joint honours two dissertations

Cookies on our website

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our site. And we'd like to serve you some cookies set by other services to show you relevant content.

• Accessibility
• Staff search
• External website
• Schools & services
• Sussex Direct
• Professional services
• Schools and services

Academic Quality and Partnerships

• Academic standards
• Regulations for examinations and assessment

Joint Honours Students

• Back to previous menu
• Progression and Award Board (information for staff)

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.

 back to top

Copyright © 2024, University of Sussex

Theses for Joint Concentrations

In the last several years, we’ve experienced a marked increase in the number of joint concentrators, and, as all joints are required to write a thesis, a concomitant increase in theses that straddle disciplines.

Writing a thesis jointly with another department, if there is a compelling rationale for it, can be an immensely rewarding (and scholarly productive) task. However, doing so well is often challenging. This is because a joint thesis is not meant to pick-and-choose between topics and methods from two different disciplines, but rather is expected to meet the full disciplinary requirements of both departments.

If you are Gov primary, you will be expected to meet all Government Department requirements for a senior thesis (e.g., 80-120 page length, departmental submission deadlines). You will also need to register for, and successfully complete, both terms of Gov 99 in order to be eligible to submit your thesis for honors consideration. In all cases, you will have a primary thesis advisor in Government, as well as an additional advisor (or advisors) in your allied department.

If you are Gov allied, you will be expected to follow the requirements of the primary department, including submission deadlines (if the other department is not one we work with regularly, we will likely need to have a meeting between program coordinators to make sure everyone is on the same page). But you will have to have a thesis advisor in the Government Department to go along with your primary advisor.  However, you will not be expected to take Gov 99 unless the other department does not have an equivalent class for thesis writers (and even if they do, you’re more than welcome to audit Gov 99).

Current students

• Staff intranet
• Find an event

Understanding honours

Honours is an additional qualification where you can build on your undergraduate studies by completing a supervised research project and disciplinary or research-focused coursework. This may be embedded in 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 through an appended honours degree after your undergraduate degree. Some professional or specialist degrees also have embedded honours study options.

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 a Bachelor (Honours) qualification. 

An honours degree 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 complete an honours degree 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 two components:

• an independent research project, under the supervision of an academic staff member
• additional honours units in research design and technical training.

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 a Bachelor (Honours) degree.

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.

Appended honours

Appended honours is an additional qualification 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).

If you enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies program prior to Semester 2, 2024, and plan to apply for honours, we will advise you during your candidature of your appended honours degree options.

Embedded honours

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

Joint honours

Joint honours is when you complete one 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 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.

Related links

• Find a course
• Honours scholarships

Student Centre

• Ask a question online
• Check your open enquiries

1800 SYD UNI   (1800 793 864) or +61 2 8627 1444 (outside Australia)

Find out more about how we can help

• Website feedback

Your feedback has been sent.

Sorry there was a problem sending your feedback. Please try again

You should only use this form to send feedback about the content on this webpage – we will not respond to other enquiries made through this form. If you have an enquiry or need help with something else such as your enrolment, course etc you can contact the Student Centre.

• Find an expert
• Media contacts

Student links

• How to log in to University systems
• Class timetables
• Our rankings
• Faculties and schools
• Research centres
• Campus locations
• Find a staff member
• Careers at Sydney
• Emergencies and personal safety

• Accessibility

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.

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

• Help & Terms of Use

Understanding the experiences of Joint Honours Students at one UK Higher Education Institution

• Education Services Management

Research output : Other contribution

Publication series

• student belonging
• joint honours
• combined honours

Access to Document

• 10.13140/RG.2.2.27291.13605
• Persistent link

Other files and links

• https://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.27291.13605

Fingerprint

• Students Social Sciences 100%
• Understanding Social Sciences 100%
• UK Social Sciences 100%
• Higher Education Institution Social Sciences 100%
• Case Study Psychology 100%
• Motivation Psychology 100%
• Student Nursing and Health Professions 100%
• Organizations Social Sciences 33%

T1 - Understanding the experiences of Joint Honours Students at one UK Higher Education Institution

AU - Verney, Charlotte

N2 - This case study report presents data from fifteen interviews with joint honours students conducted at one UK institution. It provides insight into their motivations for studying a joint honours programme and discusses their on-course experiences, which are framed within two dimensions. Firstly, their noticeable ‘difference’ from single honours students, which was associated with both positive and negative experiences. Secondly, their self-identified sense of belonging to their two departments. The findings illustrate variation in experiences, although there are suggestions of some patterns. In particular, they suggest that the structure of the curriculum and experiences of support can influence experiences of ‘difference’ and a student’s sense of ’belonging’ and suggest the institution needs to be aware of the ways in which its practices may influence the student experience. They also suggest there is a need for more research on joint honours students as a distinct group of learners.

