Politics
Why study Politics?
If you are an undergraduate student with a strong academic record, Honours in Politics gives you the opportunity to pursue a year long program of study (two years part-time) which combines coursework and research in a specialised area of knowledge. You can also elect to undertake a combined Honours year and gain expertise in two areas of study for a broad-ranging qualification. Complete the Honours program with a high overall grade to qualify for entry into the Masters by Research program, or, in cases of high achievement, direct entry into the PhD program.
Career opportunities
Public service, political parties, international organisations, government and non-government agencies, journalism, media, public relations, education, welfare, health policy, business administration, corporate-government relations, academia, think tanks, and research institutes.
Course information
Local students
Structure
The standard full-time fourth-year Honours course lasts a year. It consists of several components making up a total of 120 credit points (cp). A thesis worth 60 cp is compulsory, as is a research skills subject worth 15 cp. The remaining 45 cp need to be obtained by completing a number of coursework subjects. This can be either three subjects worth 15 cp each or one subject worth 30 cp and one subject worth 15 cp.
Entry requirements
Admission to the Politics or International Relations Honours program is open to students who have completed:
a) a Politics or International Relations major, with a strong B average in 2nd and 3rd year subjects; and
b) POL3HON – Politics in the Twentieth Century
How to apply
If you are interested in undertaking an honours year in Politics or International Relations you should:
- Discuss ideas for a thesis topic with your lecturers and tutors
- Secure the agreement of a supervisor
- Fill in and submit an application form available from the Politics office (3rd floor, Social Science building); applications usually close by the end of November
Further information
Read "A guide to fourth-year honours in Politics" or contact the Faculty office, the Politics office or the program’s Honours coordinator Dr Dirk Tomsa for further information.
International students
Structure
The standard full-time fourth-year Honours course lasts a year. It consists of several components making up a total of 120 credit points (cp). A thesis worth 60 cp is compulsory, as is a research skills subject worth 15 cp. The remaining 45 cp need to be obtained by completing a number of coursework subjects. This can be either three subjects worth 15 cp each or one subject worth 30 cp and one subject worth 15 cp.
Entry requirements
Admission to the Politics or International Relations Honours program is open to students who have completed:
a) a Politics or International Relations major, with a strong B average in 2nd and 3rd year subjects; and
b) POL3HON – Politics in the Twentieth Century
How to apply
If you are interested in undertaking an honours year in Politics or International Relations you should:
- Discuss ideas for a thesis topic with your lecturers and tutors
- Secure the agreement of a supervisor
- Fill in and submit an application form available from the Politics office (3rd floor, Social Science building); applications usually close by the end of November
Further information
Read "A guide to fourth-year honours in Politics" or contact the Faculty office, the Politics office or the program’s Honours coordinator Dr Dirk Tomsa for further information.
Related study options
Didn't find a suitable course? You could also try these study options:
Your study experience
Student and graduate profiles
Students of the Faculty talk about their experience at La Trobe.
About the academic staff
You'll get to meet a large number of academics during your course, from tutors through to lecturers. You can view all the staff from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or focus on staff in Politics.
