An honours degree provides the opportunity to continue undergraduate studies at a higher level, specialising in a particular area of interest. An honours degree is a rigorous and scholarly program of further study, which develops a student's ability to generate new knowledge and distill new ideas out of existing knowledge. Candidates with honours are particularly sought after by employers and can choose from more interesting research and development positions because of their extra skills and proven abilities. It can also provide a pathway to research higher degree study. Completing an honours degree involves an additional full-time year of study (or the equivalent) following completion of a bachelor program, or alternatively additional study with a research element included in the final year or years of a bachelor program.