The honours year is designed to provide professional scientific development. Honours units within the various disciplines of the School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences are coordinated to ensure that work loads are consistent. All honours units in the school centre on a substantial research project allied to an ongoing program. A short thesis is required describing the research and the results obtained. In addition, it is expected that students maintain their general competence in theoretical aspects of the discipline apart from their research area. To this end specific areas of reading are assigned to prepare a review and a seminar. Students are also expected to present seminars near the beginning and the end of their project. A viva voce examination is also held for each student at the end of the unit. The head of school should be consulted initially for information on available topics and other details.