Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) Arts - PhB

The PhB is a research-focussed undergraduate degree at The Australian National University. The PhB is designed for students who want to study, in depth and at the highest level, any of the 38 disciplines offered by the Faculty of Arts. This will involve working closely with a member of the academic staff as a mentor and research advisor. Entry is restricted and competitive quotas apply.

All applicants should read the guidelines before completing the application form. Please mail the application form and referee reports to:

Student Office
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Haydon-Allen Building 22
ANU ACT 0200

Or fax them to +61 2 6125 0743.

Background

The PhB degree is very flexible in its structure, with a student's program being determined each year in collaboration with an academic supervisor. One quarter of studies in the first three years will consist of individually tailored Advanced Studies courses, specifically designed to provide students with a strong base in research.

To qualify for this degree students need to complete all of the course requirements - normally at High Distinction level - and must also complete the Honours year at First Class level. After completion of the equivalent of 8 courses (48 units) of the degree, the Faculty will determine whether the student's level of performance is sufficient to remain in the degree program. It will be possible to transfer to another undergraduate degree in the Faculty and receive credit for work successfully completed towards the PhB.

All PhB students will have automatic access to seminars presented by candidates in the Faculty of Arts Honours School and to course advice from the Assistant Dean (PhB/Honours).

Entry requirements and contents

• A minimum UAI/ENTER of 99 or an equivalent will be necessary (for example, success in another high quality degree or an exceptional performance, normally all High Distinction grades, for at least one complete year of study at an Australian university);

• The Faculty of Arts will impose an annual quota on the number of enrolments;

• All students applying for the degree will be required to complete the application form above and referee reports before they can be offered a place in the program.

• Selection will involve a detailed consideration of the academic record to ensure that the student will be able to cope with the demands of the compulsory Advanced Studies courses. Interviews and school recommendations may be used as selection instruments;

• The academic program will be designed in consultation with a staff member who will act as a research advisor throughout the degree. Course content may be delivered by experts from any ANU faculty, centre or research school;

• The program consists of 192 units, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study;

• It will be possible to accelerate the program to complete in three years by taking Advanced Studies and/or Internship courses in semester breaks, and by taking more than 8 courses in Year One;

• The program includes a fully integrated Honours year.
  

Scholarships

Students will be eligible for a wide range of entrance and continuing scholarships, many of which favour interstate applicants. All PhB applicants are urged to apply separately for an NUS (National Undergraduate Scholarship) at the ANU (it is worth $10,000 per annum). Information and the online application form for this scholarship can be found at: http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/scholarships/school_leavers.php.

Completion of the application form above automatically entitles the applicant for consideration for an ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences PhB scholarship.

Deferment

Students will be eligible to apply for a deferment of their offer for one year only.

Typical study pattern

Advantages

ANU has a world reputation for cutting-edge research in the humanities, anthropology, archaeology, languages and the social sciences. In 1999 the University was ranked first in the Asia/Australia region for research output by the prestigious AsiaWeek magazine - and in 2000 was in the top 10 multidisciplinary universities in the region, and first overall in Australia. ANU has an outstanding record in terms of international prizes - including Nobel Prize-winning research, the Japan Prize, four Australia Prizes and, recently, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science 2000.

In 2001 and 2002 the University's Philosophy and Politics programs were ranked, respectively, 14th and 36th in the world - the only Australian campus in the top 200 universities.

Through the new PhB degree students will have access to the full resources of the University's Institute of Advanced Studies, the Faculties and its Research Centres.

Few Australian universities are in the position to provide students with this unique form of research-focussed preparation for postgraduate study.

At the same time, the PhB is an ideal pathway for research careers anywhere in the world.

Further information
Student Office
T: (02) 6125 2898