Bachelor Honours Degree

Type specifications
NQF Level: 8
Minimum total credits: 120
Minimum credits at Level 8: 120

Designators
Bachelor Honours Degree designators are specific and limited to broad and generic areas of study, disciplines or professions. Examples include: Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Social Science Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Commerce Honours.

Qualifiers
Specific, maximum one
Examples: Bachelor of Science Honours in Microbiology or Bachelor of Arts Honours in Applied Linquistics.

Abbreviations
BAHons, BScHons, BSocSciHons, BComHons, BScHons (Microbiology), BAHons (Applied Linguistics)

Purpose and characteristics
The Bachelor Honours Degree is a postgraduate specialisation qualification, characterised by the fact that it prepares students for research-based postgraduate study. This qualification typically follows a Bachelor's Degree, and serves to consolidate and deepen the student's expertise in a particular discipline, and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of that discipline. This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. In some cases a Bachelor Honours Degree carries recognition by an appropriate professional or statutory body. Bachelor Honours Degree programmes must include conducting and reporting research under supervision, worth at least 30 credits, in the form of a discrete research component that is appropriate to the discipline or field of study.

Minimum admission requirements
The minimum admission requirement is an appropriate Bachelor's Degree or appropriate Advanced Diploma.

Progression

Completion of a Bachelor Honours Degree meets the minimum entry requirement for admission to a cognate Master's Degree. Entry into a Master's Degree programme is usually in the area of specialisation of the Bachelor Honours Degree. A qualification may not be awarded for early exit from a Bachelor Honours degree.