joint honours dissertation

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Joint Honours Students

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The frequently asked questions below have been compiled to support joint honours students at the University of Sussex in understanding their workload and how they will be assessed.

Yes. Single and joint honours students have broadly equivalent amounts of academic work and study hours.

All undergraduate students are required to secure the same number of credits overall to achieve their degree. In the case of joint honours students these credits are split equally between the two subjects being studied rather than the focus being on a single subject.

All undergraduate degree students must complete 120 credits each year (60 credits per term). These credits are achieved by studying modules which are blocks of 15 or 30 credits. A module of 30 credits is double the workload of a 15 credit module.

As a general rule, a single credit amounts to 10 hours of learning effort so in a 30 credit module you would be expected to undertake 300 hours of learning in total over the term. Over a 12 week term this amounts to an average of 25 hours per week and would include time spent attending lectures and seminars as well as independent study.

No. As all full-time undergraduate students study modules total 120 credits each academic year then you will have a comparable number of teaching sessions to single honours students studying the subjects which make up your degree.

However, the number of scheduled lectures and seminars will vary between subject areas according to the requirements of the subject. Your course handbook and timetable will describe the arrangements for your course in detail.

When scheduling assessments for single and joint honours students, the University aims to spread deadlines so that the clashes are avoided and students receive feedback in good time to prepare for the next assignment. However, assessments for different modules may sometimes fall due in the same week for both single honours and joint honours students. You will be made aware at the start of each module when any assignments are due to enable you to plan and manage your time. The Study Success at Sussex (S3) website has useful tips on getting organised and managing your time.

The Study Success at Sussex (S3) website has useful tips on getting organised and managing your time.

Exams and dissertations

Most courses require students to do a dissertation or research project in the final stage. Students on both single and joint honours degrees may do two dissertations either as a core requirement of the course or through selecting option modules which are assessed by submission of a dissertation. For details of what is required for your course you should refer to your course handbook.

Some courses will enable you to choose the subject in which you write your dissertation. This will be dependent on the core and optional module requirements of your course and could mean that you are able to write a dissertation in each subject that you are studying. For details of what is required for your course you should refer to your course handbook.

A dissertation would usually be confined to a single subject area but in discussion with your allocated supervisor you will able to select a topic within that subject that is of interest to you.

The University aims to ensure that students have no more than one examination per day. As far as possible the timing of examinations is restricted to mornings and afternoons on weekdays. However, the constraints of the examination periods and combinations of modules dictated by the curriculum require some examinations to be held outside those times (on Saturdays and Bank Holidays and in the early evening).

All students, whether joint honours or single hours will be assessed using a variety of different methods appropriate to the subject. Examples include essays, exams, presentations, lab reports and musical compositions. It is important to offer a range of assessment methods to enable students to practise and demonstrate a wide range of knowledge, understanding and skills. Your tutors will provide you with subject specific advice and guidance on assessment and you can also visit the Study Success at Sussex (S3) website which has some guidance about some of the most common types of assessments.

At the end of the academic year the Progression and Award Board (PAB) will confirm your marks for the year. The PAB also confirms your eligibility to progress to the next stage of your degree, or if you are at the final stage, whether you have met the requirements for an award and the classification of this.

Following the meeting of the PAB you will receive an individual mark for each of the modules you have completed and a single overall mark for the year known as the ‘stage mean’. Please see Examination and Assessment Regulations Handbook 2014/15 [PDF 1.34MB]  for more details.

There are three assessment periods for undergraduate students:

• Mid-year – between the autumn and spring terms before teaching begins
• End-of-year – normally in the summer term when students have completed all of their modules
• Summer vacation – this is for students who are re-taking any modules which they have failed during the year and is usually towards the end of August

Exams for modules for which teaching is delivered in the autumn term usually take place in the mid-year assessment period, and exams for spring term modules in the end-of-year assessment period. If you are studying a module which takes place across both the autumn and spring terms exams may take place in either assessment period.

The dates for each of the assessment periods are available at the beginning of the academic year. Exam timetables will be communicated before the end of each term.

When the draft exam timetable is released you should check this and inform the Student Progress and Assessment Office of any clashes.

If you wish to observe/attend religious festivals and holy days, or have a scheduled competitive sporting event, work placement or internship commitment in the designated assessment period that may clash with a scheduled exam you can make a formal request to the Director of Student Experience in your lead school of study, accompanied by a letter from the religious/sporting/placement event leader confirming your intention to observe/attend the event and the dates/duration of the event. The Student Progress and Assessment Office can take this into account when they are preparing the exam timetable. If it is not possible to accommodate this you will be offered an opportunity to be assessed in the summer resit period.

