I'm looking to do a double degree once I graduate, most likely Engineering + Science, but I just recently found out about combining a specialist degree with a comprehensive degree (after watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC3JSy4sTKw). I was wondering..
1. What are the differences between doing a double degree and combining a specialist degree with a comprehensive degree?
2. What is a 'specialist degree'?
3. What is a 'comprehensive degree'?
4. Will doing a double degree make my qualifications different to if I did a specialist degree + comprehensive degree combination? I saw in the video, that if you do a double degree, you get two certificates that say (for example): 'Bachelor of Science with a major in Mathematics', and 'Bachelor of Biomedical Science'. And if you combine a specialist degree with another degree you get (for example) 'Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours)' and 'Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Finance'. So what is an 'Honours'? What does it mean if you have a 'major' in something? What do these terms mean? Are the qualifications from the first scenario different to those in the second scenario?
It would be awesome if you could help me out! Thanks
1. My understanding is that there's no difference. Combining a specialist and comprehensive degree is just an example of a double degree you might take.
2. A specialist degree is one with a very clear outcome. Eg, you do law you become a lawyer, you do you do med you become a doctor, you do engineering you become a engineer.
3. A comprehensive degree is one you take that offers you a broad array of things to learn, such as science, arts and commerce.
4. Yes in the sense that your qualifications depends on which two degrees you pick. Even a combination of two "regular" double degrees (say comm/sci vs. arts/comm) can have completely different outcomes (first can easily help to become an actuary vs. second might be more public relations). My advice is to not think of it as comprehensive/specialist vs "regular", and just treat each as a double degree with their own individual outcomes.
5. An honours year is a year of research you add on to your degree. This year of research might be a gateway to postgrad degrees (a masters or PhD), or a means of becoming qualified (such as for engineering or law). To qualify for an honours year requires an applicationand usually a WAM of over at least 70, plus some other requirements depend on who the honours degree is with.
6. A major is simply a collection of units you do in your degree, your "specialty", so to speak. Most degrees make you take a major or specialty.
7. I think you're asking if it's better to get honours or a major? Because you can't choose between the two. To do honours, you need to have finished a Bachelor's degree. If that degree makes you do a major, you do a major. They're two completely separate concepts that don't impact each other in any way, with the exception that IF your degree allows majors, you will usually major in what you want to do honours in. (Eg, I want to do honours in chemistry, so I'm also completing a chem major. Some people want to do honours in biomed, but biomed does not have majors, so they just complete their degree and then go onto honours.)