(1) The purpose of this Policy is to: (2) This Policy replaces the Code of Practice – Honours. (3) This Policy applies to all Honours Degrees at the University of Wollongong whether delivered onshore, offshore and regardless of mode of delivery, including: (4) This Policy applies to the Bachelor of Research. (5) The specific responsibilities of Supervisors to students undertaking an Honours Degree arise and must be met during the session(s) during which the student is designing and undertaking the Honours Project. (6) The University has established a framework to design, deliver and assure a range of high standard Honours Degree courses to students in order to: (7) The University will maintain a consistent and transparent framework for the design and delivery of different forms of Honours Degree courses, and within these courses, the design, completion and examination of an Honours Project in order to assure learning at Level 8 and against the relevant course learning outcomes. (8) The Course Design Procedures detail the University’s requirements with regard to the naming, duration and credit point values for Honours Degree courses. (9) Honours Degree courses are to be designed and delivered consistent with the AQF requirements for Level 8 Bachelor Honours Courses (as detailed in Appendix 1), to ensure that graduates will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning. (10) Each Honours Degree course is to include the completion of an Honours Project. (11) The requirements for admission to an Honours Degree course are determined in accordance with the Coursework Rules and the Admissions Procedures (Coursework) and specified in the information provided to prospective students. (12) The Credit for Prior Learning Policy provides that no external credit is given towards the Honours Project component within a one year stand-alone honours degree. (13) The Honours Project is to be designed to assist in assuring learning at Level 8 of the AQF for students undertaking an Honours Degree. (14) The Honours Project is to be designed, undertaken and assessed so as to operate as a capstone in the Honours Degree for the purposes of the UOW Curriculum Model. (15) For any subject in which an Honours Project is an assessment task, the Honours Project must have a weighting of at least 70%. (16) For an End-On Honours Degree, the subject in which the Honours Project forms all or part of the assessment task(s) shall be not less than 24 credit points and not more than 48 credit points. (17) For an Embedded Honours Degree other than a Professional Honours Degree, the subject in which the Honours Project forms all or part of the assessment task(s) shall be not less than 24 credit points and not more than 48 credit points. (18) For a Professional Honours Degree, the subject in which the Honours Project forms all or part of the assessment task(s) shall be not less than 12 credit points. (19) For the Bachelor of Research, the subject in which the Honours Project forms all or part of the assessment task(s) shall be not less than 12 credit points. (20) To support the successful completion of an Honours Project, and in order to assist in assuring learning at Level 8 of the AQF, each student enrolled in an Honours Degree course will be provided with knowledge and skills in research methods in order to support the successful design and completion of an Honours Project. (21) An Honours Project may be designed and approved on the basis of collaboration among students in the design and collection of research data, provided that each student shall be individually responsible for the analysis, evaluation and transformation of information, the generation and transmission of solutions to complex problems and the transmission of knowledge, skills and ideas to others in an Honours Project. (22) The Honours Degree course must also incorporate an assessment task requirement (weighted or non-weighted) to make a written and oral presentation of the Honours Project proposal and/or findings, including one or more of the following: (23) The following grades of Honours Degrees may be awarded: (24) For each Honours Degree course other than the Bachelor of Research, one of the methods specified in Appendix 3 must be adopted to determine the Honours grade. The method used for determining honours grades depends on the specific program a student has completed. The Honours Method is detailed in the Course Handbook entry for each Honours Degree course. Students graduating with the Bachelor of Research do not have an Honours Grade declared. (25) In addition to the provisions relating to the Bachelor of Research, an Honours Degree may be awarded with no grade of Honours where the relevant course rules as specified in the Course Handbook so provide. (26) Where a student has completed an Honours Degree course which applies Methods 2, 3 or 4 but has not achieved a mark entitling the student to an award of Honours, the student will be eligible for a suitable cognate pass degree if they meet the requirements for that degree and subject to completion of a course transfer with academic approval from the