Honours in Political Science and International Relations

The fourth year Honours programs in Political Science and International Relations in the Bachelor of Arts is an exciting opportunity for students to develop advanced research skills and specialist knowledge of their chosen topic. The program is a combination of coursework based in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and an independent research project supervised by an academic.

Honours is a challenging year that allows the best undergraduate students to realise their full research potential.

Why do an Honours year?

Many students take Honours to push themselves intellectually and dedicate themselves to a topic about which they are passionate. Honours fosters independent thinking, project management, and academic excellence through intensive study as part of a small and dedicated cohort.

Honours is one of the most common pathways into research higher degrees, and is a first step towards an academic career.

An Honours degree also distinguishes students from their peers in the eyes of employers in both the public and private sectors because of the analytical and research skills that it develops. Honours is a necessary qualification for some of the most prestigious sections of the Australian public sector.

What will I study?

The Honours program involves a year-long research thesis and one coursework subject that builds capacity in research design.

One course (4 units) chosen from:
- HHSS 6020 – Research Design in the Social Sciences
- HHSS 6030 — Research Design in the Humanities
- HHSS 6040 — Research Design in Arts and Culture
Thesis (12 units) chosen from:
- POLS6012 — Honours Research Thesis (first semester commencement) (12 units)
- POLS 6014 — Honours Research Thesis (second semester commencement) (12 units)

How do I apply for Honours?

Check your eligibility for Honours in Political Science at the UQ Study website.
Prepare a one-page thesis proposal that includes a research question, research aims, relevant literature, and theories or methods that you may use in your research.
Secure the support of an appropriate academic supervisor from the School of Political Science and International Studies. Sending an early draft of your proposal to your proposed supervisor is key. If you need help finding a supervisor, then contact the Honours Coordinator (see below). You must have the support of a supervisor to apply to the program.
Contact the Honours Coordinator with your research proposal and confirmation of supervision.
Apply through the UQ portal.