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Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation (Honours)

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For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

Applications for both the 2026 Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation, and the associated UOW Ramsay Scholarship have closed.

Outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation application will be sent to all applicants in the week of 6 October, 2025.

If you applied for the UOW Ramsay Scholarship, you may be required to sit an interview. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Friday 19 September 2025, and interviews will be held on Saturday 27 September 2025. 

Check the UOW Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation Course and Scholarship page for more information and important dates.

Applications for both the 2026 Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation, and the associated UOW Ramsay Scholarship have closed.

Outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation application will be sent to all applicants in the week of 6 October, 2025.

If you applied for the UOW Ramsay Scholarship, you may be required to sit an interview. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Friday 19 September 2025, and interviews will be held on Saturday 27 September 2025. 

Check the UOW Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation Course and Scholarship page for more information and important dates.

Need help?

Contact the UOW Future Students Team:

For more details about this course

Australia: 1300 367 869. International: +61 2 4221 3218

Student ?
Year ?
Campus
Wollongong
Delivery ?
On Campus
Duration
1 year full-time, or part-time equivalent
Starts
  • Autumn 2025
  • Spring 2025
Code
UOW: 3020

Overview

Acting as both a bridge to advanced research and an in-depth project, honours is an optional year that follows the successful completion of a three-year undergraduate degree.

While your Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation degree introduced you to will expose you to ideas that have been inspiring people since their inception, an honours project provides you with the opportunity to focus your interest on a topic of choice, exploring it in greater depth and detail to find answers. Honours project topics are various and negotiable, and you?ll be encouraged and supported to pursue your specific interests.

See the course handbook for more information.

Whatever topic you choose, prospective employers will value your ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently. The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation (Honours) consists of 50% coursework and 50% research work. The research component of this degree takes the form of a 15,000-word research thesis completed under the supervision of an academic employed in the School of Liberal Arts.

Studying honours is about:

  • Learning research and navigation skills across a variety of information systems (archives, the library, databases, electronic research networks)
  • Articulating complex ideas orally and in writing
  • Working closely with a supervisor on a project with firm deadlines
  • Devising, researching and writing an individual topic of study, with an extended argument or thesis.
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Admissions information

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For specific advice or to ask any questions regarding an application, please contact the UOW Future Students Team.

Entry requires a Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation or another relevant bachelor’s degree, with an average of at least 80% (normally) in the core Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation subjects or across a relevant major in which the Honours degree will be undertaken. Additionally, a Distinction is required in two of the 300-level subjects required by the major.

Applicants must complete a 500-word outline of the proposed thesis topic. The outline should indicate the primary question the applicant wishes to research, as well as provide a justification for the significance of the research.

  • Recent Secondary Education

    All applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation will be required to submit a written application via the application portal during the designated period.

    You must upload an essay response with your application for it to be considered complete. Once assessed eligible applicants will be invited to take part in a telephone interview with UOW.

    Essay topics, and details on the application process are at the UOW School of Liberal Arts webpage.

    If you are a current high school student in Australia, or you’ve finished high school recently, your admission to UOW will also be based on your Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or International Baccalaureate admissions score (IBAS). 

    Other high-school qualifications UOW considers for entry include: 

    • GCE A-Levels
    • New Zealand NCEA Level 3
    • Overseas senior secondary qualifications comparable to Australian qualifications 

    See UOW Admissions for more information. 

    Selection Rank adjustments

    Adjustments are used to increase your Selection Rank. Factors such as the subjects you are studying, the location of your school, or your eligibility for equity and access schemes may be taken into consideration. Find out more about UOW's adjustment factors.

  • Work and life experience

    Admission to UOW is primarily based on your academic qualifications, with work or life experience generally not considered. If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, we recommend exploring recognised pathway programs, such as those offered by UOW College or the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC).

    For more information, please refer to the UOW Admissions Information page.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

    UOW's Woolyungah Indigenous Centre's Indigenous Admissions Program (IAP) offers an alternative pathway for Indigenous Australians aged 17 and over who are seeking entry into an undergraduate course at UOW. Upon completing the IAP, applicants will be considered for admission based on an interview and assessment of both academic and non-academic qualities. For further details, including the application process, please contact Woolyungah Indigenous Centre.

  • Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications

    If you have completed or partially completed studies at an approved university or tertiary institution, you may be eligible for entry to UOW. You'll need to provide academic records, and your course must be at least one-sixth complete. Non-English documents must include an official English translation. For more information, contact the UOW Future Students Team.

  • English language proficiency

    All UOW courses are taught in English and require varying levels of proficiency. If English is not your first language, you must meet the University’s English Language Requirements, which differ by course.

    Accepted international test results include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, and OET for specific health-related courses.

    Alternatively, you can fulfill the requirement by completing an English course at UOW College.

  • Workload

    Full-Time Study Load

    As a full-time student, you can expect to commit around 48 hours of study per week. This includes class time and independent study. You may need to factor more time for examination study, practical work and placements.

    Part-Time Study Load

    For part-time students, study hours will vary based on the number of units taken, with similar expectations for class and independent study.

    For more details on course workloads, please refer to the UOW Handbook.

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    If you have completed prior studies or relevant professional experience, you can request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

    Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous study or work experience related to your chosen subjects.

    UOW values lifelong learning and recognises various types of prior learning, regardless of how or where it was obtained. For more information, refer to UOW's Credit for Prior Learning page.

More detail

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available. For eligible domestic students, Australian government funding will contribute towards your tuition fees. The remaining proportion, known as a student contribution, will depend on when you begin study (enrolment year) and study area. Read more domestic student fees and CSPs.

  • Autumn Session, 2025 at UOW

    Application Deadline: See important dates for more information
    Orientation: Check your campus details
    Session: 03 March - 27 June 2025

  • Spring Session, 2025 at UOW

    Application Deadline: See important dates for more information
    Orientation: Check your campus details
    Session: 28 July - 20 November 2025

  • Autumn Session, 2026 at UOW

    Application Deadline
    Applications must include all required documents to be considered complete. If submitted late, your application may be reviewed for a future session if a decision cannot be made in time for your preferred session. 

    ApplicationDate
    Domestic (UAC Early Bird)30 September, 2025
    International9 December, 2025
    Domestic (direct)31 December, 2025
    Domestic (UAC final round)29 January, 2026

    Session Details
    For more detailed information like enrolment cutoffs and exam periods, see key dates. 

     Date
    OrientationCheck your campus details
    Session start2 March, 2026
    Census date31 March, 2026
    Mid-session recess20 - 24 April, 2026
    Session end25 June, 2026
  • Spring Session, 2026 at UOW

    Application Deadline
    Applications must include all required documents to be considered complete. If submitted late, your application may be reviewed for a future session if a decision cannot be made in time for your preferred session. 

    ApplicationDate
    International5 May, 2026
    Domestic (direct)31 May, 2026
    Domestic (UAC final round)9 July, 2026

    Session Details
    For more detailed information like enrolment cutoffs and exam periods, see key dates.

     Dates
    OrientationCheck your campus details
    Session start27 July, 2026
    Census date31 August, 2026
    Mid-session recess28 September - 2 October, 2026
    Session end19 November, 2026

     

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