AB - This case study report presents data from fifteen interviews with joint honours students conducted at one UK institution. It provides insight into their motivations for studying a joint honours programme and discusses their on-course experiences, which are framed within two dimensions. Firstly, their noticeable ‘difference’ from single honours students, which was associated with both positive and negative experiences. Secondly, their self-identified sense of belonging to their two departments. The findings illustrate variation in experiences, although there are suggestions of some patterns. In particular, they suggest that the structure of the curriculum and experiences of support can influence experiences of ‘difference’ and a student’s sense of ’belonging’ and suggest the institution needs to be aware of the ways in which its practices may influence the student experience. They also suggest there is a need for more research on joint honours students as a distinct group of learners.

KW - student belonging

KW - joint honours

KW - combined honours

UR - https://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.27291.13605

U2 - 10.13140/RG.2.2.27291.13605

DO - 10.13140/RG.2.2.27291.13605

M3 - Other contribution

T3 - Unpublished - Masters Thesis

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Can't choose between two courses? Think about a joint honours

I f you found making three A-level choices difficult, you may well struggle to choose just one subject to take at university. Dedicating three years to a single field of study is a daunting commitment – especially if you're not sure what you'd like to do after graduation.

But fear not. If you're an accomplished all-rounder, or perhaps just a little indicisive, a joint honours course could be the answer to your dilemma.

A joint honours degree, sometimes called a combined degree, allows students to study two or more subjects during the same time frame as a single honours course. Last year, around 18% of undergraduates did so, according to data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency – a figure that has remained fairly constant over the past five years.

Dave Baldwin, admissions manager at Leeds University said joint honours courses are popular because they allow students to get the best of both worlds. "The greatest advantage is that you study the core topics of two or more subjects and graduate with two subjects named in your degree title. You don't have to sacrifice a subject that you're passionate about – which makes your degree all the more interesting and means you're likely to achieve your best."

Having more strings to your bow is also valued by employers, he added.

Vince Peart, an advisor at the National Careers Service agreed: "Studying a combined degree can be a good idea, particularly if the two courses go well together and the student wants to keep their options open. When you start your graduate career you'll often have to deal with different subjects and styles of tasks – a joint honours course might prepare you for the rigours of the workplace."

"The only downside is that students will not be able to study their subjects in as much detail as those taking single honour courses."

The amount of time students dedicate to each of their subject areas depends upon the set up of their joint honours programme. Some institutions offer a fixed number of established joint honours degrees – these have their own Ucas code and are usually 50:50 combinations.

Students may sit a "cornerstone module" which encourages them to see the overlap between their two fields of study. But for the most part, the two halves of their course are completely distinct.

Other universities offer a pick and mix approach to joint honours, advised Mike Dobson, director of the University of Exeter's flexible combined honours degree programmes.

"At Exeter, we also allow students to build their own degree programmes by selecting two subjects that they are interested in, then we name it appropriately. For example, they might study military history and ancient ethics. This subject wouldn't be registered on the Ucas website because the student has created it themselves."

"Some combinations are fairly predictable – for example, English and history – but the most unusual we had was animal behaviour and English. In her Ucas form the student wrote that she wanted to write stories about animals."

Students can also use this flexible arrangement to adjust the amount of time they dedicate to each of their chosen subjects.

Sophia McCrea, who studied French and philosophy at the University of Bristol said she enjoys the variety that her degree offers, but adds that studying two fields is hard work: "To undertake a joint honours degree, you have to be incredibly organised. My two departments didn't co-ordinate deadlines, and so I could find myself with weeks with very little work set, then weeks with a very heavy workload, with maybe three essay deadlines on the same day."

The style of work expected by different subjects is also likely to vary. "Each department required different things from our work, and it was only really in my final year that I became comfortable juggling that. The essays I wrote for each subject differed greatly from one another, both in content and in style."

If you'd prefer to take a course which integrates your two areas of study, it might be worth veering away from the traditional joint honours programmes on offer, recommended George Jones, head of international business and modern language courses at Aston University.

"With most joint honours courses you have a piece of one degree stuck next to a piece of another degree. Obviously there isn't a conenction with the other side the individual student is taking, because that course is also available to many other students.

