Bachelor of International Studies (Honours)

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Course summary

If you are doing, or have done particularly well in your Bachelor of International Studies degree, you should consider an Honours year. This normally involves one additional year of study following the successful completion of a three-year undergraduate degree. Your Bachelor of International Studies degree would have introduced you to a wide range of topics and problems, and an Honours project enables you to explore one in much greater depth. Honours research topics are various and negotiable—if you are really interested in a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported by our expert staff.

From a potential employer's perspective, whatever your topic, being able to demonstrate the ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently, are all highly desirable qualities.

The Honours year has two functions at UOW: as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research. Studying Honours is about:

  • learning research skills, navigation skills and information systems (archives, the Library, databases, electronic research networks);
  • the opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing. It provides the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project to meet a deadline;
  • experiences in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument/thesis of 15,000 words.

What you will study

The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) consists of 50% coursework and 50% research work.  The research component of this degree takes the form of a research thesis under the supervision of an academic employed in the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Course information

Study area

International Studies

Campus

Wollongong

Course Code

322

ATAR-SR

-

Duration

1 year full-time or part-time equivalent

Delivery

On Campus

Cricos

075097K

UAC Code

-

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For any specific advice or questions regarding an application, please contact the Future Students Team.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for entry into Honours, students must have qualified for a Bachelor degree with an average of at least 75% across the major (or majors) in which the Honours degree will be undertaken with the additional requirement of a Distinction in two of the 300 level subjects required by the major.
Applicants are also required to complete a 500 word outline of the proposed thesis topic. The outline should indicate the topic the applicant would like to research, as well as a justification of the significance of the research from a personal and/or intellectual point of view.
Students considering an Honours degree are encouraged to talk to the Program Coordinator well in advance to seek approval for enrolment, discuss their program, and negotiate a thesis topic and supervisors.

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject. For information regarding student contribution amounts, please refer to the UOW Current Students website.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at UOW, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for entry into Honours, students must have qualified for a Bachelor degree with an average of at least 75% across the major (or majors) in which the Honours degree will be undertaken with the additional requirement of a Distinction in two of the 300 level subjects required by the major.
Applicants are also required to complete a 500 word outline of the proposed thesis topic. The outline should indicate the topic the applicant would like to research, as well as a justification of the significance of the research from a personal and/or intellectual point of view.
Students considering an Honours degree are encouraged to talk to the Program Coordinator well in advance to seek approval for enrolment, discuss their program, and negotiate a thesis topic and supervisors.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

6.5

6.0

6.0

6.0

6.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

86

18

18

17

17

UOW College: English for Tertiary Studies: Credit (weighted average mark of 65 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

Other qualifications may also be considered. Full details can be found on our English Language Requirements website.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Additional Fees:


In addition to tuition, there are other fees and costs you will need to consider, including but not limited to:



  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

For more details on fees and other costs, please visit Fees and Assistance.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Wollongong

On Campus

$16,320 (2025)

$32,640 (2025)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. The fees outlined in your Letter of Offer of Admission to the University are correct at the point of offer, but are indicative and subject to change without notice. The indicative total course tuition fee is an estimate, based on normal course length and progression and current course fees.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT


STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2023.

Applicant background

2023 intake

2023 intake (%)
Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-
Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-
Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education
ATAR Only Students admitted only on the basis of ATAR including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-
ATAR plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both ATAR and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-
Other criteria only (non-ATAR) These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where ATAR was not a factor (e.g. UOW Early Admission).

-

-
International students All other students.

-

-
All students

-

-
< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

ATAR PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘ATAR-based admission’.

ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2023

 ATAR The unadjusted, raw ATARs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR. Selection Rank The ATARs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-
Median rank to receive an offer

-

-
Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-
< 5: Less than 5 ATAR-based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)

More Information

For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2025 Autumn

Wollongong

Orientation: 24 - 27 February 2025
Session: 03 March - 27 June 2025

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 31 October 2024*
  • International Applicants: 31 October 2024*

*Complete applications (with all required documentation) received by these dates will receive an outcome prior to the start of session.

Late applications may be assessed for future sessions if an outcome for the requested session is not possible.

2025 Spring

Wollongong

Orientation: 14 July 2025
Session: 28 July - 20 November 2025

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 31 May 2025*
  • International Applicants: 31 March 2025*

*Complete applications (with all required documentation) received by these dates will receive an outcome prior to the start of session.

Late applications may be assessed for future sessions if an outcome for the requested session is not possible.

Course Structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Handbook

Why choose this course

The Honours program can be a pathway to postgraduate study and is evidence of sustained intellectual engagement in a topic. An Honours thesis is self-directed (but supported) research that provides you with the skills to engage with the world as a researcher, writer or analyst,

At UOW, you will learn from experts in their fields. UOW staff are high-quality and passionate teachers and academics who are research leaders in security studies, international relations, political economy, settler colonialism, aid and development, languages and their origins, or the cultural impact of an electronic culture.

 

Career opportunities
  • Administration
  • Aid Work
  • Diplomat
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Government
  • Human Rights
  • International Business
  • Interpreter
  • Media
  • Policy Advisor
  • Politics
  • Translator
  • Travel and Tourism
  • United Nations
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