Delegated Authority. (27) Where the method for determining the grade of Honours applied for a particular Honours Degree is changed after a student has commenced that course, the Faculty must ensure that the student is not disadvantaged by the change. This may require the application of a previous method of determining Honours grades to that student. (28) The Honours Project Grade Descriptors describe student performance in an Honours Project and must be communicated to students in the Honours Guide or the Subject Outline. (29) Staff should refer to the UOW Honours Project Grade Descriptors: (30) The Honours Project Grade Descriptors also provide a frame of reference for moderation of the Honours Project, to ensure that assessment practice across the University is appropriate, consistent and fair. (31) The Honours Project Grade Descriptors are set out in Appendix 4. (32) It is the responsibility of the University to: (33) It is the responsibility of the Academic Unit to: (34) To be eligible to exercise the responsibilities of a Supervisor, the academic staff member must: (35) The role of co-supervisor may be held by an academic staff member, visiting or honorary academic provided that the principal Supervisor meets the requirements of section clause 35. (36) The overriding responsibility of a Supervisor is to provide continuing support to Honours Degree students under their supervision in researching and producing an Honours Project to the best of the student’s ability. (37) Specific other responsibilities of the Supervisor are to: (38) Honours Degree students have the primary responsibility for the timely completion of the Honours Project and other assessment tasks required in order to meet the requirements for the award of the Honours Degree. (39) Specific responsibilities are to: (40) An Honours Degree student with concerns regarding their candidacy may raise these concerns with their Supervisors or the responsible Honours Coordinator. (41) Any unresolved issues between an Honours Degree student and their Supervisors during the student’s candidature or, in the case of Embedded Honours, during the period where the student is undertaking the Honours Project, may be raised by the student as provided in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Policy. (42) Provisions relating to the review of the marking and grading of an Honours Projects is set out below. (43) All procedures and processes concerning the assessment of Honours Projects must be approved by the relevant Faculty Education Committee and set out in the Honours Guide for that Faculty, Academic Unit or course or for Professional Honours Degrees where the Honours Project is worth less than 24 credit points, in the relevant subject outline for the subject outline for the subject regulating the completion of the Honours Project. (44) The requirements set out in clauses 44-61 apply to the assessment of an Honours Project with a weighting of 24 credit points or more. Honours Degree courses that include a project with a lesser weighting may also choose to adopt the procedures set out in this section. (45) Documented quality assurance processes must be in place in each academic unit to ensure the independent, transparent and impartial assessment of all Honours Projects. (46) The assessment of an Honours Project is to be undertaken by two honours examiners. Where possible, at least one of the honours examiners should be external. An honours examiner is external when the honours examiner is external to the Academic Unit and may be external to the Faculty or to the University. (47) Notwithstanding clause 46, each Academic Unit must externally benchmark the standard of honours projects in each Honours Degree course against comparable Australian universities at least once every three (3) years. External benchmarking may involve: (48) Honours examiners shall be chosen by the Honours Coordinator in consultation with the Supervisor, and having regard to the requirements in clause 50. (49) A Supervisor cannot examine an Honours Project with a weighting of 24 credit points or more that they have supervised. (50) To be suitable for the role, an honours examiner must be familiar with the expectations and requirements of an Honours Degree course. They must also: (51) Honours examiners are to be given up to 15 working days to provide a report to the relevant Assessment Committee, to enable the Faculty to meet University deadlines for the declaration of marks and for students to be considered for scholarships and/or graduation. (52) Honours examiners shall be provided with a clear written brief which covers the following: (53) Until the assessment of an Honours Project is complete and a report is submitted by an honours examiner, all communication between the honours examiner and the University regarding the Honours Project shall be directed through the Honours Coordinator, or the head of the relevant Academic Unit or, if the head of the Academic Unit is the Honours Degree student’s Supervisor, another nominated academic. (54) Honours Degree students and Supervisors shall not contact any honours examiner