"Teaching on our international business and modern langauges course is integrated. In the first year students are taught international business in English, then in the second year they're taught business in French (or whichever langauge they're studying). It means students make simultaenous progress both in subject knowledge and linguistially."

If you're not convinced that a joint honours programme is right for you, it's worth investigating if your university will allow you to take an elective module from outside of your normal department.

"If a student wanted to do a single honours – for example, in French – but also had an interest elsewhere in another course or subject at Leeds, they'd be able to use discretionary modules and elective to purse an intersst in a subsidiary subject," adds Baldwin.

"You wouldn't graduate with a two-subejct degree title, but this does give you more flexiblity."

• Hidden university
• Higher education

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

• Your ambitions
• During your study
• After you graduate

Up: Home > Your ambitions > Joint honours

• 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:

• A foreign language

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.

Previous: What qualifications do I need to study Economics?

Next: Where can I study Economics?

Share this:

• What qualifications do I need to study Economics?
• Why study economics?
• Where can I study Economics?
• How do I apply?
• Economics Personal Statement
• Disability and access requirements
• Other useful sites

Hosted by The Economics Network at the University of Bristol . All rights reserved.

IR4795 Joint Dissertation (60cr)

Academic year.

2023 to 2024 Full Year

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

Scotcat credits.

SCQF level 10

Availability restrictions

Available only to students in the Second year of the Honours Programme, who have completed the Letter of Agreement, downloadable from (url to be confirmed). No student may do more than 60 credits in Dissertation or Project modules.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

Module coordinator

Dr A S Bower

Module description

The dissertation must consist of approximately 10,000 - 12,000 words of English prose on a topic agreed between the student and two appropriate members of staff (who act as supervisors). The topic does not have to relate to work covered in previous Honours modules, though it may be helpful to the student if it builds on previous work. The topic and range of sources should be chosen in consultation with the supervisors in order to determine that the student has access to sources as well as a clear plan of preparation. (Guidelines for printing and binding dissertations can be found at: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/printanddesign/dissertation/)

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites.

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

As per Letter of Agreement.

Re-assessment

Learning and teaching methods and delivery, weekly contact.

• Schools & departments

How our degrees work

What's so great about a four-year degree? Questions answered about our degrees and how they work.

Why a four-year degree?

A four-year honours degree gives you the benefit of developing a deeper knowledge of your chosen subject area. In your first two years you will be able to study subjects outside of your core discipline, before specialising in your third and fourth years.

At the end of your fourth year you will graduate with an MA (Hons). This is the standard undergraduate humanities degree awarded at the University of Edinburgh.

The advantages

• Breadth of Study.  The flexible nature of our degrees enables you to expand your academic range by studying subjects outside your major discipline during the first two years.
• Joint Degrees.  A huge range of joint degrees offers you the opportunity to study two disciplines in real depth.
• Third Year Abroad.  We arrange exchanges with major international universities, allowing you to study overseas during your third year and still receive three years of study in Edinburgh.
• Final-Year Dissertation.  A feature of the fourth year is a dissertation undertaken by all students. This piece of original research, of up to 12,000 words, represents the culmination of your undergraduate career and the demonstration of your abilities as an independent scholar.
• Academic Maturity.  The added experience and intellectual depth that you will gain over the course of four years is widely recognised and greatly valued by employers.

More information

Find out more about the four-year experience:

• Four-year degrees
• Find out more about the opportunities to study abroad

Our terminology

We often refer to our degrees as degree programmes. These degree programmes are made up from a collection of units called courses.

Courses  are units of teaching and learning, which carry a certain number of credits. Every course you undertake in the School will have a specific course organiser and at least one unit of assessment (examination/coursework). Most of the courses within the School of History, Classics & Archaeology run over one semester and account for 20 credits. Other Schools may be different (and this may impact any joint programmes we run with them).

Coursework  is independent work completed over the course of your degree, outside of an exam environment, that is submitted for assessment. In addition to completing coursework, you will also take examinations.

Credits  or credit points are assigned to a course to reflect the workload. In an undergraduate year you will typically take courses amounting to 120 credits.

Dissertation  is a compulsory year-long project undertaken in your fourth year of study. It counts as two courses and is worth 40 credits. It is an extended piece of scholarship in which you study a topic in depth under the supervision of a member of the academic staff.

Exam diets  are the periods at the end of the first and second semesters when the bulk of examinations take place. Not every course at the School requires you to take exams during both diets; sometimes you may only submit coursework at the end of a semester.

