Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Students can specialise in a range of areas including Astrophysics. For example, one student is completing her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, specialising in Astrophysics, and conducting optical astronomy research using the University's Greenhill Observatory.

Honours students in Physics have access to the University of Tasmania's Greenhill Observatory, located north of Hobart, which houses 50cm and 1.3m optical telescopes used for observational research projects.

Yes, the Honours year involves completing a thesis based on original research. For instance, one student is studying the close contact binary star system OY Carinae, investigating fluctuations in the orbital timing of the two stars as a potential indicator of a third body in the system.

The University of Tasmania has a unique geographic advantage for southern sky observations. For example, the star system OY Carinae is located very close to the south celestial pole, making it easily observable from Tasmania but largely inaccessible from most of the northern hemisphere.

Yes, the Honours degree can serve as a pathway to PhD study. One Honours student in Physics plans to continue studying her thesis subject, OY Carinae, by making it the focus of a future PhD within the University of Tasmania's physics department.