The Honours program in Philosophy provides students with a solid foundation to undertake advanced study in philosophy. Honours students are required to attend a general seminar which runs throughout the year, and to complete four individually supervised research papers from topics nominated by members of the School. The Honours Program provides students with the disciplinary background and the research skills necessary to pursue postgraduate research degrees in philosophy in Australia and overseas, as well as the generic skills for undertaking complex research tasks and critical analysis generally. The main aims of the Honours year are: To enable students with an adequate background in Philosophy to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation. To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Students who successfully complete the Honours Program will have acquired powers of rigorous and constructive reasoning, lucidity of expression, and the ability to address complex and difficult abstract problems, which are valuable skills for a career in any branch of disciplined thought. Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value both the reliability and capacity for independent work, and the skill at writing substantial reports which are demonstrated by successful completion of Honours.