Surviving Honours: What I Wish I’d Known
You Got This!
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You Got This! 〰️
The jump from first and second year into Honours can feel daunting. You go from relying heavily on lectures to suddenly being expected to almost “teach yourself” through wider reading and preparing for seminars.
I remember finding it intimidating too, but once I picked up a few tips and tricks, the transition became much smoother. Here’s what I learned that might make life easier for you.
Key Sections I Cover
The initial transition
Critical Thinking and Originality
Essay Writing
Final Tips
Transitioning from ordinary to honours
Honours is very different. You’re no longer being asked to just know the law and apply it in problem questions. You’re expected to evaluate it, critique it, and even suggest how it could be reformed. Seminars reflect this change too. Unlike tutorials, which tend to be about reinforcing what you’ve been taught, seminars are all about debate. The more you prepare and contribute, the more rewarding they are.
It’s normal to feel nervous about speaking up, but don’t be afraid of being wrong. Often the best learning happens when your ideas are challenged. Asking questions is just as valuable as answering them, and the discussion you have in seminars will often form the backbone of your essays.
Pro Tip - Read the seminar questions before you tackle the reading. That way, you know what to look for rather than drowning in material.
Critical Thinking and Originality
At honours level, it is really important to show some originality in your opinions. That doesn’t mean coming up with something completely new; it usually means deciding where you stand within an existing debate. For example, if two academics disagree, originality is choosing a side and explaining why you agree with one over the other.
When evaluating the law, three questions are especially useful:
Is it consistent and coherent?
Is the law consistent with commercial and social reality?
And is it just and fair?
That last one is trickier and often subjective, but all three help push your analysis beyond description. The key is to show balance. A strong essay recognises both sides of the debate before setting out your own well-reasoned position.
Essay Writing
Essays at Honours level demand more preparation, structure, and polish. First impressions matter: markers often form an idea of your grade from the introduction, so start strong by outlining your argument, the context, and how you’ll persuade the reader. Structure is equally important. Use headings if it helps signpost your argument and keepr your flow logical.
Referencing is another area where attention to detail pays off. Use OSCOLA consistently, include pinpoint page numbers, and don’t just copy and paste citations. Shaping them properly not only avoids errors but also shows off the breadth of your research. And whatever you do, start early. Research at Honours level takes longer than you think, and first drafts are always messy. Give yourself time to edit and refine.
Pro Tip - A great trick, when researching for essays, I learned was to follow “footnotes from footnotes.” If a textbook or article cites a source, chase it down. That’s often where you’ll uncover the most valuable material.
A Few Final Tips
Pick the subjects you enjoy, not the ones you think “look good.” Employers generally don’t really care which Honours subjects you choose, and you’ll always do better in the ones you like.
Don’t panic if you don’t get your first-choice course. Many students ended up loving their “second choice”. And if you are in third year, you are very likely to get all your first choices when it comes to fourth year!
Keep an eye out for dissertation ideas. If something in third year really sparks your interest, hang onto those notes — they might save you in fourth year.
