Difference Between BSc and BSc Hons

BSc vs BSc Hons
 

The difference between BSc and BSc Hons is somewhat confusing as different universities, or different countries, have different practices in offering Honors degrees. In fact, it is true that both of them are academic degrees awarded to undergraduate students. The time period meant for the completion of both the courses is almost the same but it differs in the case of a few countries. Nevertheless, there are reasons to believe that BSc Hons is superior to the BSc degree. It is also considered that getting a job with BSc Hons is easier than getting a placement with the qualification of BSc. Hence B.Sc Hons is much preferred to B.Sc. Both the courses are of course popular among students.

What is BSc?

A Bachelor’s degree or BSc is generally considered as an ordinary pass degree. A regular BSc degree takes three to four years for the candidate to complete. This is referring to a general degree. For a special degree, it can take four to five years to complete. Moreover, the submission of dissertation is not necessary in the case of BSc degree. This happens when the BSc is a general degree and not a special degree. If it is a special degree, then one has to hand over a dissertation.

What is BSc Hons?

BSc Hons means Bachelor of Science (Honors). It takes four to five years for a person to complete BSc Hons. BSc Hons is looked upon as an extraordinary degree. In some countries, you cannot find BSc Hons degree at all whereas, in countries like Australia, Britain, Canada, India, and Sri Lanka, you can find BSc Hons degrees awarded in colleges and universities. However, with regard to duration, you can receive a BSc Hons degree from countries such as England and Wales in three years. Then, when it comes to dissertations, it is a must for a student to write a dissertation, to qualify for BSc Hons degree.

There is a general opinion that a student can easily complete a BSc degree than a BSc Hons degree. This is due to the heavy syllabus in the latter and that the student has to undergo training at a higher level to complete BSc Hons degree.

What is the difference between BSc and BSc Hons?

The true difference between BSc and BSc Hons lies in the university or the country that offers the degree. This is said because you will see that some countries such as England offer the title BSc Hons even for a general science degree. Some countries do not. For example, in Australia to have the title BSc Hons you have to study for four to five years, depending on your study stream.

• BSc stands for Bachelor of Science. BSc Hons stand for Bachelor of Science Honours.

• A Bachelor’s degree BSc is generally considered an ordinary pass degree and BSc Hons is looked upon as an extraordinary degree.

• BSc Hons is supposed to have a heavier syllabus than BSc.

• Some countries offer the title Hons for a general BSc that lasts for only three years. However, in some countries such as Scotland, to be eligible for a degree that has the title BSc Hons, you should study for four years.

• A regular BSc degree takes three to four years for the candidate to complete whereas it takes four to five years to complete BSc Hons. This is one of the main differences between the two courses.

• The time period meant for the completion of both the courses is almost the same but it differs in the case of a few countries. For example, in countries such as England and Wales, you can have a BSc Hons degree within three years. That will be a BSc general degree.

• Submission of a dissertation is not compulsory for a BSc degree. Dissertation depends on whether the degree is general or special. For BSc Hons, you definitely have to submit a dissertation.

These are the valid differences between BSc and BSc Hons.

Images Courtesy:

1. University College London by Steve Cadman (CC BY-SA 2.0)
2. University of Plymouth by Evian Pepper (CC BY-SA 2.0)