concerning the assessment of the Honours Project until the reports of all honours examiners are returned to and acted on by the Assessment Committee of the Academic Unit. (55) Supervisors should be permitted to view the assessment reports and raise issues or points of clarification prior to the Academic Unit or Faculty Assessment Committee meeting. (56) The assessment reports from the honours examiners and the marks recorded for both the Honours Project and any coursework components are to be forwarded to the relevant Assessment Committee for final declaration of mark. (57) The names of the honours examiners and copies of the honours examiners’ reports will be made available to the student after the final mark has been declared. (58) Each Faculty shall have written procedures for dealing with discrepancies between honours examiners’ marks for an Honours Project, approved by the Faculty Education Committee. These procedures shall be communicated to students in the Honours Guide. (59) Where there is a discrepancy of more than ten percentage points between the marks determined by any two honours examiners, and the discrepancy cannot be resolved by discussion between the honours examiners, an additional marker shall be appointed by the Honours Coordinator to assess the Honours Project. When this delays the assessment process, the Honours Degree student should be notified that further advice has been sought. (60) Each Faculty must have written procedures that specify: (61) The Academic Unit Assessment Committee (where appropriate) is responsible for recommending the overall Honours mark for the subject in which the Honours Project forms the some or all of the required assessment tasks to the Faculty Assessment Committee. In all cases, the Faculty Assessment Committee declares the final mark for the subject. (62) The owning Faculty of an Honours Degree course that includes an Honours Project with a weighting of less than 24 credit points may choose to adopt the assessment procedures set out in section clauses 44-61. (63) Where the procedures set out in section clauses 44-61 are not adopted, the provisions of the Assessment and Feedback Policy apply to the assessment of the Honours Project. (64) In addition, the Academic Unit must have written procedures, approved by the Faculty Education Committee, that state: (65) Where the Supervisor also acts as an honours examiner, of an Honours Project they have supervised with a weighting of less than 24 credit points, there must be at least one additional honours examiner appointed to assess the Honours Project. (66) Every Faculty, Academic Unit or Honours Degree course must have an Honours Guide common for students, staff and honours examiners that includes the information set out in Appendix 2 to this Policy. (67) The Honours Guide, and other information for students available via the University website or in Course Handbook entries, must be consistent with this Policy. (68) All commitments and requirements stipulated in an Honours Guide shall be adhered to. (69) For Professional Honours Degrees where the Honours Project is less than 24 credit points, information relevant to the Honours Project in the an Honours Guide may alternatively be incorporated as an annexure to the Subject Outline for the relevant subject in respect of which the Honours Project is an assessment task that meets the requirements set out in the Subject Delivery Policy. (70) Name of Academic Unit and details of key contact people within that unit, including the Honours Coordinators where appropriate. (71) Course code. (72) In the case of End On Honours Degrees, mechanisms for applying for admission. (73) Where relevant, details regarding and arrangements for part-time Honours enrolment. (74) Honours Degree course learning outcomes. (75) Roles and responsibilities of the University, Academic Unit, Supervisor, Honours Coordinator and Honours Degree student. (76) Key dates, e.g.: (77) For End-On Honours Degrees, required coursework making up the Honours Degree course requirements, including subject codes and titles in full, with brief outline and credit points. If coursework is not organised by subject code and credit points a description of the structure of the Honours Degree program coursework with a brief outline and explanation of the weighted value of each component of the coursework program. (78) Ethics application requirements (where relevant). (79) Occupational health and safety requirements. (80) Support services and facilities available to students, including contact details of the Student Support Advisors and the Faculty Librarian (within the library). (81) Equipment, study space and computer/software available to Honours Degree students. (82) Grades of Honours applying to the course and the Honours Method applicable for the course. (83) Where relevant, University supplied materials that students should purchase and estimated costs. (84) Financial or material assistance (where available). (85) Prizes, scholarships and grants applicable to the course. (86) Types of assessment to be used to assess Honours Project. (87) Weight given to