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An honours degree is a university or college credential that normally takes four years to complete. It normally requires a higher average and more courses than other undergraduate degrees.
Pursuing an honours degree offers numerous benefits. It provides a deeper understanding of a chosen subject, allowing you to develop specialized knowledge and expertise. It often also provides opportunities to pursue research in a topic that interests you.
If you’re thinking of attending law school, teacher's college, or business school or if you plan to continue your education with a specialized master’s or doctoral degree, an honours degree might be right for you.
1. What’s the difference between an honours degree and a general degree?
An honours degree is typically more specialized and rigorous than a general degree, requiring more courses and a higher grade point average. A general degree can take three or four years and typically requires fewer credits and less specialized coursework.
While it still provides the same high-quality undergraduate education, a general degree may not offer the same depth of study or research opportunities as an honours degree.
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Are you seeking a broad education, or do you prefer specialized rigor?
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Do you plan to enter the workforce after three years, or commit to four years for deeper study?
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Does your career path require research opportunities or advanced coursework?
General degrees are a great choice if you’re seeking a broad education or if you plan to enter the workforce after three years of university instead of four.
An honours degree deepens your understanding through advanced courses and research, providing a strong foundation for further education.
Mat Brown, an admissions officer at Waterloo, shares that students may simply want to complete any degree as a requirement for a job or to secure a more senior-level position.
“A general degree may be the best choice because it can be completed in as few as three years of full-time study,” he says.
Ultimately, the choice between an honours and a general degree depends on your career goals, academic interests, and long-term plans.
2. What's the difference between a bachelor's degree and an honours degree?
A bachelor's degree (also called an undergraduate degree) is the first level of university studies you would apply to from high school. An honours degree is a type of undergraduate or bachelor's degree. There are also general undergraduate degrees.
An honours degree is typically more specialized and rigorous than a general degree, requiring additional coursework and a high academic standard throughout the program. An honours degree can open doors to various career paths and increase the chances of securing fulfilling employment.
Some questions to consider when choosing between a general and honours degree
- Are you interested in completing your degree faster?
- Would you prefer fewer required courses in your major?
- Are you looking for more space to take electives across different subjects?
- Do you plan to pursue graduate studies (e.g., Master’s or PhD)
- Do you want to take advanced courses in your field?
- Are you interested in completing an independent research project?
3. What’s the difference between an honours degree and a degree with honours?
- An honours degree is a type of undergraduate degree.
- A degree with honours recognizes outstanding academic achievement within your studies (similar to an honour roll or dean’s honours list).
4. Honours degrees at Waterloo
Choosing an honours degree at Waterloo lets you combine academic excellence with North America’s largest co-op program. You can gain up to 24 months of paid work experience while earning your degree and exploring potential careers.
You’ll also build your résumé and significantly boost your employability so that you’re ready to launch your career when you graduate!
While Waterloo’s Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business, and Honours Science programs all have “honours” in their name, Waterloo offers over 100 honours degree programs in the humanities and social sciences, engineering, math and computer science, the environment, science, and health. Which one will you choose?
- How important is having 2 full years of work experience before graduating?
- Would you benefit from a program that combines arts/humanities with business skills?
- Would you thrive in a specialized program, or one that combines disciplines (like Arts & Business or Science and Aviation)?
- How might combining co-op with an honours program strengthen your graduate school applications?
- What kind of work placements would help you explore your ideal career path?
- How could earning while learning impact your financial situation during university?
This article was created with the support of Generative AI.
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