The following guidelines determine whether an applicant has qualifications considered equivalent to a First Class or Second Class Division 1 Honours degree.

Grounds for Honours 1 Equivalence
Grounds for Honours 2A Equivalence

Grounds for Honours 1 Equivalence

Grounds for Honour 1 equivalence are normally limited to:
(a) Advanced postgraduate diplomas, with an exceptional level of results.* Units undertaken must include research methods and a project. Results for the project and research methods unit must be at High Distinction level for H1 equivalence to be granted.

(b) Masters by coursework, whether completed or incomplete: at least one full year of subjects at postgraduate level by the end of the year of application, with an exceptional level of results.* Units undertaken must include research methods and a project. Results for the project and research methods unit must be at High Distinction level for H1 equivalence to be granted.

(c) Masters by research, if complete: only acceptable as equivalent to H1 with evidence of superior performance, such as an award with Honours (First Class Honours if grades are awarded), or as shown by prizes, examiners reports, refereed publications or conference papers based upon the research. In all cases, copies of examiners reports and refereed or other publications must be provided.

(d) Masters by research, if incomplete: at least one year full-time towards completion (or part-time equivalent) by the end of the year of application, with evidence of superior performance such as reports by supervisors, assessors reports on seminars, refereed publications or conference papers based upon the research. In all cases, copies of supervisors reports and refereed or other publications must be provided.

(e) Masters qualifying programs, with at least one full year of subjects at postgraduate level, with an exceptional level of results.* Units undertaken must include research methods and a project. Results for the project and research methods unit must be at High Distinction level for H1 equivalence to be granted.

(f) A four year degree where honours is not awarded, if including a substantial research project and with an exceptional level of final year results.* Results for the project and for any research methods unit, if undertaken, must be at High Distinction level for H1 equivalence to be granted.

(g) Doctoral studies, if incomplete: at least one year full-time towards completion (or part-time equivalent) by the end of the year of application, with evidence of superior performance such as reports by supervisors, assessors reports on seminars, refereed publications or conference papers based upon the research. In all cases, copies of supervisors and assessors reports and refereed or other publications must be provided.

(h) A degree plus a qualification from a Royal College, e.g. MBBS + MRACP.

(i) Degree of Second Class Honours at Division One (2A) level in exceptional circumstances may be accepted as equivalent to H1 if a candidate also has a strong record of refereed publications (appropriate to the discipline), or a minimum of three years relevant work experience in an appropriately supervised research environment, or other outstanding written contribution to a relevant profession, or some combination of these.

The faculties/ research centres have the following guidelines and forms to record their assessment:

Assessment of Quality of Research Environment;

• First Class Honours Faculty RC Research Scholarship Order of Merit Summary Spreadsheet (PDF) (Word);
• H1 Equivalence Guidelines (PDF) (Word);
• H1E Assessment Form (PDF) (Word);
• Honours 1 Equivalence Faculty RC Research Scholarship Order of Merit Summary Spreadsheet (PDF) (Word);
• Assessment of Quality of Research Environment (PDF) (Word)
• Scholarship Allocation: Principles Guidelines, Roles and Responsibilities (PDF) (Word); and
• Scholarships Flowchart (PDF);

In exceptional circumstances, applicants may be assessed as having First Class Honours equivalence on grounds other than the above. Such exceptions will be considered by the University Research Degrees Committee on application by the faculties. Evidence must support an application based on the following grounds:

(a) A significant record of scholarly publication: as appropriate to the discipline, demonstrated by a number of refereed articles in scholarly journals, a single-author research monograph, or publications of equivalent academic standing; or

(b) Significant relevant research work experience: usually for a minimum of five years, involving responsibility for the conduct of research projects (not merely working as a research assistant) and resulting in outcomes for which the applicant has had major responsibility. While normally this would involve some form of publication, it is recognised that in some circumstances publication may not be possible and other evidence of outcomes may be acceptable; or

(c) Outstanding public recognition of a research contribution to a relevant profession: a candidate who has been awarded prizes or medals or other significant public recognition for research in a relevant profession may be acceptable.  

 
Grounds for Honours 2A Equivalence

Grounds for H2A equivalence include items listed above for H1 equivalence, but at a very good rather than an exceptional level of achievement. Account may be taken of any refereed publications, relevant work experience, or other outstanding written contribution to a relevant profession.
 
In addition, a pass degree may be accepted as equivalent to a H2A if a candidate has:
 
(a) A good publication record as demonstrated by a number of refereed scholarly publications appropriate to the discipline; or

(b) A minimum of three years' relevant work experience in an appropriately supervised research environment; or

(c) Other outstanding written contribution to a relevant profession; or

(d) Some combination of these; or

(e) In the case of a four year degree where honours is not awarded, very good final year results.                                        

*An exceptional level of results: In this context, an exceptional level could include results at High Distinction level in not less than 50% of subjects, or at Distinction level or better in all subjects, or other results approximately equivalent to this. Note that in all cases the results for the research methods and project subjects must be at High Distinction level for H1 equivalence to be granted. 

Very good but not exceptional results are considered equivalent to Honours 2A, and could include results at Distinction level in not less than 50% of subjects, or at least at an average of Credit level in all subjects, or other results approximately equivalent to this.