Honours Project and other components of assessment in determining final result. (88) Honours Grade Descriptors. (89) Dates for submission of any written Honours Project(s) and other material for assessment. (90) Policy regarding and penalties for late submission. (91) Clear criteria for assessing the Honours Project. (92) Guidelines for honours examiners. (93) Quality assurance process specific to the Faculty or Academic Unit to ensure the independent, transparent and impartial assessment of all Honours Project(s). (94) Whether marks in any components will be modified or scaled. (95) Method for determining class of Honours. (96) Minimum attendance requirements where appropriate. (97) Length, style and format of any written Honours Project(s), where relevant. (98) System of referencing to be used in written Honours Project(s), noting the University policy on plagiarism. (99) Method for choosing honours examiners. (100) Procedure for dealing with discrepancies between marks awarded by different honours examiners. (101) Procedures, criteria and possible outcomes in the handling of requests for Student Academic Consideration. (102) Method for submitting written materials for assessment. (103) Required number of copies of written materials. (104) Arrangements for acknowledging submission of written materials. (105) Procedures for returning assessed materials. (106) Details of other matters relevant to the assessment of the Honours Project. (107) Honours grades will be determined using a weighted average mark calculated as follows: (108) Where: (109) Weightings for different subject levels (i.e. the “l” factor set out in Appendix 3, section 1(c) above): (110) Ranges for grades of Honours: (111) Weightings for different subject levels (i.e. the “l” factor set out in Appendix 3, section 1(c) above): (112) Ranges for grades of Honours: (113) Weightings for different subject levels (i.e. the “l” factor set out in Appendix 3, section 1(c) above): (114) Ranges for grades of Honours: (115) Weightings for different subject levels (i.e. the “l” factor set out in Appendix 3, section 1(c) above): (116) Ranges for grades of Honours:Honours Policy
Section 1 - Purpose of Policy
Section 2 - Application and Scope
Section 3 - Policy Principles
Section 4 - Characteristics of Honours Degree Courses
Section 5 - Admission to Honours Degree Courses
Section 6 - Characteristics of Honours Project
End-On Honours Courses
Embedded Honours Courses
Bachelor of Research
General Provisions
Top of PageSection 7 - Grades of Honours
Methods for Determining Honours Grades
Section 8 - Honours Project Grade Descriptors
Section 9 - University and Academic Unit Responsibilities
University
Academic Unit
Top of PageSection 10 - Supervision of Honours Projects
Part A - Supervisory Responsibilities
Student Responsibilities
Top of PageSection 11 - Reviews and Appeals Regarding the Honours Project
Section 12 - Assessment of Honours Projects
Honours Guide
Assessment of Honours Projects with a weighting of 24 credit points or more
Choice of Honours Examiners
Examination Process
Assessment of Honours Projects with a weighting of less than 24 credit points
Section 13 - Honours Information to Students
Section 14 - Appendices
Appendix 1 – AQF Requirements for the Bachelor Honours Degree
Summary
The Bachelor Honours Degree qualifies individuals who apply a body of knowledge in a specific context to undertake professional work and as a pathway for research and further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates of a Bachelor Honours Degree will have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines and knowledge of research principles and methods.
Skills
cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas
cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding
technical skills to design and use research in a project
communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts;
Volume of Learning
The volume of learning of a Bachelor Honours Degree is typically 1 year (EFT) following a Bachelor Degree. A Bachelor Honours Degree may also be embedded in a Bachelor Degree, typically as an additional year.
Appendix 2 – Honours Guide Checklist
Section A – General
Section B – Assessment of Honours Project
Appendix 3 – Honours Grade Calculation Methods
Calculation of Weighted Average Mark
Method 1:
Method 2:
Method 3:
Method 4:
Appendix 4 – Honours Project Grade Descriptors
Top of Page
Grade
Descriptor
High Distinction
consideration of any shortcomings in methodology or integration of findings, drawing on relevant theories and previous research
Distinction
Credit
Pass
knowledge, understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study
Fail
Section 15 - Definitions
Word/Term
Definition (with examples if required)
Academic Unit
Faculty, School, Unit or Discipline.
AQF
Australian Qualifications Framework.
Embedded Honours
An Honours Degree comprising of four (4) years’ EFT of study as a stand-alone degree or not less than three (3) years EFT of study as part of a double degree and including an Honours Project or Projects of at least 12cp. Embedded Honours includes Professional Honours.
