How an honours year can enrich your undergraduate degree
The Bachelor of Design (Degree with Honours) is a one-year advanced program of study for students who have achieved academic excellence in their undergraduate degree and have an interest in research. Design student Crystal Si Ning Tang shares her experience of adding an honours year to her degree.
Want to continue exploring your design passions and forge a pathway to further study in graduate research?
As a Bachelor of Design student at Melbourne you’ll have the opportunity to add an honours year onto your undergraduate degree. This will enable you to specialise in one of three areas – Architectural History, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning – and complete an independent research thesis, under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
Building on your experience in your undergraduate degree, your honours year offers you the independence and flexibility to study and research your own interests. You’ll hone your expertise and build your creative and research skills, while learning how to manage your time and prioritise effectively – attributes that are highly sought after by employers.
It was this independence that attracted Crystal to the program.
“The honours program has a strong focus on an individual thesis, which appealed to me because of the freedom that students have to pursue a personal interest within the field. I am excited by the opportunity to undertake a project in a largely self-directed manner, which also contributes to a larger body of academic knowledge.”
Studying an honours year has also helped Crystal diversify her skillset and strengthen her professional network.
“I’ve gained exposure to a range of faculty members and researchers within the University in a context that is very different to the undergraduate experience. The honours program is less about subject matter and more about autonomous discovery, so the advice and relationships with faculty members has a much stronger research lens. On top of academic exposure, the program really challenges students to advance their abilities in written communication, time management and project scoping, which are highly transferable skills.”
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