University entrance transforming into a bridge

Honours Degree or Bust? Unpacking Entry Requirements and Student Success

Samir D’Costa in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Is lowering the bar to honours programs a recipe for disaster, or a path to wider academic achievement? New research explores the real impact of entry requirements on student outcomes."

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, universities are constantly grappling with how to best prepare students for a rapidly changing job market. A key debate centers around the structure of undergraduate degrees, particularly the role of honours programs. Traditionally, these programs serve as a bridge to postgraduate study and often have strict entry requirements.

But what happens when those barriers are lowered? Does opening the doors to a wider range of students lead to a decline in academic standards, or does it unleash untapped potential? This is the question at the heart of a recent study from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa, which investigated the impact of adjusting entry requirements for its honours programs.

The research delves into the complexities of predicting student performance when the rules change, using advanced statistical modeling to account for factors beyond just grades. It offers valuable insights for universities worldwide facing similar decisions about access, equity, and academic excellence.

The Heckman Model: Predicting Success Beyond the Averages

University entrance transforming into a bridge

At UKZN, admission to an honours program traditionally requires a weighted average mark above a certain threshold in the final year of undergraduate study. A proposal was made to remove these barriers, allowing any student with a major in the discipline to enter the honours program. The challenge then became: how do you predict the performance of this new cohort of students?

The study highlights a critical problem: students who barely meet the existing entry requirements may differ in unobservable ways from those who easily exceed them. Simply lowering the bar and applying the same performance expectations could lead to inaccurate predictions. To address this, the researchers employed a Heckman selection model, a statistical technique designed to account for potential self-selection bias.

Accounting for Hidden Differences: The Heckman model acknowledges that students who just scrape past the entry requirements might possess different levels of motivation, study habits, or access to resources compared to those with higher grades.
Predicting Outside the Data: Regression models are used to try and predict new data that isn't available, but these models need to account for any potential biases.
Addressing the Bias: By modeling both the selection process (entry into the honours program) and the outcome (performance in honours), the Heckman model aims to provide a more accurate picture of how the new cohort of students will perform.

In essence, the Heckman model helps researchers avoid the pitfall of assuming that the relationship between undergraduate grades and honours performance is the same for all students, regardless of their initial entry qualifications. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of the potential impact of lowering entry requirements.

Opening Doors, Ensuring Success

The UKZN study underscores the importance of careful planning and robust modeling when considering changes to university admissions policies. Lowering entry requirements can be a powerful tool for increasing access to higher education, but it's crucial to understand the potential impact on student outcomes.

By using the Heckman model, universities can gain a more realistic understanding of how different student populations will perform and tailor their support systems accordingly. This might involve providing additional resources, mentorship programs, or adjusted curricula to ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a higher education system that is both accessible and equitable, where students from all backgrounds can achieve their full potential. This requires a willingness to challenge traditional assumptions, embrace data-driven decision-making, and prioritize student success above all else.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.17159/sajs.2017/20160281, Alternate LINK

Title: Exploring The Relationship Between Entry Requirements And Throughput Rates For Honours Students

Subject: General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Journal: South African Journal of Science

Publisher: Academy of Science of South Africa

Authors: Mike Murray

Published: 2017-09-28

Everything You Need To Know

How did the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) study predict student performance after lowering entry requirements for honours programs?

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) study used the Heckman selection model to predict the performance of students admitted to the honours program after lowering entry requirements. This statistical technique helps to account for potential self-selection bias, recognizing that students who barely meet the original entry requirements may differ in unobservable ways (motivation, study habits, access to resources) from those who easily exceed them.

How does the Heckman selection model improve predictions of student performance compared to traditional methods when entry requirements are lowered?

The Heckman selection model addresses the issue of predicting student performance when entry requirements for honours programs are lowered by accounting for hidden differences between students who barely meet the original requirements and those who exceed them. It models both the selection process (entry into the honours program) and the outcome (performance in honours) to provide a more accurate prediction of how the new cohort of students will perform. Without it, the model predictions are inaccurate. It is important to understand any potential biases.

What are the potential benefits and risks of lowering entry requirements for honours degrees, according to the study?

Lowering entry requirements for honours degrees can increase access to higher education. However, the study from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) also shows that it's crucial to understand the potential impact on student outcomes. The research highlights the importance of careful planning and robust modeling, such as the Heckman selection model, to predict student performance and ensure that lowering barriers doesn't lead to a decline in academic standards or student success.

What were the traditional entry requirements for the honours program at UKZN, and how did the proposed changes challenge existing prediction methods?

The traditional approach to honours program entry at UKZN involved a weighted average mark above a certain threshold in the final year of undergraduate study. The proposed change considered removing these barriers, allowing any student with a major in the discipline to enter the honours program. This shift aimed to broaden access but raised questions about predicting the performance of the new student cohort, highlighting the need for models like the Heckman model to account for differences in student preparedness and potential.

Beyond using the Heckman selection model, what specific interventions or support systems does the study suggest to help students succeed after lowering honours program entry requirements?

The study does not detail specific interventions beyond the use of the Heckman selection model for predicting student performance. However, the implications of the research suggest that universities should invest in support systems and resources for students admitted under lowered entry requirements. This could include enhanced academic advising, tutoring programs, and mentorship opportunities to help these students succeed in their honours studies. The research underscores the need for a holistic approach that combines inclusive admissions policies with targeted support to maximize student potential.