End On Honours
An Honours Degree comprising of one (1) year EFT of study that is undertaken following successful completion of an undergraduate Bachelor Pass degree, and involving an Honours Project of 24cp or more.
EFT
Equivalent Full Time study load.
Head, Academic Unit
A member of academic staff who is ultimately responsible for the matters regarding an Honours Degree.
Honours Coordinator
A member of academic staff who is responsible for the operation of the Honours Degree and/or the coordination of Honours Projects.
Honours Degree
An undergraduate qualification that qualifies individuals who apply a body of knowledge in a specific context to undertake professional work and as a pathway for research and further learning, and that otherwise meets the requirements of Level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Honours Examiner
An appropriately qualified person with relevant expertise and with responsibility for the assessment of an Honours Project undertaken as a required component of an Honours Degree.
Honours Project
A component of study within the Honours Degree that involves project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence and that is discipline specific, inter-disciplinary or joint.
Professional Honours
An Honours Degree that involves Embedded Honours designed to, in addition, meet the requirements of professional registration in fields such as engineering, law or teaching.
Supervisor
A member of academic staff who is appropriately qualified and has relevant expertise to oversee the progress of an Honours Project and to supervise a student undertaking the Honours Project.
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Graduates of a Bachelor Honours Degree will have:
Graduates of a Bachelor Honours Degree will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:
with initiative and judgement in professional practice and/or scholarship
with responsibility and accountability for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters;
to plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence.
Weighted Average Mark = Sum mlc/Sum lc
A High Distinction is awarded for performance that provides evidence of an outstanding level of attainment of the subject learning outcomes, demonstrating the attributes of a Distinction grade plus (as applicable) one or more of the following:
consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding
substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem-solving approaches
critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications for future investigation or research
use of data as the basis for deep and thoughtful judgments, drawing insightful, carefully qualified conclusions from this work
creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline
eloquent and sophisticated communication of information and ideas in terms of the conventions of the discipline
consistent application of appropriate skills, techniques and methods with outstanding levels of precision and accuracy
all or almost all calculation based data is correct, very little or no data is incorrect
A Distinction grade is awarded for performance that provides evidence of a superior level of attainment of the relevant subject learning outcomes, demonstrating the attributes of a Credit grade plus (as applicable) one or more of the following:
evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles, concepts and/or theories
distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills, techniques, methods and/or concepts
demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions
fluent and thorough communication of information and ideas in terms of the conventions of the discipline
frequent application of appropriate skills, techniques and methods with superior levels of precision and accuracy
most calculation based data is correct, little or no data is incorrect
A Credit grade is awarded for performance that provides evidence of a high level of attainment of the relevant subject learning outcomes, demonstrating the attributes of a Pass grade plus (as applicable) one or more of the following:
evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills
demonstration of solid understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study
demonstration of the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts
use of convincing arguments with appropriate coherent and logical reasoning
clear communication of information and ideas in terms of the conventions of the discipline
regular application of appropriate skills, techniques and methods with high levels of precision and accuracy
most calculation based data is correct, some data is incorrect
A Pass grade (where awarded) is awarded for performance that provides evidence of a satisfactory level of attainment of the relevant subject learning outcomes, demonstrating (as applicable) one or more of the following:
use of routine arguments with acceptable reasoning
adequate communication of information and ideas in terms of the conventions of the discipline
ability to apply appropriate skills, techniques and methods with satisfactory levels of precision and accuracy
a combination of correct and incorrect data is presented
A Fail grade is awarded where there is insufficient evidence of a satisfactory level of attainment of attainment of the relevant subject learning outcomes, on the basis of one or more of the following:
the project or research goal of the relevant honours project is nullified by major problems in the conceptualisation or execution of the project
the student is unable to present arguments with clarity or coherence
the student is unable to apply appropriate skills, techniques and methods with a satisfactory level of precision and accuracy
data is frequently incorrect
there are issues with adherence to academic integrity principles or practices