BA in Languages - Japanese Studies (Honours) in Darlington Australia | The University of Sydney

Pursuing honours can serve as the initial stage toward building a career in academia or professional research. The honours program combines seminar courses with work on an independent research thesis, guided by a faculty expert in your chosen field.
The honours curriculum blends seminars with thesis development. Some programs feature three seminars paired with a concise thesis (12,000-15,000 words), while others include two seminars with a more extensive thesis of up to 20,000 words. Seminar assessments are conducted by the course instructor, with some departments involving a second faculty member in grading. Theses are evaluated by at least two field experts besides the supervisor, who provide comprehensive feedback and preliminary grades.

Final thesis grades are determined collectively by the department or program faculty. All honours candidates are ranked based on their thesis and seminar performance. These departmental evaluations and University Medal nominations are then reviewed by the Faculty Honours Board, comprising Honours Coordinators from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Honours students must enroll in four core units: JPNS4011, JPNS4012, JPNS4013, and JPNS4014. The program consists of 40% coursework and 60% thesis work. Coursework includes two specialized units, while the thesis requires an original 18,000-20,000 word research project utilizing both English and Japanese sources, tailored to the student's language proficiency.

Prospective honours students should meet with the department during Orientation Week to discuss coursework requirements.