No. Single and joint honours students have an equal opportunity to gain a good degree. The University has processes in place to ensure that marking is carried out in a fair and reliable way. Moderation checks that marking has been conducted appropriately and is done both internally by faculty independent of the marking process and externally by the external examiner(s) appointed to the module. External examiners are independent academic members of staff from other UK Universities and enable the University to be confident that its assessment processes are comparable to other institutions in the UK.

 Modules/Electives/Study Abroad Year

Selecting a joint honours degree enables you to choose to study two subjects of interest to you. The full 120 credits of study per year are needed to enable the core curriculum requirements for your chosen subjects to be delivered in sufficient depth. Therefore the elective modules that single honours students can take are not available to joint honours students. However, your joint honours programme may enable you to choose from a range of option modules within each of your chosen subjects.

Any information which has been determined as crucial to you achieving the award will be covered in core modules which you must take as part of your course. You will only be assessed on the modules you are studying so you will not be expected to sit an exam on an area not covered in your teaching sessions.

Modules are often offered to more than one course of study which means that you may share teaching with both single honours and joint honours students from a number of different courses.

Some courses (American Studies and Languages) have an integrated Study Abroad Year embedded into a 4 stage course structure. A Study Abroad Year integrated into the course structure requires that the University guarantees all students on the course access to a Study Abroad Year.

All students on a 3 stage undergraduate course can apply to undertake a voluntary Study Abroad Year, with the exception of those whose course already includes an Integrated Study Abroad Year.

When considering a Study Abroad Year, you will be able to choose which subjects you study. This may be focussing on one of your chosen subjects, a combination of both or a different but related subject. Academic staff in your School will be able to advise you on selecting of modules. For more information about a Study Abroad Year or Term please contact the Sussex Abroad office [email protected] . 

 Academic support for joint honours students

As a joint honours student you will be based in the School which delivers the first named subject of your degree. However, you will encounter and have access to academic staff for both of your chosen subjects. All staff have office hours when they are available to meet with students and a number of them note their office hours on their web profiles or office doors. If office hours are not displayed, or you are unable to meet during those times due to other commitments please contact them by phone or email to arrange a suitable time to meet.

No. You will have one academic adviser based in your home School. However, your academic adviser will be familiar with your degree course and will be able to direct you to appropriate alternative sources of academic advice if required.

You will be offered an opportunity to meet your academic adviser at the beginning of the first term. Following the initial meeting you would normally meet with your academic adviser at least once per term.

You will meet other students on your course through induction events and ongoing attendance at lectures and seminars.

Each course at the University has a course convenor who is responsible for academic oversight of the course. For joint honours degrees there are two convenors, one for each of the subjects. The joint convenors will schedule termly meetings for all students on the degree, when you will have the opportunity to meet other students studying on your course.

Timetabling

You will be able to access your timetable via Sussex Direct before the start of each term.

Work is undertaken by the University to limit the number of lecture clashes, especially around core modules. You should contact your course coordinator if you find there are scheduling clashes on your timetable.

Teaching sessions should finish at 10 minutes to the hour. The primary purpose of this is to allow rooms to be vacated and prepared for the next teaching session so that they can start on time. This should provide time for you to get to another teaching session elsewhere on campus.

 General

No you will get a single degree but the title of the award will reflect the two subjects that you have studied e.g. BA (Hons) English and History.

You will study modules in both subjects each term.

Degrees with ‘and’ in the title e.g. BA (Hons) English and History indicate that the two subjects have been studied in equal weight. If the degree has a ‘with’ in the title more emphasis is placed on the first named subject which will account for 75% of the credits undertaken. For example, if you were studying BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Physics, 75% of the credits you study would be in the subject area of mathematics and 25% in Physics.

This is dependent on the type of degree you undertake. If you are studying on a joint major degree such as BA (Hons) English and History then equal weighting is given to each of the subjects. For students on a single major with minor pathway courses more attention will be given to the major subject. For example, if you were studying BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Physics, 75% of the credits you study would be in the subject area of mathematics and 25% in Physics. The time that you devote to each subject should mirror this split.

You will be provided with reading lists for each of your modules at the start of term. You can access reading lists via Study Direct or through the Library homepage. Accessing the reading list online will also enable to see how many copies of a particular book are available in the Library.

Reading lists may be very long and appear overwhelming but they will be split into sections that indicate essential or core reading, and further recommended reading. You are advised to purchase those texts which are essential but resources listed as further reading are there to guide your independent study so you can chose what you read from this part of the list.

Yes the qualification will be the same. Joint honours students will study for the same number of credits as single honours students but these credits will be shared amongst more than one subject. For example, a student studying joint honours Anthropology and Cultural Studies and a student studying single honours Anthropology would both be awarded a BA (Hons) qualification provided they passed all of their modules.

If you cannot decide on a single subject, choosing a joint degree allows you to pursue studies in two different areas that interest you studying core topics within each of the subject areas. Joint degrees are viewed positively by employers as you could develop a broader range of skills from two different subjects.