Honours  years are the third and fourth years of your degree. During these years you begin to specialise in certain areas and study topics at a greater depth. To progress to the honours portion of your degree, you have to accumulate a certain number of credits in your first and second years (or 'pre-honours' years). Assessment marks from your pre-honours years do not go towards your final degree, however they are used to judge whether you will progress on to your third year (sometimes called 'junior honours').

Labs  or lab classes are teaching sessions in which students carry out practical, 'hands on' tasks within a laboratory environment. These classes are an important element of our Archaeology degrees.

Lectures  are large classes attended by all students on a particular course. They involve a presentation on a particular subject, usually one hour long, by a member of the academic staff. 

Seminars  are discussion-based classes, which involve a greater depth of independent work and preparatory reading than tutorials (see below). Seminars are staff-led, but have a clear focus on student research and input.

Tutorials  are staff-led regular classes focusing on materials lectured on in that week. They are usually one hour long.

Our Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study website gives detailed information about the credit values of specific courses.

Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study

What is a joint degree?

You can apply for a joint or combined degree and specialise in two subject areas from within and outside the School.

We offer a huge range of degree programmes, many of which we refer to as 'joint degrees' or 'joint honours'. If you enrol on a joint degree, you will study two different subjects (instead of only one) at the same time throughout your entire degree. 

For instance, if you are studying a History and Politics joint degree, you'll do a mixture of History and Politics courses across the four years of your degree. In your fourth year, you will decide whether to complete a History or Politics dissertation (this is an example, specifications differ per degree). We offer a range of joint degrees that combine different subjects from within the School (e.g. History and Archaeology; Archaeology and Ancient History) as well as from other schools in the University (e.g. History and History of Art; Economic History and Business; Archaeology and Social Anthropology; History and Politics; English Literature and History; French and Classics).

Joint degrees are different from 'single honours' degrees, in which you choose to specialise in a single subject and will mainly study courses in that subject. However in years one and two, you may well be able to choose courses from outside subjects. Studying a joint degree at Edinburgh provides you with wide-ranging academic foundations and a broader qualification to apply for postgraduate degrees or employment.   

Joint degrees and single honours degrees involve the same amount of class hours, assessments and credits; neither is more comprehensive than the other, only the range of subjects differs.  

What are 'honours'?

Our four-year programmes are split into two halves: pre-honours and honours.

The first and second years of a four-year programme are referred to as ‘pre’ or ‘sub’ honours years. In these years you prepare for your specialism and have more flexibility with the courses you complete.

Pre-honours exam marks are not counted as part of your final degree, however they will be used to assess your progress. The decision about whether or not you will continue on to your third year will be taken based on your pre-honours exam results.

Results from years three and four, your honours years, are typically counted towards your final degree mark/class. During this portion of your degree you will study more specialised topics at greater depth.

What's an MA at Edinburgh?

An MA is a Master of Arts. It’s the standard undergraduate degree awarded to students within the School. Most universities in the UK award undergraduate humanities degrees under the title Bachelor of Arts; at Edinburgh we do things a little differently.

At this university (and many other historic institutions within Scotland) a Master of Arts with Honours – or MA (Hons) – is the conventional undergraduate degree, different only in name to the standard BA (Hons). Despite the name, an MA at Edinburgh is not a postgraduate qualification.

If you come to study as an undergraduate at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology you will undertake a four-year degree. At the end of these four years, you will be awarded a Master of Arts with Honours, provided you have completed the full degree.

A four-year MA (Hons) received at Edinburgh is equivalent to a three-year BA (Hons) received elsewhere. Once you have completed your MA here you will be in an excellent position to apply for a postgraduate degree, whether at Edinburgh or another university in the UK or around the world.

A typical academic year

Our academic year is split into two semesters, one running from September until December and the other from January to May.  Each semester includes 11 weeks of teaching and a number of weeks for coursework, revision and exams. The period at the end of each semester where examinations take place is sometimes referred to as the 'exam diet'.

Semester two includes a week for the Festival of Creative Learning, where normal teaching is suspended for the week to allow students and staff to participate in innovative and creative events.  

