About Honours
What are the objectives of our course?
- To give a broad exposure to approaches taken and methods used in biomedical research.
- To understand how basic science disciplines (such as physiology, anatomy, genetics, biochemistry, epidemiology) merge in biomedical research.
- To acquire skills in a specific area of biomedical research.
- To develop skills in critical analysis of experimental data, published works and oral presentations.
- To develop skills in communication of scientific ideas and results by the written word and by oral presentation.
Why do Honours?
- You will join a successful and productive group of Medical Research laboratories at the University of Melbourne. Our peer-reviewed research, funding and publication record are second to none.
- You will gain excellent training in a wide variety of research skills. We are staffed by 35 senior staff members and 26 post-doctoral scientists. There are also 60 PhD students and a large number of research assistants.
- Our research groups span the full spectrum of biomedical research—from molecular biology to clinical epidemiological research. Although the student will be studying a specific area, s/he has the unique opportunity to learn where the research fits into the 'big picture'.
- Your future prospects are bright. Our research and postgraduate training is highly regarded by research institutions in Australia and overseas and by industry. There are also excellent opportunities to pursue postgraduate studies.
- You will be working in a happy, friendly and productive environment where self-motivation is seldom a problem. Our Honours students actually enjoy the year—just ask them!
Honours Frequently Answered Questions
Do I need to be enrolled in Medicine to do Honours in Medicine?
No - our Honours program is one of the best and most popular ways for students NOT doing medicine to do clinically focused research
What marks will you need to get into Honours?
The faculty minimum score is 65 but typically we do not often accept students with faculty score marks under 73
What is expected of me in Honours?
The course has two components. The smaller component of theory which deals with current concepts of human disease and approaches to medical research; the larger part is your original research project
What is involved in the coursework for the Honours year?
Course work in the theory component covers ethics, experimental design and statistics, workshops on mechanism of humans disease and communication skills
What is the assessment for the year?
Theory is 25%; thesis/research project is 75%
What if I want to do honours in science but I don’t want to be in a lab?
Not all important medical research is “wet” bench work. We also offer a range of public health, policy and bioinformatics projects that are not based on bench work
I did basic science subjects – can I do a project in neuropharmacology?
In principal yes. To clarify this we always recommend close dialogue with potential supervisors
What value does Honours add to my degree?
Honours degrees from University of Melbourne are highly prestigious and sought after in the medical research sector and the broader workplace. The broad, hands on experience that the Honours year provides gives our graduates experiences and qualifications that readily differentiate them from others
Do you need to stay at the same university for honours?
Yes, if you want a University of Melbourne Honours degrees
Should I apply at multiple universities?
You are of course free to do this, but we encourage high calibre students to consider The University of Melbourne
Is it more difficult coming from a different university other than The University of Melbourne?
All the places are competitive, but we have had many students from outside institutions apply successfully for Honours
What can Honours lead to?
Our graduates have all commenced highly diverse and very satisfying careers. Some have remained in medical research completing their PhD and moving onto other labs, some have entered the workforce into business consultancies at allied business. Some have moved to the government sector- the overall employment rate is well over 96% in the first year out