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What is a Joint Honours Degree? Meaning, Pros And Cons, & Courses

• by Ajah_Excel
• March 27, 2024
• 9 minute read

What are the advantages of studying a joint honors degree as opposed to a normal degree if you’re preparing to apply to college? The two sorts of degrees will be compared in this article along with a list of benefits and drawbacks for each. 

The two degrees will be examined in depth, perhaps resulting in many of your questions being addressed so you can decide which degree is best for you.  

If the two topics you combine have a strong connection, theoretically a joint honors degree could be superior to a normal degree. 

Your enhanced familiarity with a variety of areas may increase your employability. Two subjects and a full schedule are balanced with excellent time management.

In this article, we have compiled everything you need to know about a Joint Honours Degree. 

Table of contents

What is a joint honours degree, you can study two subjects you enjoy in depth, you can avoid modules you don’t like, you meet more people, you’ll have more choices for your dissertation, what are the disadvantages of a joint honours degree, what is a standard degree, advantages of a standard degree, disadvantages of a standard degree, honours degree vs. bachelor’s degree, how to choose between joint honours and a standard degree, how to choose the right subject combination for a joint honours degree, 1. single honours degree, 2. a degree with an honours project.

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Conclusion 
• References 

Recommendations

A joint honors degree combines many subjects into one degree , allowing you to study more than one subject.

Contrary to popular assumption, obtaining a dual honors degree usually doesn’t take any longer than obtaining a regular degree. Whatever you decide, a full-time degree will normally take 3 or 4 years to complete.

You have the choice to study a subject you excelled at in sixth-form college and combine it with a brand-new, unknown subject when pursuing a dual honors degree. 

You will be studying both subjects equally for this degree. To be more specific, you study one subject for half the time while studying the other for the other half. 

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What are the Advantages of a Joint Honours Degree?

Why not study both if you are interested in two different subjects? By pursuing a joint honors degree, you can take a variety of courses in both areas.

Since you normally earn the same number of credits for both, you might take more modules in one because it has fewer credits. 

This also means that your degree will have a wider range of content and evaluation methods, which is especially true if you study subjects as disparate as music and philosophy.

For a dual honours degree as compared to a single honours degree, you study fewer modules in each topic, allowing you to design the course around your interests.

This implies that, although it does depend on the course, you may frequently pick the modules you like and skip the ones you don’t.

For combined honors students in some degrees, certain modules are required (especially in the first year), but many courses offer options, notably in the arts.

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You can interact with students from many departments in lectures and seminars when you are taking two courses.

It will be challenging to get to know everyone taking a single honors course because there will be so many of them. Since there are probably fewer of you taking the same combined honors course as you, you might get to know your classmates.

Even though a dissertation in your senior year may seem far off, time will fly fast, so it’s still important to consider! 

It frequently happens that you can choose which of your two subjects you wish to write your dissertation about. 

This gives you more options, and you may talk about these things with instructors in both departments and access their resources. Certain departments require a dissertation, but you may typically opt-out .

These are just a few of the many advantages of pursuing a combined honors degree. Remember that most colleges will let you drop one after the first year if you decide that you don’t want to devote the full three years (or more) to taking two topics. 

It is hoped that after reading this, you will have a better knowledge of joint honors courses and be in a better position to decide if it is the best decision for you.

Finding a university that offers the dual honors program you wish to enroll in is the next step because not all of them will.  

You can check this: How Do You Get A Scholarship For Private Schools?

A drawback of choosing a joint honors program is that you can struggle to balance your two studies evenly and feel pulled between two faculties.

You might prefer one over the other and have a hard time balancing the two in your schedule.  

Additionally, because you are focusing on two subjects rather than one, your schedule might appear to be busier.

You will probably have two times as many feedback sessions and frequently conflicting deadlines, which can make you feel anxious and overworked.

Since single honors students only have to concentrate on one subject, it is simple to feel envious of them.

To be sure you comprehend the issue, you must conduct a lot of background research. You must also take into account the possibility of increased costs when purchasing books, materials, tools, and stationery for each of your disciplines.

With a standard degree, you either study just one subject, or one major and two minors.  

If a course’s title contains the word “with” while you are looking for options, it probably refers to a major or minor, for example, engineering with math.

In this situation, engineering is the primary component of the degree, hence engineering will require more study time than math, which is the minor component. 

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The benefits of pursuing a standard degree are obvious. If you decide to pursue that particular field after graduation, you will have the opportunity to expand your skill set in one area, which will assist in launching your career.

In general, it’s far simpler to concentrate on one thing rather than two things at once.

If you are interested in several disciplines and are having trouble choosing one to pursue, you can feel as though your options are limited by simply taking one course. Additionally, if your passions start to feel like work or like a 

duty, you could feel exhausted and start to dislike them. 