The University website gives a summary of an academic year structure:

Academic year structure

The semester dates are published well in advance of the current year on the University's Semester Dates website:

Semester dates

Information about exam diets and timetables:

Examinations

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• Study in UK /

Joint Honours Degree in UK

• Updated on  
• Sep 23, 2023

A Joint Honours Degree by studying in the UK allows you to pursue two or more subjects and combine them into a single qualification. This degree is very flexible and allows you to study different subjects at once. For instance, students who are passionate about studying English , Economics or Arts have the freedom to combine these subjects and study all under one degree. Many students can combine various degrees so long as they meet the eligibility criteria and have the option to switch to a joint degree after enrolment in UK universities.

This Blog Includes:

Why study joint honours degree uk, types of joint degrees, dual degree vs joint honours degree in uk , duration of joint honours degree in uk, top 15 joint honours degree courses in uk , list of universities offering joint honours degree uk , step-1: shortlist courses and universities, step-2: know your deadlines, step-3: take entrance tests, step-4:  compile your documents, step-5: get started with application, [bonus] list of uk universities open for january 2022 intake , switching to a joint degree.

Studying for a joint honours degree in UK can be an extra hassle for international students to study two or more subjects at the same time. Yet joint degrees are great for students who gain an interdisciplinary perspective and possess a passion for two subjects. Let’s take a look at some more benefits of studying for a joint honours degree in UK: 

• You can avoid modules: While studying for a joint honours degree in UK, you can tailor the courses around your interests. Candidates have an option to choose modules you prefer and avoid the ones you don’t. But there are certain compulsory modules you have to study. 
• Chance to connect with more people: Unlike single honours students, it’s an opportunity to get in touch with students from departments of joint honours degree UK. 
• More choice for dissertation: In case of two subjects, students can decide in which they want to do their dissertation in. This enables students for more choices, access to resources and tutors. Just like modules, there are also some compulsory dissertations, students can usually choose. 

There are mainly 3 types of joint degrees- And degrees, with degrees, and Triple modern degrees. The types of joint degrees are explained in more detail below:

• “And” Degrees- It refers to combining two subjects at the Honours level. For example, English and Economics.
• With” degrees- It means that Honours degrees can be taken up with a Major. That is, students can take up one major degree with a minor subject in the final two years
• “ Triple” modern language degrees- It means to combine 3 languages- For example, Italian, French, and Spanish.

Modern Languages Joint Honours Degree can also be pursued by students. The degree involves equal study of 2 languages and 1 additional subject,.

A joint honours degree UK is not longer than a regular degree. Studying a full-time degree with 120 credits taught per year will be either 3 – 4 years depending on the university and the program. If candidates are not pursuing a full-time degree they can opt for a Higher Education Certificate or Diploma if they complete between 120 – 240 credits respectively. The duration of joint degree will also depend if you choose to do a placement year. 

Following are the popular combined courses in the UK provided by certain universities in the UK. In a joint honours degree UK, over two subjects are studied simultaneously within the time duration of one honours degree. 

• History and Politics
• Business and Management
• Journalism and Literature
• Computing and Mathematics
• Physiology and English 
• International Business and International Marketing
• Structural Engineering and Architecture
• Political Science and Public Administration
• Music and Education
• Economics and Management 
• Anthropology and Forensics 
• Zoology and Botany
• Modern Foreign Languages and Linguistics
• Geology and Palaeobiology 
• Pharmacology and Physiology 

There is a wide range of prestigious universities that offer Joint Honours Degree UK. Joint honours degree students are highly recognized for the broader perspective they bring to seminars, group work and discussions. 

How to Apply to UK Universities: Step-Wise Guide

International students applying to UK universities must follow a well-researched guide before starting their application process:

The primary step in the application process is to shortlist courses and universities according to your academic profile and preference. Students can shortlist courses and universities through AI-Course Finder and generate a list of universities where they are most likely to get through and plan their application process in advance.

The next step is to know the exact deadlines of universities and colleges in the UK you are planning to apply to. International students have to take the application process well in advance (one year to 6 months before the actual deadline). This ensures that students can fulfil all the college requirements such as SOP , letters of recommendation , English proficiency tests , funding/scholarship options and accommodation.

The third step in the application process for UK universities requires students to take tests like IELTS , TOEFL , PTE or GRE /GMAT/LNAT/BMAT/MAT (in some courses). In some universities, students can be given to submit scores for SAT or ACT exams. A new addition to English proficiency tests is the Duolingo Test which allows students to appear for the exam from the comfort of their homes and is accepted across the world.

Score High with Leverage Live and Land Your Dream University!

The next step is to compile all the required documents and test scores for the application process. This means students should start writing their SOPs, getting letters of recommendation from teachers and supervisors and arranging their financial statements along with other documents like tests scorecards. With the COVID-19 pandemic, students must download their vaccine certificates and specify the administered vaccine for the application.

