Global Utilities

Honours

Department of Biochemistry

Honours Handbook 2009 NEW

Honours Scholarships

Overview

The Honours course in Biochemistry at La Trobe has developed over 30 years into a world class course. It provides students with the opportunity to undertake their own original research, work in competitive research teams and gives them a great start in a career in science and beyond. Students are trained in essential laboratory and presentation skills, and they are exposed to leading edge ideas and methodologies in research. Somewhat uniquely, Honours students choose which lab they wish to work in and have constant personal mentoring throughout the year. Students are also assessed and constructive feedback provided on a regular basis throughout the year by the whole of the Biochemistry department resulting in student satisfaction and excellence. One measure of student satisfaction is that in 2006, 8 students  out of 17 have gone onto do their PhDs in the department.

Assessment

The course contains a number of different assessments during the year.  Original research is unpredictable and awarding of a first-class Honours (H1) is therefore NOT dependent on a successful research project. The Honours Year is also quite different to the courses that preceed it, and students with average marks from previous lecture courses have excelled in Honours.

Research component (70%):
A seminar at the beginning on the planned project - 5%
A seminar at the end on the achievements of the project - 5%
A written report on the research project -25%
An oral examination - 15%

The supervisor's assessment - 20%

Coursework component (30%):

Written assignments on exciting topics in Biochemistry- 15% 

Seminar on a research paper - 10%

Seminars attended throughout the year - 5%

 

Student options after graduation 

Many Honours students are stimulated by their Honours year and  continue in research. Many graduates undertake their PhDs in our Department on tax-free research scholarships (http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rgso/sc/) although our graduates are highly sought after by other Universities and research organisations and would be qualified to undertake PhDs abroad if they wished. Students also have a wide range of choice of jobs in biological and health science industries.

Commencement times & Applications

The Honours year commences in the first week of February each year and finishes in mid-November. There is no mid-semester break.

To qualify for Honours, students must receive a mark of 65% or more in 3rd year Biochemistry (or equivalent) and an average mark of more than 60% in all of their 3rd year subjects. Qualification does not guarantee entry into the course because a quota exists. It is unfortunately necessary to have a quota because the personal attention and training that each student recieves throughout the year is very time demanding and it is unusual for any supervisor to have more than two students. This means that the Honours year is unlikely to have an intake that exceeds 20 students.

Entry and preference for projects is based on 3rd year marks. 

In late September, we release the Honours Project Booklet and Project Selection Form. Hard copies can be posted on request. Information sessions will also be conducted in early October. Students are also encouraged to discuss potential projects with individual supervisors. For additional information, please contact the Honours Co-ordinator, Dr John Silke, J.Silke@latrobe.edu.au .

An Honours Year grant is also available to students facing financial hardship. For further details, please go to the relevant page on the Equity and Access website.

Content Approved by: Head of School
Page maintained by: Web Administrator
Last Updated: 24 November, 2008

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