coordinator on the research project. The report includes:

(a) a percentage mark;

(b) the rationale for the mark awarded against the established marking criteria; and

(c) a section to be provided to students which includes the percentage mark.

7.3.1.2 Each School or Discipline must prepare and publish supporting documents to assist in examination of the honours research project.

7.3.1.3 The final mark for the research project is determined by the average of the percentage marks of the 2 examiners.

7.3 Moderation of the mark for the research project

7.3.1 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

7.3.1.1 When the Embedded Honours (Four Year) program is utilising an external moderator or a team of external moderators, following the marking of the research project by the internal examiner, the relevant Dean makes a purposive sample (eg. from each of the percentages identified for the classification levels) of the submitted research projects (normally at least 20% of the items submitted) for blind remarking by the external appointed moderators.

7.3.1.2 The role of the external moderators is to assure the quality of the examination outcomes and determine if identified standards have been met.

7.3.1.4 The external moderators, provide the relevant Dean with a report, ensuring that any necessary actions (such as re-marking) are taken, and confirm the provisional results.

7.4 Appointment of a third examiner

7.4.1 End-on Honours

7.4.1.1 Where there is a mark discrepancy of 10 or more marks between significant research component or a difference in the examiner-recommended "grade" and both examiners have recommended a mark of 49.5% or more, the Honours Coordinator can take one of the following actions:

(a) invite the examiners to confer with each other or with the School Research Committee with a view to moderating their marks and, if possible, presenting revised marks to be averaged for a final mark;

(b) in consultation with the relevant Dean, appoint an independent experienced examiner of bachelor honours theses as an arbiter. They review the examiners' reports and the thesis and determines the mark and grade on the basis of the published criteria and standards for the thesis; this is the final examination result for recommendation to the relevant Dean; or

(c) consult with the relevant Dean, who appoints a third examiner who would normally be external to the University. After the Honours Coordinator has received the report from the third examiner, in consultation with the relevant Dean, a determination is made as to the 2 marks that are closest together and these marks are averaged to provide the final result for the research project. When the third mark sits exactly mid-way between the initial 2 marks, the average of the initial marks stands.

7.4.1.2 No more than 3 examiners can be appointed to any research project.

7.5 Resubmission of research project

7.5.1 There are no provision for resubmission of a research project in any bachelor honours programs.

7.5.2 End-on Honours

7.5.2.1 Student in End-on Honours who fail their research project are subject to provisions of unsatisfactory progression detailed in Section 6.6 - Unsatisfactory Academic Progress.

7.5.3 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

7.5.3.1 When a student in the Embedded Honours (Four Year) pathway fails a research project, they can repeat the relevant course or courses with a new research topic, subject to the provisions of the Monitoring Academic Progress - Academic Policy and Monitoring Academic Progress - Procedures.

8. Calculation of the honours classification

8.1 End-on Honours

8.1.1 The class of honours degree awarded to each student is determined by combining the grades awarded for each specified honours course and the final research project percentage mark, taking account of the weighting of each course, using the formula approved by the Academic Board at the time of accreditation of the program.

8.1.2 When no specific formula was identified, then the following standard formula is used:

The final percentage mark achieved for each course is multiplied by the unit value for that course. These marks are totalled for all courses (including the research project) and then divided by the total course unit value for the courses undertaken within the End-on Honours.

Example:

A student has completed the following studies:

86% for Course 1 (12 unit value); 12 x 86 = 1032

73% for Course 2 (12 unit value); 12 x 73 = 876

78% for Course 3 (12 unit value); 12 x 78 = 936

89% for Research Training (12 unit value); 12 x 89 = 1068

81% for Dissertation (48 unit value); 48 x 81 = 3888

Final grade: 7800 (Total of % marks) ÷ 96 (Total Unit Value) = 81.25%. The student would receive Honours Class I.

8.1.3 Courses that are graded using a Pass/Fail are not included in the calculation.

8.2 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

8.2.1 The class of honours degree to be awarded each student is determined by combining the grades awarded in the courses identified in the program accreditation documents, including the final research project, taking account of the weighting of each course, using the formula approved by the Academic Board at the time of accreditation of the program.

8.2.2 When no specific formula was identified then the following standard formula is used:

The final percentage mark achieved for each course is multiplied by the unit value for that course. These marks are totalled for all courses (including the research project) and then divided by the total course unit value for the courses undertaken within the Embedded Honours (Four Year) program.

8.2.3 Courses that are graded using a Pass/Fail are not included in the calculation.

9. Award and classification

9.1 End-on Honours

9.1.1 To be awarded the Bachelor Honours Degree students must successfully complete all components of the program.

9.1.2 For each honours student who has completed all components of the program, the Honours Coordinator and relevant Dean make a recommendation to the School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee on the honours classification for each student calculated as described in Section 8. - Calculation of the honours classification.

9.1.3 The School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee is responsible for final approval of the honours classification and for reporting the outcomes to Academic Board through the relevant Dean.

9.1.4 The School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee is responsible for monitoring the assessment outcomes of Bachelor Honours Degrees, including the distribution of classifications, the standards implied by the classifications and the comparability of standards across degrees.

9.2 Embedded Honours (Four Year)

9.2.1 To be awarded the Embedded Honours (Four Year), a student must successfully complete all components of the program.

9.2.2 For each student who has completed all components of the program, the Honours Coordinator or equivalent and relevant Dean will make a recommendation to School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee on the honours classification calculated as described in Section 8. - Calculation of the honours classification.

9.2.3 The School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee is responsible for final approval of the honours classification and for reporting the outcomes to Academic Board through the relevant Dean.

9.2.4 The School Assessment Moderation and Results Committee is responsible for monitoring the assessment outcomes of Bachelor Honours Degrees, including the distribution of classifications, the standards implied by the classifications and the comparability of standards across degrees.

10. Availability of honours research projects

10.1 Following the finalisation of the honours classification, the relevant Dean, on advice from the relevant Honours Coordinator, can invite students to place their research project in electronic form on the UniSC Research Bank (the University’s institutional repository). Students who have been invited to do so and wish to accept the invitation are required to make editorial corrections recommended by the examiners to the satisfaction of the supervisor and relevant Honours Coordinator before the research project is included in the UniSC Research Bank.

10.2 Electronic and hard copies of all honours research projects are retained by the relevant School for the appropriate period of time for assessment items, as identified in the Records Management - Procedures. Schools can retain and make hard copies available for perusal at their discretion.

11. Authorities and responsibilities

11.1 As the Approval Authority of these procedures the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) can approve procedures and guidelines to operationalise the Bachelor Honours Degree - Academic Policy. All procedures and guidelines must be aligned to the provisions of the linked policy.

11.2 As the Designated Officer of these procedures the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) can approve associated documents to support the application of these procedures. All associated documents must be aligned to the provisions of the linked policy.

11.3 These procedures operates from the last amended date, will all previous policies related to the University’s approach to bachelor honours degrees are replaced and have no further operation from this date.

11.4 All records relating to the University’s processes for the management bachelor honours degrees must be stored and managed in accordance with the Records Management - Procedures.

11.5 These procedures must be maintained in accordance with the University Policy Documents - Procedures and reviewed on a shortened 2-year policy review cycle.

11.6 Any exception to these procedures to enable a more appropriate result must be approved in accordance with the University Policy Documents - Procedures prior to deviation from the procedures.

11.7 Refer to Schedule C of the Delegations Manual in relation to the approved delegations detailed within these procedures.

11.8 Roles and responsibilities

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