Once you have all the documents in place, students can start the application process either directly or through UCAS. Students applying to UK universities that accept direct applications can start by applying through the official university website. They have to select the courses, pay the application fees and start the online application process. 

• Queen Mary University of London
• Coventry University
• University of Liverpool
• University of Exeter
• Aston University
• Brunel University
• Bangor University
• Birmingham City University
• Edge Hill University
• Kingston University
• Northumbria University
• University of Chester
• University of Greenwich
• University of Sunderland
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Birkbeck University of London
• City University of London
• De Montfort University
• Keele University
• Oxford Brookes University
• University of Brighton
• University of Lincoln
• University of South Wales

Switching to a Joint Degree is possible abroad. However, students must meet the eligibility requirements of the university. Students can switch to an honors degree for both (or all) of the chosen subjects. 

No. A joint honours degree means that the student would get 1 single award by both institutions. On the other hand, a double degree would mean 2 awards by each university. A double degree is selected due to legal or regulatory requirements.

BA joint honors degree allows students to learn more than 1 subject and to combine it into a single qualification. For example, it is possible to study a subject that a student has excelled at in college and combine with a new subject. That is, with the Joint Honours degree a student can give equal importance to both subjects.

Yes. Joint Honors degrees are good. In fact, they are better than standard degrees as the student can give equal importance to both subjects. Moreover, the employability of the student also increases.

Studying for a joint honours degree in the UK is an ideal choice if you are tossing up between studying two different subjects. If you are interested in pursuing a course abroad in your chosen university, reach out to the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu experts and we are here to help you through every step. Call us on 1800 57 2000 and get your doubts resolved!

Studying for a joint honours degree in the UK is an ideal choice if you are tossing up between studying two different subjects. If you are interested in pursuing a course abroad in your chosen university, reach out to Leverage Edu experts and we are here to help you through every step. Call us on 1800 57 2000 and get your doubts resolved!

Team Leverage Edu

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2024

January 2025

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

• Skip to main content

We use cookies

Necessary cookies.

Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.

Analytics cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website. We use Google Analytics. All data is anonymised.

Clarity helps us to understand our users’ behaviour by visually representing their clicks, taps and scrolling. All data is anonymised.

Privacy policy

• Undergraduate study
• Choosing your degree
• Flexible degrees

Joint honours

• Studying for a degree in Arts
• Studying for a degree in Life Sciences
• Studying for a degree in Social Sciences
• Studying for a degree in Science

All of the subjects listed can be studied as part of a joint honours degree. With more than 600 joint undergraduate programmes, Glasgow offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of undergraduate degrees in any university while operating a flexible system of studying that allows you the time to find the right degree for you.

• Archaeology
• Digital Media & Information Studies
• Business & Management
• Business Economics
• Celtic Civilisation
• Celtic Studies
• Central & East European Studies
• Classics (Classical Civilisation)
• Comparative Literature
• Computing Science
• Economic & Social History
• English Language & Linguistics
• English Literature
• Environmental Geoscience
• Film & Television Studies
• History of Art
• Mathematics
• Physics / Theoretical Physics
• Social & Public Policy
• Scottish History
• Scottish Literature
• Theatre Studies
• Theology & Religious Studies

Can I pay someone to write my essay?

Time does not stand still and the service is being modernized at an incredible speed. Now the customer can delegate any service and it will be carried out in the best possible way.

Writing essays, abstracts and scientific papers also falls into this category and can be done by another person. In order to use this service, the client needs to ask the professor about the topic of the text, special design preferences, fonts and keywords. Then the person contacts the essay writing site, where the managers tell him about the details of cooperation. You agree on a certain amount that you are ready to give for the work of a professional writer.

A big bonus of such companies is that you don't have to pay money when ordering. You first receive a ready-made version of the essay, check it for errors, plagiarism and the accuracy of the information, and only then transfer funds to a bank card. This allows users not to worry about the site not fulfilling the agreements.

Go to the website and choose the option you need to get the ideal job, and in the future, the best mark and teacher's admiration.

Dr.Jeffrey (PhD)

Perfect Essay

Finished Papers

Finished Papers

• Terms & conditions
• Privacy policy
• Referral program

Andre Cardoso

Standard essay helper

2269 Chestnut Street, #477 San Francisco CA 94123

What's the minimum time you need to complete my order?

Finished Papers