After completing a degree, many students claim to have a solid understanding of whether or not they enjoy a certain subject.

Having only one subject to choose from can be a drawback of a normal degree if you find a subject you don’t enjoy.

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The main difference between a bachelor’s degree and an honors degree is the amount of study one undertakes during their undergraduate academic career.

Even though several bachelor’s degrees can be obtained with or without honors, getting an honors degree usually entails extra processes. 

This involves applying to an honors degree program, which is pursued as a separate one, in some countries. In contrast to a degree with honors, people obtain both a bachelor’s and an honors degree.

When looking into educational possibilities, distinguishing between different degrees can frequently be done by noticing the differences in the abbreviations that are used to represent the qualifications. 

For instance, a bachelor’s degree in the arts is typically abbreviated as BA, whereas a bachelor’s degree in the arts with honors is abbreviated as BA (Hons).

In the same way, a conventional Bachelor of Science degree is denoted as BSc, but a degree with honors is denoted as BSc (Hons).

A single honors undergraduate degree, in which students select a particular area of expertise to focus on, is another option to take into account. 

These programs frequently provide an integrated and coherent curriculum, enabling a thorough investigation of the selected subject of study.

This is different from studying distinct courses separately since it offers a concentrated and immersed learning environment.

Choosing one degree over the other has no downsides because the success of any degree depends entirely on how you use it.  

As you can see, it is a popular option, thus you might find that they only accept a small number of applicants for the joint honors degrees due to rising demand and oversubscription.  

You might be thinking about which course is harder to take, however, the workload for a joint honors degree will be the same as for a regular degree.

You will take the same number of modules because you are only taking one of your two courses at a time. 

If you are having trouble balancing your classes, you must make sure that your university offers you plenty of assistance so that you do not feel overworked.

However, a drawback can be that your lecturers don’t realize you’re taking two different courses; as a result, the workload might first seem excessive and be viewed as a drawback. 

The key deciding element is the courses you have the opportunity to study because both degrees are thought to be equivalent, especially in terms of academic competence.

Related post: 15 Best Duke Undergraduate Majors in 2023

Your decisions are heavily influenced by your passions and areas of strength. However, you should make decisions based on logic and reality. Preferably, the subjects you choose should be related to the vocation you hope to pursue.  

The two topics don’t need to be closely related, but we do advise that you pick topics that are connected and overlap in some fundamental sense. 

You must be aware that choosing a topic combination that is drastically dissimilar from one another, like math and art, may be challenging. Choosing them would be pointless because they do not overlap. 

Your lecturers could frequently overlook the fact that you are taking additional courses, thus you might experience an overwhelming workload. 

On the other hand, picking courses in sociology and psychology would be a good example. They strongly relate to one another, therefore this would be a fantastic combo.

Additionally, you must examine your topic choices to ensure that they complement your career goals; doing so will help you land a job.  

What are the other Types Of Honours Degrees?

You have the option to study stand-alone honors, which is regarded as an additional course, after completing your undergraduate studies.

To focus on one of your undergraduate courses, you can enroll in a course that combines three disciplines, such as Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. 

This type varies from integrated honors in that it requires an extra year of study, whereas integrated honors allow you to complete your honors requirements concurrently with your studies.

One of the simplest options for earning honours is this one. It would be a typical three-year degree that included a project or dissertation in the last year of study.

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Frequently Asked Questions 

An honours degree in college refers to an undergraduate degree program that includes an additional level of study beyond the standard bachelor’s degree. It typically involves more rigorous coursework and a higher level of academic achievement.

To obtain an honors degree, students usually need to meet specific academic criteria, such as achieving a certain grade point average or completing a designated number of credits or modules at an advanced level. The requirements may vary depending on the educational institution and country.

Yes. Honors degrees are available in a wide range of subjects, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and more. However, the availability of honors programs may vary depending on the specific discipline and educational institution.

While an honours degree is not always a mandatory requirement for pursuing further studies, it can be advantageous when applying for postgraduate programs, especially in competitive fields or for prestigious scholarships.

Some universities may offer options for students with a regular degree to upgrade to an honours degree by fulfilling specific requirements, such as completing additional coursework or a research project. It is advisable to consult with the educational institution for their policies and procedures.

Conclusion 

A dual honors degree could therefore increase your chances of finding employment. Employers emphasize time and time again how important it is for graduates to be organized and flexible in a professional job setting.  

Due to their different talents acquired via studying multiple topics, joint honour students are rewarded with maybe additional employment alternatives after graduation. It is quite valuable to be able to change between different kinds of jobs. 

Flexibility is becoming a more important employability trait, therefore being able to split your time between two studies will be beneficial once you graduate.

