Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)
Overview
Take a deep dive into your specialty in social sciences and develop your research skills and knowledge, while gaining a valuable additional qualification which will differentiate you in the job market.
The Bachelor of Social Science with Honours is a single year of full-time (or part time equivalent) advanced level study where you'll apply your research skills in the humanities and social sciences.
Your Honours program will combine a flexible mix of coursework and independent study, during which you'll prepare and undertake an approved independent social science research project and submit a formal Honours thesis.
Under the Honours program, you'll be encouraged to extend your specialised study in either Health and Society, Social and Public Policy, Development or Environment and Society, and the program can be individually supervised across relevant UQ schools or research centres.
The program will allow you to develop, extend and consolidate your knowledge and skills in social science theory and research in relation to your specialisation area. It's a valuable additional qualification on entering the job market.
If you excel through the Honours program, you'll have the opportunity to progress onto a Master of Philosophy or further postgraduate study.
Program highlights
- Enjoy individual supervision from UQ's leading academics as you develop your Honours thesis.
- Hone your research skills and knowledge of your chosen field and gain a valuable additional qualification.
- Unlock pathways to further advanced study with a higher postgraduate degree.
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Development
- Health and Society
- Social and Public Policy
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Fieldwork
- Seminars
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Social Science Honours thesis
- Social Science Honours Research Seminar 1
- Social Science Honours Research Seminar 2
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Depending on which major you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Aid project officer
- Public policy adviser
- Policy and research officer
- Social and government researcher
- Social and welfare services planner
- Community planning and policy adviser
- Community development manager
- Environment and sustainability consultant
- Academic researcher
“The social science degree gave me exciting opportunities to put learning into practice through internships with Queensland Ambulance Service and Friends of the Each, which have been invaluable in applying for jobs and future opportunities.”
Amy MacMahonGraduate, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Development
“What I liked best about the Honours program at UQ is that it allows for interdisciplinary collaboration amongst students. For me this not only helped me learn different skills, but also reflected what is required from most jobs.”
Bryonie WhiteGraduate, Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Criminal Justice
“My studies not only developed my theoretical knowledge, but also provided the environment for me to put this knowledge into practice, engage with industry professionals, participate in skill-building courses, develop my professional networks and learn from lecturers who constantly challenged me to better myself.”
Rhian StackGraduate, Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Criminal Justice
“The social science degree gave me exciting opportunities to put learning into practice through internships with Queensland Ambulance Service and Friends of the Each, which have been invaluable in applying for jobs and future opportunities.”
Amy MacMahonGraduate, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Development
“What I liked best about the Honours program at UQ is that it allows for interdisciplinary collaboration amongst students. For me this not only helped me learn different skills, but also reflected what is required from most jobs.”
Bryonie WhiteGraduate, Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Criminal Justice
“My studies not only developed my theoretical knowledge, but also provided the environment for me to put this knowledge into practice, engage with industry professionals, participate in skill-building courses, develop my professional networks and learn from lecturers who constantly challenged me to better myself.”
Rhian StackGraduate, Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Criminal Justice
Events
See all events
Stories
See all stories
Careers
Fighting misinformation for the benefit of public health
Careers
Public health career possibilities unrestricted by COVID
Stories
See all storiesCareers
Fighting misinformation for the benefit of public health
Careers
Public health career possibilities unrestricted by COVID
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Fields of study
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Health and Society
Students gain an understanding of the social and ethical factors influencing health and illness. Focus is placed on the way the health system works, and gaining the skills relevant to becoming a social science worker in health care.
Social and Public Policy
Students learn how to analyse social and economic issues and develop, implement and evaluate policy solutions. Courses cover social and economic analysis, policy development, implementation, management and evaluation, and community engagement and development. You'll learn how social policy affects everyone in a society and the role of social policy in producing positive change.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Development
Courses analyse the social effects of development, the role of international aid and community development projects, and environmental policy. The major emphasises working in multi-disciplinary teams to alleviate poverty and inequality, and develop sustainable societies, communities and environments.
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Health and Society
Students gain an understanding of the social and ethical factors influencing health and illness. Focus is placed on the way the health system works, and gaining the skills relevant to becoming a social science worker in health care.
Social and Public Policy
Students learn how to analyse social and economic issues and develop, implement and evaluate policy solutions. Courses cover social and economic analysis, policy development, implementation, management and evaluation, and community engagement and development. You'll learn how social policy affects everyone in a society and the role of social policy in producing positive change.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Development
Courses analyse the social effects of development, the role of international aid and community development projects, and environmental policy. The major emphasises working in multi-disciplinary teams to alleviate poverty and inequality, and develop sustainable societies, communities and environments.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
AUD $32,352
Indicative annual fee 2021
This indicative annual fee is the cost of enrolling in the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) for the 2021 academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
If you enrol in a larger or smaller study load, your fees will be calculated on a proportionate basis. All fees are reviewed annually.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $14,500
Indicative annual fee 2021 Commonwealth supported place
This indicative annual fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) in the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) for one academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units over two semesters).
Actual fees will vary according to your choice of courses and their unit value. The Australian Government indexes fees each year.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) is 2033.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) is 2033.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
Explore other programs
Keep up to date
Sign up to get information about applying and studying at UQ.