Honours Program FAQs
Find information on our Honours programs, including requirements, expectations, and benefits of pursuing an Honours degree within Human Biosciences.
Deciding whether or not to pursue an Honours degree depends on your career aspirations, academic strength, and personal goals:
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If you鈥檙e planning a career in research, completing an Honours degree is strongly recommended. Some graduate programs may require an Honours degree as part of their admission criteria.
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If you鈥檙e academically strong and have good marks, an Honours degree could be a valuable choice to further develop your research and academic skills.
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If you鈥檙e considering professional schools (e.g., medicine, dentistry), check the specific admission requirements. Some schools may prefer applicants with an Honours degree.
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If you鈥檙e hoping an Honours degree will compensate for a weak academic record, you may want to reconsider. An Honours program is demanding and requires deep commitment. If you鈥檙e not passionate about the project or lab work, you might find it difficult to complete. The final stages, particularly writing and revising your dissertation, can at times be tricky. Ensure you鈥檙e committed to seeing the project through before starting.
While having previous lab experience can certainly help, it is not a requirement to pursue an Honours degree. If you are already familiar with laboratory protocols and procedures, you will be able to get started more quickly and with less of a learning curve. However, if you don鈥檛 have prior experience, your supervisor will likely design a project that accommodates your skill level.
If you're looking to gain research experience before starting your Honours program, there are several ways to do so:
- MUCEP (糖心视频 University Co-operative Education Program)
- SURA (Summer Undergraduate Research Awards)
- USSIP (Undergraduate Student Summer Internship Program)
These programs provide opportunities to work in research labs, helping you build valuable experience.
Applications for the Honours program are typically accepted after near the end of your 3rd year. By this point, you will have completed enough Human Biosciences courses in order to accurately assess your readiness for the program.
In some cases, students may apply for Honours after completing a general degree.
The deadline for applications is typically near mid-to-late March each year.
To apply for the Honours program, you need strong grades!
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For admission at the end of third year:
- You must have a 75% average or at least a "B" (ie. a 65%) in every required Human Biosciences course.
- Overall GPA of at least 2.75
Your academic performance in relevant courses is essential for consideration.
To apply for Honours, you need to complete the Application for Honours Program and email it to the department鈥檚 Academic Program Officer at bcadvice@mun.ca. The form can be obtained from the Department's Academic Program Officer.
If you meet the requirements for Honours standing, the department will approve your application and send the form to the Registrar鈥檚 Office to update your standing on Student Self-Service. You will also be notified of whether your application has been successful.
To remain in Honours standing, it鈥檚 essential to maintain strong grades. Never aim for a "C" or worse, especially in Human Biosciences courses. It鈥檚 generally easier to get a "B" in your required Human Biosciences courses than to maintain a 75% average across all of them.
If you get a "C," you may need to repeat the course if your average calculated from your HuBi courses is below 75%. Honours students are able to repeat or substitute up to three courses for their Honours degree.
As part of the Honours application process, you will also submit a Supervisory Selection form where you identify your top three preferred supervisors. You will be assigned to one of supervisors you list on your form.
To help you in ranking your top three supervisor picks, the most effective approach is simply to reach out to them. By the end of your third year, you鈥檒l have a better sense of which areas of Human Biosciences interests you. Familiarize yourself with faculty research by checking out their web pages and identifying potential supervisors. You can also consider applying for a MUCEP position in a research group to get hands-on experience before deciding on your ranked list.
If you would like further help with this, please visit the Human Biosciences Advising Office.
Joint Honours programs are excellent but demanding, with potential course scheduling conflicts. We offer a number of joint honours programs, all of which are rewarding. It鈥檚 crucial to plan ahead, as course clashes are likely. We recommend having a backup honours option in mind.
When applying for a joint honours program, you must be approved by both departments involved. Additionally, decide which department will be your primary research focus, as you鈥檒l need to complete your honours research in one of the two departments.