References 

• thinkstudent.co.uk/  
• uniacco.com/  
• Joint Honours vs Single Honours Degree: Is a Joint Honours Degree Better Than a Standard Degree?
• Top 15 Best Online GCSE Courses in 2023
• How Do You Get A Scholarship For Private Schools?
• How To Get EPQ UCAS Points As A Student: 2023 Complete Guide
• How Many Degrees Can You Get?
• What Majors is Harvard Known For: 2023 Harvard University College Degrees Data

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Understanding honours

Honours is an additional qualification where you can build on your undergraduate studies by completing a self-directed research project and disciplinary or research-focused coursework. This may be integrated into your undergraduate degree or require an additional year of study.

Overview and types of honours

• Eligibility and preparing for honours
• Honours awards and classes

You can undertake honours either as part of the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies, or through an appended honours course after your undergraduate degree. Some professional or specialist degrees also have embedded or integrated honours.

Honours provides an opportunity to work on an independent but supervised research project and is usually completed as one year full-time study (some disciplines offer part-time options).

Under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you will choose a thesis topic, create a reading list and identify your method of research.

Academics in your faculty or school will provide supervision as you write your thesis. This thesis will document your research from proposal through to conclusion.

Why study honours?

Completing honours shows you have achieved high academic standards and gives you an honours-level award.

An honours pathway can open the door for further research study, equipping you with the prerequisite research skills to undertake a research degree such as the PhD.

Alternatively, if you decide to only complete an honours pathway without pursuing further research, you will graduate with a robust set of transferrable skills including:

• time management and research skills
• project management and delivery
• showing future employers that you can investigate independently and achieve more complex goals.

What’s involved

Generally, honours will consist of three components:

• an independent research project, mentored by your academic supervisor
• additional units in research design/technical training
• some honours and coursework units.

You will usually complete a dissertation or thesis and attend regular meetings with your supervisor to discuss your research.

Once you complete the requirements for your honours, you will graduate with an honours level award.

You can contact the faculty or school honours coordinator from the area of interest you are considering, for more information about honours. We also hold honours information sessions (usually in September) where you can discuss your options.

Types of honours

The type of honours you undertake depends on your individual study circumstances.

Honours in the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies

If you are completing a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies and are eligible, you can elect to complete embedded honours in either of your two majors in the final year of your studies. Be aware that some streams do not allow you to undertake honours in your second major or as an embedded component in the combined degree. Check our applying for honours pages  and your handbook for more information about options available to you. 

If you are completing an eligible degree and commenced your studies in 2018 or later (or transferred to the new curriculum version of your degree in 2018) and are on track to complete two majors by the end of your degree, you can apply to transfer to a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies up until your penultimate semester of study. This adds an additional year to your single bachelor’s degree in which you will complete your honours, and means you will graduate with two bachelor’s degrees.

Transferring to the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies

If you are a Commonwealth supported student (who commenced your degree prior to 2021) and you are considering transferring to a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree, you’ll need to apply for a new course enrolment. This means you will be charged the new Jobs-ready Graduates Package fee rates for units you need to complete in your new degree. You won’t be re-charged the new fee rates for any units you already completed under the old rates.

Please carefully check information on our Tuition fees page and consider the implications of transferring courses before you take any action.

For more information regarding the Jobs-ready Graduates Package and fee changes, please visit www.studyassist.gov.au

Appended honours

Appended honours is an additional course that you complete after you have finished your undergraduate degree. Generally, appended honours is available to both current University of Sydney students and external applicants. You’ll find information and eligibility criteria for most appended honours degrees in Find a course .

As a current student, often you'll need to apply through Find a course in the same way that external applicants apply, but may also need to submit an additional application form to your school or discipline. When searching for these on Sydney Courses (Find a course) these degrees will look like the Bachelor of Arts (Honours).

Embedded honours

Some bachelor’s degrees have honours embedded within them. You will complete your honours study in the final semesters of your current undergraduate degree by completing specific units. Honours will not increase the overall time taken to complete your studies.

Generally, you will apply for embedded honours directly to your faculty or school.

Integrated honours

There may be some specialist and professional degrees where you complete honours integrated within the duration of your degree. You won’t have to apply separately to do honours and won’t need to complete specific honours units. An example is the Bachelor of Engineering.

Double and joint honours

In some situations it is possible to complete either double honours or joint honours.

Double honours means you complete two separate honours theses in different subject areas. This normally takes an additional year, extending your studies to two years full time.

Joint honours is when you complete an honours thesis in two subject areas closely related to each other. A special program of study is designed that allows you to complete the course concurrently in one year.

To apply for double or joint honours, you need to meet the eligibility requirements for both honours.

Contact the honours coordinator in your faculty or school to discuss your options.

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Joint Honours degrees

A joint degree allows you to study multiple subjects throughout your time at university and graduate in two or three subjects. 

