Bachelor’s Degree vs Honours Degree – What’s the Difference?
What is an honours degree and how is it different from a bachelor’s program? The difference might influence your decision about the right undergraduate program to study abroad.
Simply put, a bachelor’s degree with honours is a higher-level specialization than a regular bachelor’s degree. It indicates a higher degree of academic accomplishment, and in some parts of the world, may involve an extra year of studies. Today, we jump into the details of what sets apart an honours program from a regular bachelor’s degree, to help you make the right choice for your undergraduate studies.
Types of Bachelor's Degrees
Before jumping into the differences, the first step is understanding what a Bachelor’s degree is all about. A Bachelor's degree is an undergraduate academic degree that colleges and universities award after a 3-4 year-long program. It is the next academic step after high school and usually the minimum requirement for many professional career pathways and graduate studies.
There are many Bachelor’s degree types to choose from – the right option for you typically depends on the course subject list you are considering. When looking into the bachelor’s degree options through a course finder like GRADSearch, for example, you might run into programs such as:
Bachelor of Arts (BA):
Liberal arts and humanities programs, offering broad or specialist education in subjects like literature, history, and social sciences.
Bachelor of Science (BS/BSc):
Emphasizes scientific and technical disciplines, including fields like biology, chemistry, and engineering.
Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA):
Combines practical and creative skills, typically in fields like design, media, and communication.
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Focuses on the application of scientific principles in professional and technical fields.
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.):
Prepares students for careers in architecture, including design, planning, and construction of buildings.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA):
Covers business fundamentals such as management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA):
Concentrates on visual and performing arts, offering intensive training in areas like painting, sculpture, and theatre.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN):
Provides education and training for a career in nursing, including patient care, medical knowledge, and clinical practice.
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS):
Trains students in the practice of medical science and medical practice
Bachelor of Laws (LLB):
The primary qualification future legal practitioners in common law countries need to complete
How Honours Degrees Vary by Country
A bachelor’s degree (honours) may mean different things in different parts of the world. What all honours degrees have in common though is that they are a higher level academically than bachelor’s degrees. However, depending on the country you are planning to study in, the nature of honours degrees may vary.
The UK:
Most Bachelor’s degrees in the UK are honours programs. Honours degrees can span from three to five years, depending on the major. Generally, most bachelor’s degree programs in the UK are three years long, including bachelor’s degree programs with honours. In the UK, an honours degree holder will graduate in one of the following categories:
| First-Class Honours | 70% grades or above |
| Second-Class Honours, Upper Division | Grades between 60% and 70% |
| Second-Class Honours, Lower Division | Grades between 50% and 60% |
| Third-Class Honours | Grades between 40% and 50% |
| Regular Bachelor’s Degree | Grades below third-class honours grade ranges |
Australia
An honours program in Australia involves an extra year of study after a three-year bachelor’s degree. As is the case in the UK, a bachelor’s degree with honours is a higher level academically than a regular bachelor’s degree. If you opt for an honours program, the extra year will include research, coursework, or some combination of the two.
Canada
If you plan to study for a master’s degree in Canada, you will typically need to hold a four-year bachelor’s degree program with honours. Bachelor’s with honours degrees involve a more rigorous focus on research and/or coursework, with a more specialist approach to your field than a bachelor’s program.
How Bachelor’s and Honours Degrees Vary by Coursework
Another of the key differences, apart from program duration, that sets apart bachelor’s and honours programs is intensiveness. The curricula for honours degrees are more in-depth and include more credit hours than an ordinary Bachelor’s degree. Typically, honours programs have a heavier focus on coursework, research projects, and/or thesis completion:
| Coursework Component | Ordinary Bachelor’s Program | Honours Program |
| Course Level | Typically includes introductory and intermediate courses (100-300 level) | Includes more advanced courses (300-400 level) |
| Credit Hours | Requires about 100-130 credit hours | Requires more coursework, around 130-180 credit hours |
| Research Component | No significant research component | Completion of a research project, thesis, or dissertation, typically accounting for 6-12 credit hours |
| Interdisciplinary Courses | Focuses mainly on core and major-related courses within a single discipline | Often requires interdisciplinary courses or projects, accounting for 3-6 credit hours, integrating knowledge from various fields |
| Capstone Projects | May include a capstone project, typically 3-6 credit hours, as part of the final year requirements | Requires a comprehensive capstone project or thesis, often 6-12 credit hours |
| Independent Research Project | Typically, no independent research project | May include an independent research project worth 6-12 credits, under a supervisor |
Cost Comparison
Funding your studies abroad is one of the most important considerations when choosing a degree. You can probably guess at this point that as an academically higher-level qualification, honours programs tend to cost more than an ordinary bachelor’s degree. The latter typically takes three years to complete, in destinations like the UK and Australia. An honours degree program may take you 4-5 years to complete, depending on the country, subject, and university.
