HONOURS THESIS (HT)

The Honours Thesis (HT) is not a compulsory requirement to attain Honours (Highest Distinction). Students who do not wish to do the HT can do the Independent Study Course (ISC) but not both.
Please read the information below to familiarize yourself with the thesis requirements and submission deadlines.

CRITERIA
The HT can be undertaken by Year 4 students. HT is done over two regular semesters without taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) in between.
For cohort 2020 and before: SC4401HM Honours Thesis is worth 15 units in total
For cohort 2021 onwards: SC4401 Honours Thesis is worth 8 units in total

SUPERVISOR
We strongly encourage students to choose a topic and find an academic staff member who agrees to supervise your work before applying for the Honours Thesis. The department will not help students to look for a supervisor.

HONOURS YEAR BRIEFING
Students embarking on their Honours Thesis are required to attend a compulsory Honours Year briefing conducted by the department’s HT/ISC coordinator before registering for the Honour Thesis. The department will be sending out an email in January for students who intend to take their HT in Semester 1 of the academic year. Another email will be sent out in October for students intending to take their HT in Semester 2 of the academic year.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

For students graduating in Semester 2 of AY2023/2024
Online submission of HT supervisor’s name & working title (Week 6 of Sem 1)	22 September 2023, 5pm
Online submission of final HT title (Week 7 of Sem 2)	08 March 2024, 5pm
Online submission of final HT (Week 11 of Sem 2)	05 April 2024, 5pm

 

For students graduating in Semester 1 of AY2024/2025
Online submission of HT supervisor’s name & working title (Week 6 of Sem 2)	23 February 2024, 5pm
Online submission of final HT title (Week 7 of Sem 1)	04 October 2024, 5pm
Online submission of final HT (Week 11 of Sem 1)	01 November 2024, 5pm

 

GUIDELINES AND FORMS

• HONOURS THESIS WORKING TITLE/SUPERVISOR NAME 
• HONOURS THESIS FINAL TITLE 
• GUIDELINES

 

INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE (ISC)
The Independent Study Course which is worth 5 units is designed to enable the student to explore an approved topic within the discipline in depth. Students should identify a research topic and approach a supervisor to work on the agreed topic.
The nature of the work for the ISC is to be determined through discussion and agreement between the supervisor and the student.
Once the supervisor approves the topic, students are required to fill out the ISC form and sent it to the department administrator at socbox3@nus.edu.sg.

CRITERIA
For cohort 2020 and before: SC4660HM Independent Study is worth 5 units.
For cohort 2021 onwards: SC4660 Independent Study is worth 4 units.

REGISTRATION
Students are required to attend the Honours Year briefing conducted by the department’s HT/ISC coordinator to gain more perspective of the course.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

For students graduating in Semester 2 of AY2023/2024
Submit ISC supervisor’s name & working title (Week 6)	23 February 2024
Submit ISC written report to supervisor (Week 11)	05 April 2024, 5pm

Please note that the deadline for submissions are fixed and penalties will apply in the event of late submission

GUIDELINES AND FORMS

• INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE WORKING TITLE/SUPERVISOR NAME 
• GUIDELINES

 

DEPARTMENT ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE (DERC)
With effect from November 2009, Honours students are not required to apply for DERC review if their research is low-risk, involves non-vulnerable populations, and they is no intention to publish. If there is any risk to subjects, or vulnerable populations are involved, or the student wants to publish, DERC approval is required.

Please note that students are required to submit their application by Week 8 of the Semester