What are Double or Joint Degree Programs, Their Pros and Cons

What are Double or Joint Degree Programs?

Double degree are also referred to as Joint Degree, Dual Degree, Combined Degree, Conjoint Degree and Simultaneous Degree, around the globe. Double degree is process of pursuing two different fields of study from different or same university at the same time. If you have completed a Double degree graduate program, you now have two degree in two different fields.

It is for the students who are really interested in studies and enjoy what they are doing. You not only get to experience two different types of student life but also the environment of different universities, two different types of education not to mention two different degree all in the same span of time. Amazing! Isn’t it?

This usually happens with the Coordination of two different institutes, which let a student study two programs, each at one university. You would usually spend 2-3 years for one program at each university. 

How is it different from Double Majors?

A Double Major program is not same as Double Degree. In Double major, you study two major subjects in one degree program. You only get one degree in Double majors. Whereas in Double Degree, you get to study two major programs, from different university or college and you get two different degrees.

Which Universities Offer Double or Joint Programs?

Follow the university links to see the double degree offered courses.

1 -    Free University of Berlin in Germany and Saint Petersburg State University in Russia.

2 -   Simon Fraser University in Canada and Zhejiang University in China.

3 -   Singapore - National University of Singapore-Sciences

4 -   United States - Johns Hopkins University

5 -   France - ParisTech

6 -   United States - Duke University

7 -   Canada - University of Waterloo & Wilfrid Laurier University

Students are able to obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and either a Bachelor of Mathematics or a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo.

8 -   Brunei - UNISA

Provide a double degree for Bachelor of Law (B.L.) and Bachelor of Sharia Law

9 -   Netherlands - University of Amsterdam

Provide double bachelor programs (DuBa) for certain Bachelor of Sciences (Bsc.), leading up to two separate bachelor's degrees. These include a double bachelor for Mathematics and either Physics or Computer science, and a double bachelor for Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

10 -   United States - University of Houston

Provide numerous double degrees, including double degrees for Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration, and double degree for Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy.

Pros/Advantages of Double or Joint Degree

1.    You get to learn more than field of expertise.

2.     University prefers students for Double Degree, they are the students who want to do something with their life and.

3.    It saves you years. For example, if you want to study two graduate program of 4 years. Normally, it will take you 8 years to complete them. If you do it with a Double degree program, you will complete both program in about 5 years and will have two different degrees.

4.    Since you have more than one diplomas, your market value automatically rises. A multi-talented person is always paid higher than others.

5.    It is so uprising and valued that more than 25 percent of students at Duke Law School follow joint degrees.

6.    More Career options to pursue.

7.    Since, you have two degrees, if you don’t like one after studying it. You can simply choose the other one as your Career.

8.    You can choose one program to please your parents or career and other that might be your hobby like Arts.

Cons/Disadvantages of Double or Joint Degree

1.     You have to work a lot more than any other student.

2.    Since, you will switching from one university to other every year. You will not get much to socialize. You won’t be able to bond much.

3.    Double degree program’s dropout rate is 50 percent and most of it occurs in last two years.

4.    You need more resources to follow dual degree program. Double degree student run out of money more often than others.