In taking a joint degree, you are required to take core modules in all of your subjects. This means you will take more core modules than a single Honours student, which will reduce the flexibility and the number of optional modules you can take.  

Types of joint degrees

There are three types of joint Honours degrees at St Andrews. You can see all the possible combinations for each course on the  course pages .

“And” degrees

It is possible to combine two subjects at Honours level, typically 50% in each subject, such as English and Economics.

“With” degrees

You can take some Honours degrees with a major, for example: Biology with Arabic. “With” degrees allow the majority of modules to be taken in one specialist subject (major) alongside another minor subject in the final two years.

“Triple” modern languages degrees

It is possible to combine a degree in up to three modern languages, such as French, Spanish and Italian.

You can also take a Modern Languages joint Honours degree which involves equal study of two modern languages and one additional subject.

Benefits of a joint degree

There are many benefits in specialising in more than one subject, including:

• develop an interdisciplinary skill set
• study multiple subjects throughout your degree
• broaden your perspective and approach
• enhance your employability
• expand your career options after university.

Applying for a joint degree

You can apply for a joint degree through the  normal application process .

If you are applying through UCAS, you will need to note the UCAS code for the specific joint degree you want to take. You can find UCAS codes by searching on the  UCAS website .

When applying, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on the  course pages .

Switching to a joint degree

Provided you meet the requirements to progress to an Honours degree for both (or all) of your chosen subjects, you should be able to switch from a single Honours to a joint Honours degree.

You should speak with your Adviser of Studies to discuss possible options and how to switch your degree.

Teaching Matters blog

Promoting, discussing and celebrating teaching at the university of edinburgh, spotlight on joint honours degree: a student’s perspective.

In this ‘ Spotlight on Joint Degrees’ post, student Isabelle Sher reflects on her experience of studying as a Joint Honours student at The University of Edinburgh….

I am a second year Joint Honours student, studying English Literature and History. From the outset of my studies, I assumed that, as a Joint Honours student, I would be studying both disciplines in equal measure. However, as my first year progressed, I found myself reflecting more and more on this point. What did it mean to give equal time to both degree disciplines when the courses were structured so differently? More importantly perhaps, why did the expectations of each school contrast so dramatically from one another?

Don’t get me wrong. For the majority of the year, I was pleased (by and large) with the course content and the way in which the two degrees slotted together. But if I was to describe the structure of my degree in the barest terms possible, I would say it felt like a single Honours in English Literature with additional History modules.

The opportunity to take subjects outside of your core degree was one of the fundamental reasons I applied to The University of Edinburgh, and taking courses outside of my two schools has repeatedly demonstrated just how much of an identity each school has. Whilst I believe it is crucial that schools maintain their identity, I find myself questioning how conducive that is to Joint Honours students from different disciplines. I found myself smiling whilst reading the content of Dr Chris Perkins’s blog post on this subject. “Mishmash”, as he put it, quite accurately depicts the difficulty of navigating these different schools.

So, thinking forward about how the issue of structure and ‘belonging’ might be addressed, I make the following points:

Personal Tutor (PT) System

I was assigned an English Literature PT, who I’m pleased to say has been absolutely amazing. However, I was never consulted about whether or not I would have liked to have had my PT in the History department. If this isn’t an option, then can my degree really be joint ?

Think of it this way, if I decide that I would like to do my dissertation in History, then it might very well have been useful for my PT to have been a historian.

What would I propose ?

Provide the student with the option to have their tutor in either subject from the outset, and perhaps the option to switch for second year if they feel it would benefit them, or if they sense they would like to head in that subject area.

The Dissertation situation

I’ve always understood that I may do my dissertation in either English Literature or History. But as someone who has distributed my study time pretty equally in both areas, it saddens me that I am unable to combine them both. I love both my subjects, and the thought that I will have to choose one over the other is really sad!

Start a conversation about how different schools might facilitate collaboration between joint honours subjects for the dissertation. Sure, it would make things a little trickier, but imagine the value and insight that could be gained!

Differing attitudes between the schools

To re-emphasise, this is more about liaison issues.

What would I propose?

Design a document highlighting the key ways courses are structured in each department throughout the years of the course. An example would be that in Years 1 and 2 for History, the Historian’s Toolkit and Historiography are compulsory courses. Years 1 and 2 for English are one prescribed course (rather than individual modules). Both options are great. But it is confusing.

After saying all this, I do feel it’s important to emphasise the benefits of a Joint Honours course. It’s a real opportunity for students to become totally engrossed in two subject matters, and through doing so, open their eyes to gaining a greater understanding of where their academic passion really lies.

Isabelle Sher

Isabelle Sher is a second year student reading an English Literature and History Joint Honours. She is a Lloyds Scholar and Committee Member/Columnist for the HCA Journal ‘Retrospect’. She loves visiting Scottish Castles and writing novels.

