Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours) (Climate Science)

Build the scientific knowledge and advanced research skills to understand our changing climate and help create a more sustainable and resilient future.

In the Climate Science major, you’ll explore how the atmosphere, oceans, land and living systems interact. You’ll learn to analyse environmental data, investigate climate processes and examine how communities, ecosystems and industries can prepare for a changing world.

As part of the Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours), you’ll develop your research capabilities throughout the degree and complete a substantial honours research project in your final year.

What you’ll study

Your studies will bring together climate science, Earth systems and advanced scientific research. You’ll explore topics such as:

• the science behind climate change
• atmosphere, ocean and land interactions
• environmental and climate data analysis
• mapping and geospatial science
• weather, climate and natural hazards
• global environmental change
• air and water quality
• climate adaptation and mitigation
• sustainable management of natural resources
• coastal change and sea-level impacts.

You’ll also develop transferable capabilities in:

• scientific investigation
• critical analysis
• mathematical and computational thinking
• research design
• project management
• teamwork
• written, visual and spoken science communication.

Join a connected science community

You’ll join a small cohort of ambitious students who are curious, motivated and interested in research.

Dedicated advanced science units will help you connect with students across the course, while your major will allow you to build relationships with climate science students, teaching staff and researchers. 

You can further build your network through science clubs, peer learning, student leadership activities and research opportunities.

Honours research project

In your final year, you’ll complete an advanced research project in an area related to your interests.

With guidance from an academic supervisor, you’ll investigate a research question, apply appropriate scientific methods, analyse your findings and communicate the results of your work.

Your honours project will help you demonstrate independence, specialist knowledge and advanced research capability. It can also prepare you for further research study or positions where evidence, analysis and complex problem-solving are highly valued.

Careers and outcomes

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours), you will be an emerging research scientist, having played a significant role in designing, planning and executing an independent research project at the forefront of science and technology.

Possessing advanced knowledge and skills in scientific research and analysis methods, you will have experience in applying these skills to design experiments and solve complex real-world problems.

High-level communication skills will ensure you can present knowledge and ideas clearly and effectively, in both oral and written forms, to diverse audiences.

You will be a critical thinker, able to apply judgement to develop new understanding, to consolidate and synthesise new knowledge, and to adapt readily to different contexts.

This honours-level qualification focuses on research pathways and provides a more specialised degree in a particular science discipline. As a graduate, you will be ideally prepared to enter a PhD program.