The Honours Programme is an extra challenging study program that goes beyond what you learn in the regular applied engineering programme. It will provide you with enough room to look beyond the limits of your field and expertise.

Why join the Honours Programme?

This programme provides you with many opportunities towards personal development. You will become familiar with research early on. You will constantly be encouraged to walk that extra mile together with your fellow Honours students and faculty mentors.

What will you do?

This two year Honours Programme will be focusing on research. It officially starts in the third bachelor year and continues throughout your master year. In general, the programme consists of:

• a research internship of minimum 20 days at a research group at our faculty or another faculty within the university of Antwerp.
• one extra course unit (which you can choose yourself based on your interests and professional development).
• a choice between:
  • the Dive-into-PhD programme, which prepares you for a career in academia by supporting a FWO PhD grant application.
    
  • an Intensive Business Experience, during which you can solve a concrete problem that a company has.
• intervision moments with supervisors and other honours students.

The programme will be tailored to your expertise and interest as well as your personal schedule.

How will you be evaluated?

Individual students will be permanently evaluated during the course of the Honours Programme through assignments (academic abstract, activity in discussions/ …) and an evaluation of the internship. Students need to obtain a credit for the extra course unit.
An Honours Programme is an excellent preparation for a successful career. After graduating, students will receive a certificate.

This programme will take up additional time and energy as you are taking it simultaneously with the programme you are already following. Therefore, your dedication, motivation and attitude towards challenges and the way you conduct yourself towards your own development are highly important factors during the selection. Your grades will be taken into account but are not the sole decisive factor during the application process.

You need to have a good knowledge of English.

Before you apply officially, we highly recommend that you have a look at the different research topics and contact your mentor and/or the person as specified to discuss further opportunities.

You can apply for the Honours Programme by submitting:

• Motivation letter of maximum 1 page
  
  • Why do you want to join the Honours Programme?
  • Why do you fit the profile?
• Description of the research topic of maximum 1 page
  • What do you want to research?
  • Why is it relevant?
  • Why do you want to do it?
• Curriculum Vitae containing the attained study results in the bachelor or bridging programme

Applications are now open. The deadline is 31 August of each year. If you want, you can agree with your supervisor to do an internship during summer.

 Submit your written application. 

Success depends heavily on the guidance and encouragement of a coach. As an Honours student, you will be mentored by a highly motivated team.

The team consists of a faculty coordinator (Marlies Van der Wee) and a mentor for each graduation track:

• Chemical Engineering Technology: Christophe Vande Velde​
•  Civil Engineering Technology: Johan Blom​
• Electromechanical Engineering Technology (and joint part): Rudi Penne​
• Electronica and ICT Engineering Technology: Rafael Berkvens & Paul De Meulenaere​

During one-on-one meetings or group meetings, we can help you: 

• Set-up a personal plan for combining your regular programme with the Honours Programme
• Choose a research topic and an internship place
• Establish attainable educational goals
• Improve time management and organizational skills
• ….