Honestly Honours

What’s the Honours Alumni Mentoring Program—and is it worth joining? In this final episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by current PhD students to unpack how mentoring works and why it can make a difference. From having a safe space to ask questions to building confidence, navigating uncertainty, and gaining perspective beyond your lab, they share how mentoring supports both you...

What does success actually look like in Honours? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by recent graduates to explore the moments that define a successful year—both big and small. From experiments finally working and presenting at conferences to finding balance, building confidence, and realising how much you’ve learned, they share what success looked like for them in pra...

How do you handle pressure, burnout, and everything in between during Honours? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by students and a coordinator to unpack the realities of stress throughout the year—and what actually helps. From managing time and expectations to navigating uncertainty, comparison, and self-doubt, they share honest insights into why things can feel overw...

What do students wish they knew before starting Honours? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by recent graduates to share the lessons that only come with experience. From managing uncertainty and staying organised to building confidence and asking for help, they unpack what actually makes a difference once you’re in the thick of it. If you’re about to start Honours or j...

What does a life in research actually look like? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by Dr Sarah Best, Laboratory Head at WEHI, to explore what it’s really like to build a career in research. From finding your path to leading a lab and navigating the highs and challenges of research, Sarah shares honest insights into the day-to-day reality of the field. If you’re consid...

What if you don’t want to do a PhD after Honours? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by staff from across MDHS coursework programs to explore alternative pathways beyond research. From optometry and physiotherapy to audiology and speech pathology, they unpack what graduate coursework degrees actually involve, who they suit, and how they can lead to diverse and flexible...

Where can Honours actually take you—and is a PhD the right next step? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan is joined by current PhD students to explore how Honours can shape your future and what the research pathway really looks like. From testing whether research is right for you to building independence, managing uncertainty, and developing transferable skills, they share how Ho...

What is the student–supervisor relationship really like in Honours? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan and guests unpack how this dynamic works—and how it evolves over the year. From setting expectations and navigating communication to making the most of meetings and handling feedback, they share what students often misunderstand and what actually makes the relationship successf...

How do you actually land an Honours project? In this episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan and guests break down the application process—from finding the right project to reaching out to supervisors. They share practical tips on standing out, handling rejection, and why persistence matters more than getting it perfect the first time. From cold emails to chatting with lecturers, this episod...

What is The University of Melbourne MDHS Honours actually like—and is it worth it? In this first episode of the Honestly Honours Podcast, Ryan chats with three former MDHS Honours students about their real experiences. From working in labs and hospitals to navigating flexible schedules and unexpected challenges, they share what surprised them most, what a typical day looks like, and the skills the...