Honours degree applications

Honours is a specialised year of study drawing together the theory and practical skills gained in your undergraduate studies. You'll develop an in-depth knowledge of your chosen discipline through research and additional course work.

Studying at the honours level is a great way to get valuable research experience, improve your career opportunities or specialise in an area that you love. Honours students are encouraged to take part in research seminars and forums and to present their research at conferences.

Deakin offers honours degrees by research or on-course, and your application processes depend on the individual faculty and what type of honours degree you want to pursue. Follow the steps below to understand the application process.

1. Find your honours degree

A research honours degree is usually one year full time and enhances your completed bachelor degree. An on-course honours degree is one where the honours component is embedded within the entire bachelor degree. It is usually four years or more in length, depending on the degree.

Browse Deakin's extensive course offerings to find something you're passionate about. Not all Deakin courses have an honours degree component but there are many to choose from.

2. Considering a research degree?

Honours is a pathway to PhD or masters by research, providing you with the research foundation needed for a successful application. Explore our research degree and PhD programs to see how you can continue your research journey after undertaking an honours degree.

3. Check the academic entry requirements and special application rules

Make sure you understand the entry requirements for your chosen course by reading the course details carefully. While almost all research honours degree courses welcome applications from students who have completed their bachelor degrees at another university, there are a couple of specialist courses that can only admit Deakin bachelor degree holders due to the prerequisite of specific units. Your course may require you to fill in an application form with information regarding a thesis topic or project outline.

4. Gather supporting documents

When you apply to Deakin, it's important to attach any requested supporting documentation, otherwise your application could be delayed or rejected. Find out more about preparing your application.

5. Apply for special consideration if applicable

If circumstances in your life have limited your potential for studying at university, we have a scheme that increases your chance of receiving a course offer (but doesn’t guarantee it). If your course application is through VTAC, you can apply for access and equity through the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application, and if you apply direct, provide us with more detail in the Application Portal.

The individual course page will provide a list of requirements specific to your chosen field of study. Some of these additional selection criteria may need to be submitted with your application, while others may only be required after you receive an offer of a place. It’s your responsibility to check these requirements and ensure that all instructions are followed.

English language requirements

There is a minimum level of English proficiency required to study all of our courses. Generally, you can meet this requirement by demonstrating you've completed Year 12, or studied at a TAFE or university in English and in an English speaking country.

For the most up-to-date English language requirements, please read the minimum eligibility criteria on course pages.

Computing requirements

At Deakin, we make extensive use of technology in our teaching. To study at Deakin you are required to have:

• access to a device such as a desktop computer or laptop
• connectivity to the internet
• capability to use Deakin's online learning environments.

Additional special requirements

The following research honours courses have additional special requirements:

Examples of additional requirements could include the following:

You might be eligible for one of the many scholarships Deakin has on offer. Our handy scholarship search tool can help you find all the scholarships that you could be eligible for. Remember to read each scholarship's details carefully and apply before the due date.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is the recognition of previous study, work or volunteer experience you might have completed. If approved, it can reduce the number of units you need to study at Deakin, allowing you to complete your course earlier.