Why Obtain Just One Degree When You Can Have Two?

Why Choose a Double Degree?

Studying two areas at once means you can move in two directions without sacrificing your potential in either. By having competencies in more than one area, you gain more knowledge and skills that automatically make you more attractive for potential employers. What’s good is that you can hold degrees in different educational institutions, different parts of the world, and even in different fields. For instance, if you study both Business and Law, you can become a manager talking the language of contracts and legislation. Equipped with these dual competencies, your skill set has a broader scope.

Some universities provide their own programs for a double degree, while others give you an opportunity to choose the subjects by yourself. Also, you shouldn’t forget that a double degree is not just a part of the undergraduate study. In fact, there are many combinations you may find at the postgraduate level, such as an MBA linked to a Master of Finance. Thus, it can be a great chance for those who want to catch them all!

Possible Combinations

Surprisingly, almost any combination you can think of is possible. Even diametrically opposed subjects gain a special coherence under a double degree by preparing for specialized occupations. For instance, studying a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Computer Engineering gives you the language competence to communicate with an international community of programmers, create software, and understand specific syntax and constraints. There is much more of such combinations, you just need to check the university admission requirements.

Timeframes for a Double Degree

Obtaining two degrees may seem time-consuming and you surely don’t want to be out of the workforce longer than necessary. It will take around four years for you to obtain a double degree, which is slightly more than you would need for obtaining a single degree. The study duration depends on the subjects you choose, whether it will be Linguistics and Law, Medicine and Chemistry, or any other spontaneous mix. But it’s up to you to speed up the process. Some universities offer more direct routes for obtaining a desired degree in a shorter time, including trimester programs or summer camps. This way you can catch up to your peers obtaining a single degree.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

With a double degree, you'll have an undeniable advantage in your CV. Your courage to face a challenge and take responsibility for complex tasks will surely be admired by potential employers. For instance, if you decide to study Language and Business, you can easily find employment in international companies. For many people, it takes years to learn foreign languages or master the business sphere and you have it all right from the start. Furthermore, the average individual with a double degree is reported to have a 3% higher salary than someone with a single degree only. Sounds convincing, don’t you think?

Alternative Options

After all, it’s always good to have alternative variants. Thus, you can simply complete two specializations by having a double major (for instance, a Bachelor of Linguistics with majors in languages and literature). The only nuance is that both specializations must be in the same field of study. Also, you can finish an undergraduate course in one field and proceed with a postgraduate program for mastering a second specialization just one after the other. If this is of any interest to you, you need to make sure that your initial degree corresponds to the admission policy of each particular postgraduate program. Furthermore, there is a great variety of combined degree programs that involve two or more different disciplines interacting with each other. For instance, the Economics and Management program consists of the entire economics academic plan and the full range of business courses.

Before taking the action, you need to decide if a double degree is the right way for you. Just think of your goals and intentions in a long-term perspective.