I would like to continue study and complete a masters and phd in sociology by research however I have no honours - a prerequisit listed for virtually every uni course by research that I have seen.

I do have a double degree in soc/edu. Is this viewed in a better light than a standard three year undergraduate degree and will it help in anyway or is it just wishful thinking?

Yes, a double degree is better than a standard u'grad degree, but not sure how much better this is viewed. Could you do a masters by course work, with a research project, then the PhD? You need to show that you have research experience to get into a PhD, and if you don't have hons, then try and do a subject in your masters where you can do a research project.

You need to talk to some unis then, to see how you can be accepted if you haven't done research. I'm in social sciences, and you do need research experience to do a PHD, but am not sure about a masters, your degree might be enough to get you in to a research masters. Also keep in mind that with some PhDs, at least with my uni and my discipline, they're making at least a couple of course work subjects compulsory, so you migyht not be able to avoid them altogether.

From my experience SC, you have to do some form of research pathway-even if this takes the form of a major project in a coursework Masters, or an M "Qual" (Masters Qualifiyer) or a study based in your workplace.

I too did not have the 'honours year' required in Australian Universities, to go straight into a research Masters or PHD, and having completed undergrad 10 years ago, missed the 10 years cut off- to go back and do honours while working. So I searched extensively to see if somehow, I could just go straight into a research degree. However, all of the Universities with the degrees and supports that I wanted, pretty much said the same thing...you need to have some form of tangible research experience and I did not think that my workplace projects, which were shared things, really counted as this. So I bit the bullet and enrolled in Masters by Coursework course but one that offered an extensive part of this degree as a research thesis- provided you achieve distinction or higher in two course work subjects. I did and am now finishing the thesis-well am just over half way mark. The thesis will qualify me for full research degrees in future-either at Masters or Phd level depending on my grades.

It was really frustrating at first as in my undergrad years I was a top student, winning prizes and earmarked for honours and Phd, straight away, but my life was a little complicated back then and I just could not continue with studies and the extra honours year to go down this path. So I share your frustration-I was so annoyed a couple of years ago when I began the Masters (coursework part) but now I am almost finished- really happy with the progress my thesis is making and do not regret this decision or course at all. I have learned masses from it, both from the course work units, which sharpened and honed my academic skills again and certainly also learned from the thesis part. I know that my own independence (something they go on and on about in the generic skills listed) as a thinker and writer really have been developed tremendously from this course. But it seemed so expensive and such a 'come down' from the success that I had experienced earlier. However, once my pride was in check and I stopped counting the years and claimed tuition on tax as much as possible-then it all seemed much better.