Bachelor (Honours)
The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) is an inspiring, holistic four-year degree with integrated honours. The innovative curriculum provides an individually designed academic program, focusing on your chosen area of specialisation, coupled with unparalleled access to UWA's leading researchers and research facilities, international exchange programs, professional skills development workshops and a network of talented peers and alumni. Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons) students can study most undergraduate majors on offer at the University, as long as they have met prerequisite requirement for the major.
The research-intensive focus ensures you have the skills to identify and solve complex problems, independently manage and lead projects, and communicate incisively across a range of platforms.
During the course you will study abroad at one of UWA's international partner institutions, expanding your connections among the international community.
The cross-cultural learning this experience fosters is an invaluable asset in today's globalised workplace where intercultural knowledge is highly regarded.
UWA offers a number of admission entry pathways for domestic and international students to be able to study with us. If your results do not qualify you for standard entry into the University, check our Admission entry pathways for one that suits you.
Your BPhil experience starts with the essential Summer Residence, a live-in orientation program. You'll meet other members of your cohort, participate in orientation activities, hear from leading researchers and meet Faculty Deans and members of the University Executive. The Summer Residence takes place two weeks prior to the start of Semester 1.
The best experience was being able to meet and get to know my BPhil cohort. It made Orientation and the first few days of university a really pleasant experience, as there were many more familiar faces and friends around campus.
Your BPhil experience starts with the essential Summer Residence, a live-in orientation program. You'll meet other members of your cohort, participate in orientation activities, hear from leading researchers and meet Faculty Deans and members of the University Executive. The Summer Residence takes place two weeks prior to the start of Semester 1.
The best experience was being able to meet and get to know my BPhil cohort. It made Orientation and the first few days of university a really pleasant experience, as there were many more familiar faces and friends around campus.
I really enjoyed all the talks from such interesting people, as well as making new friends. I didn't know anyone in the group so the social activities were really important to me.
The best experience was being able to meet new people. I really enjoyed the quiz night and Harry Perkins visit and also the GCRL2000 presentations.
A key feature of the BPhil program is unparalleled access to UWA's leading researchers, international exchange programs and work placements, and a network of talented students and alumni. This sets the degree apart from others at UWA. It teaches you to identify and solve complex problems. You create new facts and evaluate new arguments by conducting empirical research under the guidance of an expert in your chosen field.
A key feature of the BPhil program is unparalleled access to UWA's leading researchers, international exchange programs and work placements, and a network of talented students and alumni. This sets the degree apart from others at UWA. It teaches you to identify and solve complex problems. You create new facts and evaluate new arguments by conducting empirical research under the guidance of an expert in your chosen field.
To me, the BPhil is the key that unlocks the best that UWA has to offer. You can obtain an undergraduate degree by presenting your work at international conferences, interning for the Chinese government and publishing independent research in a peer-reviewed academic journal. It has all the existing benefits of a degree at UWA, with additional experiences that are rare for students to encounter at undergraduate level.
If I had remained in Canada, I would not have been able to find a university program that took a comparable interest in the academic, professional and social development of its students.
I chose UWA because of the BPhil, rather than choosing the BPhil from the options available at UWA.
It was the single best decision I've ever made.
When browsing the UWA Handbook, I knew almost immediately that I'd apply for the Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons). Given that it provides distinctive opportunities to research and network in UWA and beyond, I had no reason not to. The BPhil's early exposure to research work prior to honours can open up further research opportunities.
When browsing the UWA Handbook, I knew almost immediately that I'd apply for the Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons). Given that it provides distinctive opportunities to research and network in UWA and beyond, I had no reason not to. The BPhil's early exposure to research work prior to honours can open up further research opportunities.
At the end of my third year, I was accepted as a research intern at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). This was made possible partly because I'd already done some undergraduate-level research and my supervisor, who also had contacts at OIST, recommended that I apply.
Doing the BPhil made my application for the 2017 Rhodes Scholarship for Malaysia all the more competitive, especially on the academic side, and so I will be going from the BPhil experience at UWA to the Rhodes experience at the University of Oxford-from one exceptional experience to the next.
The BPhil will help you make the most out of undergraduate study. It enriches the typical undergraduate experience with access to people, opportunities and resources to deepen and further your academic and professional development in UWA and elsewhere. While it's still up to you to take those opportunities, the BPhil will give you plenty of them.
The Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons) has a flexible structure that enables you to study most undergraduate majors on offer.
UWA's four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) degree comprises 32 units.
The units you study must include:
There are some limits to be aware of. You'll need to:
Beyond this, you can craft a degree that suits your personal interests and career goals.
The BPhil Union represents and supports students in the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) program. It runs social and educational events for BPhil students and non-BPhil students, ranging from casual picnics to cocktail nights, and extravagant balls to workshops with corporate firms.
The Dr Vincent Harry Cooper Memorial Prize is awarded annually to the BPhil (Hons) student who submits the most outstanding Honours dissertation. The Selection Committee chooses the prize winner with the highest mark achieved for their dissertation from each of the following areas of study:
Dissertations are judged on novelty of idea or approach; creativity and clarity; and the impact in the relevant field. This prestigious prize was established by Mr Roderick Cooper in honour of his father, Dr Vincent Harry Cooper. Dr Vincent Harry Cooper was a foundation Board Member and Chairman of the Western Australian Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
The BPhil (Hons) Office is the faculty office for all BPhil students, regardless of your chosen major. For information on the services offered in BPhil, relevant workshops, seminars and other events, email our office using the details below.
Telephone numbers
Academic Coordinator: 6488 1869
Deputy Academic Coordinator: 6488 6748
Course Adviser/Administrative Assistant: 6488 2069
Online enquiries: askUWA
Location: Rooms 1.14 and 1.15 Barry J Marshall Library, above the Catalyst Cafe