Honours programs typically involve more courses and extra credit hours, adding up to higher tuition fees. While costlier than a regular bachelor’s degree, an honours program creates a smoother pathway for those entering the workforce or graduate studies. Factors impacting the cost of an honours program include:
| Credit Hours | Honours degrees may include more credit hours than bachelor’s degrees |
| Extra Year of Study | Since honours degrees may involve an extra year of study in a destination like Australia, the overall tuition will be higher |
| Research and Project Expenses | Honours programs include a thesis or a project, which can increase the cost of the program |
| Seminars and Workshops | Tuition can be higher due to the inclusion of seminars and workshops |
Requirements for Bachelor's and Honours Degrees
Since bachelor’s program and honour program students apply at the same entry level. Honour’s degrees are specialist versions of a Bachelor’s degree and the key differences depend on the university and the country. In the UK, for example, most bachelor’s programs are also honours degrees.
Each university sets its own requirements for enrolling into its bachelor’s degrees. When exploring the list of university courses you want to apply for, you will need to check the entry requirements of each of your choices. Typically, for an undergraduate program, application requirements will include:
● Past grades or GPA: Academic transcripts of your secondary school education
● A GED or high school diploma: Most bachelor’s programs ask you for a high school diploma or GED
● Standardized test scores, like the SAT or ACT: North American universities may require SAT or ACT scores for admission
● English Language proficiency test scores
● Letters of recommendation
● Statements of purpose
● Admissions tests: For entry into certain subject fields, you may need to sit for standardized tests like the LNAT for law applicants to the UK
Benefits of an Honours Degree
Considering the extra investment, effort, and time that goes into honours degrees, you may be wondering if it is worth it. There are some compelling benefits you will get with an honours degree that you might not with a regular master’s program. All of these benefits stem from the fact that honours degrees are higher-level qualifications than bachelor’s programs. Some of the most compelling perks of honours degrees over bachelor’s degrees include:
Pathway into Further Education
Many master’s programs require a bachelor’s degree with honours as a mandatory requirement from applicants.
Career Advantage
Being more prestigious than an ordinary Bachelor’s, a Bachelor’s degree with honours can set you apart to employers.
Research Skills
Honours degrees may include a mandatory thesis or dissertation for your final year. This builds up your hands-on experience with research, a very important skill if you want to pursue a career in academia. Completing and publishing your thesis as a research paper can create exciting opportunities for your future.
Enrichment of Knowledge
An honours program affords you a greater depth of knowledge in your field. You develop a more specialist understanding of your niche, which may include more practical and experiential learning. In the long run, this can benefit you through greater career opportunities and a stronger foundation to build upon professionally or academically.
Alternatives to an Honours Program
Some alternatives to the honours qualification include:
Postgraduate Diploma
A postgraduate diploma is a short course you can take before or instead of a Master’s. In case your Bachelor’s degree education is not enough to pursue your ideal career path or further education, a postgraduate diploma can help you bridge the gap instead. A diploma will take you between 6-12 months, costing a little less than the annual tuition for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Master's Degree
Instead of opting for an extra year for an honour’s degree in Australia, you can opt for a Master’s degree. However, you need to consider whether the options in your masters course search will accept a bachelor’s degree without honours as your academic qualification for a graduate program.
Professional Certificate
A professional certificate is another short course you can enrol in to boost your qualifications, particularly for career benefits. A certificate course typically takes 3-6 months and costs less than full-time postgraduate education.
Rounding Up
Hopefully, this piece gave you clarity into what an honours degree is and how it differs from a regular bachelor’s degree. With this data in mind, you will have an easier time pinpointing the right study abroad programs that fulfil your academic goals and meet your expectations. Remember, honours programs may look different depending on your destination, university, and subject. In Australia, an honours program is an extra year of study after a three-year bachelor’s program. In the UK, however, most three-year bachelor’s degrees are already honours programs. In Canada and the USA, an honours program is a four-year bachelor’s degree. Research your options carefully before you start applying, so you know exactly how they compare!