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Joint honours degrees: double the trouble?

When I applied for my joint honours degree in English and history, I thought it would help me stand out from the crowd once it came to finding a job.

But what I've learned along the way is that a joint honours student needs double the passion, patience and perseverance required to study a single honours degree.

One of the first hurdles you have to overcome is logistics. Working with two academic departments can result in clashing deadlines, twice the staff to get to know and double the feedback sessions.

Rafe Hallett, director of induction in history at the University of Leeds, says: "The first six months of study can be a struggle, as the joint honours student adapts to the demands of two communities and two discourses of knowledge.

"They can sometimes feel stuck in limbo between two 'homes' and feel envious of the apparent simplicity of single honours students' timetables, contexts and communities."

Hayley Reid, a classics and English student from the University of Leeds, found dividing her time and attention between two schools was more trouble than it was worth: "It was one of the biggest mistakes I've made at university."

Reid feels she doesn't properly belong to either of her departments: "I've chosen to focus more on the English side of things, but my parent school is classics. I feel like I'm floating in some sort of subject limbo where I'm neither an English student nor a classics student."

Joint honours students must deal with two ways of thinking and two methods of learning. For me, the stark differences between English and history are manifested in the teaching style – and the personalities – in each department.

The English department at the University of Leeds is situated in a row of small terraced houses. I walk into my seminars, and take a seat in a circle of chairs. Eight of us sit with our notepads on our laps and engage in free-flowing, spontaneous discussion about the set reading.

My tutor will jump out of his armchair to search for his old, tattered version of Shakespeare's Richard III, to draw comparisons and encourage inter-textual thought. He once performed a whole scene from Etherege's The Man of Mode, holding the book in his hand, jumping from side to side while acting out two parts.

Then I'll head to my history seminars to immerse myself in intense, regulated debate in a bare classroom – no bookcases, no armchairs and no digressions. Discussions between historians can become incredibly heated: we are trained to cultivate judgments about the past, and to assert them in a concise, convincing and intellectual manner.

Although studying a joint honours degree can seem like extra hassle, taking on two subjects at university level does work for some.

Phillippa Watts from the University of Leeds, is a French and history graduate with first class honours: "Studying a language was particularly useful as it meant I had access to more journals and sources compared to single honours students.

"I got to study two subjects that I'm passionate about, and have written a really interesting dissertation that bridges the two."

Andrea Major, a history tutor from the University of Leeds, suggests doing two courses is enriching: "I have had joint honours students in history and English literature who have tended towards 'wider world' modules in history and paired that with post-colonial literature modules on the English side.

"They complement each other extremely well, and as a result these students have found that work on one side of their degree has benefited work on the other."

Since employers consistently emphasise the need for graduates to be flexible, adaptable and creative in professional contexts, joint honours students are in a strong position when it comes to finding a job. The ability to switch between two subjects is a useful skill for many job applications. And in return for twice the hard work, joint honours students are rewarded with twice the number of career options.

But the main reason anyone should opt for a joint honours degree is because they have genuine passion for two subjects, and are open to seeing how they fit together.

Doing a joint honours is not just about adding another string to your bow. It's a way of life that defines your experience of university.

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• Joint honours

Economics is a flexible subject with its ‘fingers in many pies’. What is really good about this is that you are very likely to find an area which specifically interests you, allowing you to study it in more detail.

If you’d like to do Economics with another subject, a Joint Honours might be the answer. Joint Honours are offered at the bachelor level and allow students to study two subjects together . These are usually split 50:50 so half of your time will be spent studying each subject. However, check with the institution as some offer major/minors which mean 75% of your time will be spent on one subject and 25% on another.

Joint honours allow you to study and explore two different subjects. Single honours students will explore one subject but with a wider berth. For example, if your institution operates under the idea that each degree title will teach six different modules per year, a single honours student would do all six in economics whereas a joint honours student would do three in economics and three in their other subject area.

So what are the drawbacks? A joint honours student won’t have the same choice as a single honours, some modules may have pre-requisites that you couldn’t study, your knowledge will be the same as single honours students but only in the modules you have studied.

And the benefits? By choosing a joint honours scheme you can have a firm insight into two different areas and will often approach each subject a little differently from other, single honours, students. Subjects which are closely related will often tie into one another, for example if you chose to do Economics and Finance your financial knowledge would certainly help with your economics.

The malleability of economics allows it to be combined with many different subjects. Some of the more popular ones are:

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What about a dissertation ? It seems a long way off to you now but a dissertation is an important part of a degree. In most institutions that offer joint honours, a dissertation will be an option rather then a mandatory component. This means you may be able to opt to do no dissertation at all or one for your chosen area.

