Handbook

Students must complete 48 UOC.

Assessment

1. Tutorial classes

Weekly workshops on topics which include ethics, research design, fundamental statistics and maths, data analysis, survey design, thesis writing and synthesis, project / time management, presentation skills and professional development. Workshops are held in Terms 1 and 3 and vary in length from half-day to a day. Please note, the workshops’ exact topics and schedules may vary subject to staff availability.

Assessment method: Students are required to submit exercises for feedback but does not contribute to final honours grade.
Contribution to final grade: 0%

2. Research Proposal

Maximum of 1500 words; the purpose of this assessment is to ensure that the student is working towards the expected schedule for all Honours students and to provide timely feedback on their work.

Assessment method: Extensive feedback to be provided by the student’s research supervisor within 3 weeks of submission.  
Contribution to final grade: 0%

3. Literature Review

Students are required to submit a literature review of their research area to their supervisor and Honours program coordinator. The maximum word count is 3000 words. This will be marked by the student’s primary supervisor.

Assessment method: Extensive feedback to be provided by the student’s research supervisor within 3 weeks of submission.  
Contribution to final grade: 0%

4. Midway Presentation

Students are required to present their work-in-progress to an audience including lecturers, researchers and other research students. The purpose of this task is to ensure that the student is working towards the expected schedule for all Honours students and to provide timely feedback on their work. The presentation must not be longer than 15 mins in duration. This is followed by 5 mins of Q & A.

Assessment method: The Honours program coordinator will collate and provide written feedback from academic attendees within 1 week of the presentation.
Contribution to final grade: 0%

5. Final Presentation 

Students are required to present their research findings to an audience including lecturers and researchers towards the end of their enrolment. The presentation must not be longer than 30 mins in duration. This is followed by 10 mins of questions and answers. 

Assessment method: Students are graded by the academics in the audience. The Honours program coordinator will collate and provide written feedback from academic attendees within 1 week of the presentation.
Contribution to final grade: 15%

5. Thesis

The written thesis should follow the format for a Masters or Ph.D. thesis, but will be shorter; the thesis should not exceed 20,000 words (not including appendices). Subject to agreement with the supervisor, this should normally include: Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References, and Appendices (if required). Students should discuss the exact chapter structure with their supervisor. Three bounded copies of the theses are to be submitted to the School of Aviation. 

Assessment method: Internally examined by at least 2 reviewers.
Contribution to final grade: 85%

Honours Grade Calculation

Hons. Class I (>85%)
Work of excellent critical evaluation through substantial independence and self-direction, reflecting superior quality in all aspects of research, writing and presentation. The work has no significant errors or/and deficiencies.

Hons. Class II, Division I (75% to 84%)
Work of very good critical evaluation through substantial independence and self-direction, reflecting very good quality in all aspects of research, writing and presentation.

Hons. Class II, Division 2 (65% to 74%)
Work of good quality in research, writing and presentation but with some significant errors or/and deficiencies.

Hons. Class III (50% to 64%)
Work is in acceptable form and demonstrates basic research, writing and presentation skills. The work has several significant deficiencies.

Fail (<49%)
Work has a number of major flaws and there is evidence of lack of basic knowledge.

The thesis will be reviewed by at least two internal reviewers other than the supervisor(s). A panel will then determine the allocation of final honours grade.

Admission Requirements and Process

Requirements

A minimum of a 3 year full time Bachelor degree (AQF level 7) specialising in Aviation with a minimum average mark of a credit. This typically includes the UNSW 3980 Aviation (Flying) and 3981 Aviation (Management) programs but may include other Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering programs where students have majored in Aviation or Aerospace Engineering.

Process

Students who meet the entry requirements, or expect to do so, should make contact with potential supervisors. Further information about staff research interests and projects can be obtained via UNSW Research Gateway (http://research.unsw.edu.au) and UNSW Aviation webpage (http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/research/research.html). Following this, students should contact undergraduate student office and complete an honours application form before the due date (typically February for S1 and June for S2).

 

Pathways

Students with successful honours may be qualified to enrol in postgraduate level studies (Master of Philosophy, Master of Science by research or Ph.D.), depending on the level of honours obtained and the area in which research is to be undertaken. Further information can be gained from School of Aviation webpage: http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/research/research.html

Graduates of honours degree in aviation may find employment in research, government and industry. Past graduates of honours in aviation have found employment in all of the above sectors.