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Course Outline

HNE423 Honours Research – Project Examination

Course Coordinator:Nguyen Nguyen Hong (nnguyen@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course you will consolidate your research in the form of a thesis/project report for examination and make a final presentation to your peers and a panel of examiners. For students studying full time, the course provides an opportunity for advanced work on your project (HNE422) while concurrently preparing your thesis/project report and final presentation for examination (HNE423). For part-time students, the course provides an opportunity to consolidate your work for presentation for examination. Your Supervisor will provide guidance on the format of the thesis/project report.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Independent Study/Research – As per Honours handbook - assessed items include thesis and final oral presentation 300hrs Week 1 Once Only

Course Topics

Topics covered in this course will depend on the research area of the student’s honours project.

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

24 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge associated with a specific discipline area of science. Knowledgeable
2 Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of research principles and methods. Knowledgeable
3 Demonstrate the potential to make original contributions to scientific knowledge and to integrate research findings with the current body of disciplinary knowledge/paradigms. Engaged
4 Communicate knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in oral and written format to peers and other scientific audiences through advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

HNE420, HNE421 and must be enrolled in SC401

Co-requisites

HNE422

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one of the sciences.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Feedback is given continuously throughout the year, and at the program level, by the students Honours supervisors.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Thesis Individual 80% 
15,000 - 25,000 words
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Oral Individual 20% 
15min + 5 min questions
 Refer to Format In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Thesis/project report
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to consolidate your research in a written scientific format for examination.
Product: Thesis
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
This is the primary output of the research project and comprises either a research thesis or research project report as described in guidelines provided to students at the beginning of their enrolment. 

The completed thesis/project report is normally 15,000–25,000 words in length. The required length is determined by the precise nature of the research and should comply with norms of the discipline, in consultation with the supervisor.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
A copy of your thesis/research project report will be sent to two independent examiners, one of whom is normally internal and the other of whom is external to USC. A rubric is provided in the Honours handbook.
 1
2 
The examination criteria will include:
•	Demonstration of advanced theoretical and technical knowledge associated with a specific discipline area of science;
 2
3 
•	Demonstration of a coherent and advanced knowledge of research principles and methods;
 3
4 
•	Demonstration of the potential to make original contributions to scientific knowledge and to integrate research findings with the current body of disciplinary knowledge/paradigms; and
 4
5 
•	Communication of knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in written format to peers and other scientific audiences through advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills.
 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Final Presentation
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to present your research in an oral scientific format for examination.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
15 minutes (+ 5 minute question time), individually presented spoken presentation to the University community. Due week following exam period.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
This assessment task will be evaluated against a marking schema available in the Honours handbook.
 1
2 
The examination criteria will include:
•	Demonstration of advanced theoretical and technical knowledge associated with a specific discipline area of science;
 2
3 
•	Demonstration of a coherent and advanced knowledge of research principles and methods;
 2
4 
•	Demonstration of the potential to make original contributions to scientific knowledge and to integrate research findings with the current body of disciplinary knowledge/paradigms; and
 3
5 
•	Communication of knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in written format to peers and other scientific audiences through advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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