However, this is where economics comes into its element as it is applicable to so many subject areas. If your dissertation analysed different political UK leaders in the twentieth century, economics would be paramount. If you were analysing a new marketing scheme for a firm, its benefits would be measured economically. If you were analysing environmental constraints on farmers, economics would be key. Incorporating the two aspects of your degree into one dissertation is made a lot easier if economics is one of your chosen subjects.

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History modules - Final year

Optional modules  , history dissertation.

• 40 credits 

In this 10,000-word final year research project, students will work on their individual topic in collaboration with a supervisor. Students have individual supervision meetings with their dissertation tutor, working on a topic of the student’s choice. The main focus of the student’s independent work is their analysis of appropriate primary sources to answer the historical question they are addressing.

Some examples of topics researched for a Dissertation include:

• The Kushan military relationship with Han China: A First Analysis
• Representations of gender and sexuality in the trial of Joan of Arc
• The Portrayal of Richard III in historical and fictional works, plus his modern perception in popular culture
• Urban Encounters: economic and social aspects of daily life in York and London in early medieval England
• Disunity of Islam: the impact of the Assassins on the Crusader States, c. 1090 to c.1190
• The impact of the First World War on the working lives of Birmingham’s female working-class munitions workers
• Downton Abbey - Fact, Fiction or Fantasy? An investigation of servant-master relationships in the early 20th century
• How did British business interests shape imperial maritime policy in the Middle East: 1900-1918?
• Thoroughly Modern Witches: The Transmutations of Enchantment 1870-1930
• A journey of division: An analysis into the changing portrayal of the Berlin Wall in the British press
• The Black Legend of Borgia: Creation of a Myth
• The Gin Craze and Crime in Eighteenth Century London
• Change and Continuity: developing discourse on the plague in seventeenth century England
• The Tudor Sisters: The Role of Religion in the Relationship between Mary and Elizabeth
• Appropriating Camelot in nineteenth century culture

Special Subject (A) and (B)

• 20 + 20 credits 

Students who take at least 60 credits in History may chose an Advanced Option (20 credits) from either the Autumn (A) list or the Spring (B) list (see below).  

Special Subject example modules may include:

• Games without Thrones? North Atlantic Societies in the wake of the Vikings, c.800-c.1200
• Global Medieval Cities: Rome, Constantinople, Cairo, and Kaifeng after 1000
• Chronicling Conquest on the Frontiers of Medieval Europe Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
• British Women and Internationalism since 1850
• Empire comes Home: India in the Making of Britain
• Modern Egypt 
• Britain and the First World War
• Dossers: A History of Homelessness in Modern Britain
• Facing the Fuhrer, the Duce and the Emperor: British Foreign and Defence Policies 1931-1942
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage? Gender and Sexual Minorities in the British World
• Women and Social Movements in Brazil
• The Revolting Right
• Where There Is Discord: Making Thatcher’s Britain
• Terrorising History: Terrorist Motivations, Methods, and Mayhem
• The Third Reich

History Optional modules

History example optional modules may include:

• Before Globalization? Afro-Eurasian World History 500-1800
• Experts, Spies and Scholars
• Reason and Romance: The Cultural History of Nineteenth-Century Britain
• Indigenous and Settler Histories
• America at War: From the Civil War to the War on Terror
• China in Revolution: China under Mao (1949-1976)
• Britain and her Soldiers: Society and the Army from the First World War to Afghanistan
• ‘A holiday from reality’: A history of drugs and drug use in the Modern Era
• The Making of England, 850-1100
• Messiahs and Monarchs: Islam and Early Modern Iran
• Revolution, Regicide, & Republic: The British Civil Wars, 1642-1660
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage? Gender and Sexual Minorities 1885 to the Present
• History of Technology and Culture in the United States
• Britain’s Wars of Colonisation and Decolonisation, 1815-1960
• Black Activisms in the US South: Power, Feminisms, and Black Lives Mattering from 1960-present
• The Making of the British Raj: Gender, Conquest and Race in early colonial India, c.1757-1885
• Feeling Politics in 20th Century Britain: Emotions and Politics in Britain From the Stiff Upper Lip to 

• 4 Benefits of Doing a Joint Honours Degree

You may be thinking about whether to study a joint honours degree, but certain misconceptions about them could be holding you back. For example, it is often said that future employers prefer a focus on one subject, or that studying two will be more work than a single honours degree. I study English and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, and this article will explore the benefits that I have discovered through studying two subjects. This will be helpful for people who are unsure about whether to study a joint honours course, or anyone who is interested in the benefits of them!

1) You can study two subjects you enjoy in depth

2) You can avoid modules you don’t like

3) You meet more people

4) You’ll have more choice for your dissertation

Emily is an English and Philosophy student at the University of Nottingham. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, reading and swimming. She also has an interest in writing, particularly reviews on films and shows that she has seen.

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