International Double, Joint Degree Programs On the Rise

Double and joint degree programs weren't really on Mexican national Elena Campos' radar. But her interest was piqued after she learned about a double master's program in global communication and international journalism offered jointly by Free University of Berlin in Germany and Saint Petersburg State University in Russia. She says the former's reputation in communication studies convinced her to join the four-semester program.

"I was eager to experience a different type of education abroad, and a degree in two different universities and cities was the best option," says Campos, who received a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service as well as funding from the Russian government.

[Discover how an international approach can help your degree.]

Global universities are increasingly offering double and joint degree programs, with double degrees being more common. A joint degree is a single degree that two or more partner universities offer, while a double degree, also referred to as a dual degree, is two degrees that two universities award. Either can prove a good option for international students seeking a bit more from their studies, experts say.

Korean national Woongsup Jung's interest in computer programming and his desire to learn Chinese led him to pursue the undergraduate computing science dual degree program at Simon Fraser University in Canada and Zhejiang University in China. Grads receive a Bachelor of Science in computing science from Simon Fraser and a Bachelor of Engineering from Zhejiang.

"Tuition was a big concern for me and I found out that Simon Fraser University is relatively cheaper for international students than any other good universities based on my research," says Jung. "Also, receiving two degrees in five years seemed like an excellent deal."

[See global universities where tuition is low or free.]

Matthias Kuder, deputy director of the Center for International Cooperation at Free University of Berlin, says while double and joint degrees originated in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s, the trend has gained momentum in the last 15 years around the world, becoming "a part of the standard at many institutions."

Kuder says by working in partnership, universities "can pool educational resources and use complementary teaching expertise to build study programs that they otherwise wouldn't be able to offer." He says this also helps schools attract talented international students and improve global visibility and prestige.

Numerous global universities offer double and joint degree programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels, with master's being the most common. Kuder says while the degrees are offered in broad subject areas, they are most often in fields like business and management, engineering and social sciences. He says his institution currently offers dual degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels and joint doctoral degrees -- and is planning more.

[Learn six things about earning an undergraduate degree in Germany.]

U.S. universities are also increasingly establishing such programs. Dale LaFleur, director of institutional relations at the University of Arizona Office of Global Initiatives, says she has helped develop more than 20 international dual degree programs -- with several more in development -- in collaboration with campus faculty members and staff at partner institutions abroad.

For international students, dual and joint degree programs can allow them access to research opportunities at two institutions and to diversify and specialize their education. French national Jean-Philippe Hicke, for example, is pursuing the National University of Singapore-Sciences Po double degree program.

The four-year program grants students a Bachelor of Arts/Social Sciences (honors) from NUS and a Bachelor of Arts from Sciences Po in France. Hicke says the dual degree allowed him to specialize in economics, complementing his first two years at Sciences Po's Le Havre campus in Normandy, France, which he says focuses on Euro-Asian relations.

Hicke, now in Singapore starting his third year of the program, says the country's economic transformation and "position as a pioneer and leader in the region" convinced him that Singapore was the best choice. He adds, "I believed, and I still do, that we have a lot to learn from Singapore."

Dual and joint degree programs give students the "best of both worlds," says NUS Professor Bernard Tan, vice provost, undergraduate education. He says NUS offers 45 double degree programs and six joint degree programs at the undergraduate level.

The programs can also provide students a competitive edge and bolster employability, says Danyu Zhao, student affairs coordinator at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Applied Sciences.

For example, she says the nature of science, technology, engineering and math careers "involves high mobility and often requires STEM professionals to work in a multicultural collaborative environment and lead on an international scale." Zhao says many international grads from the computing science dual degree program "have been hired by major IT companies that include Google, Microsoft, IBM and Facebook."

For students considering the dual or joint degree route, University of Arizona's LaFleur advises they do their homework. Prospective students should ask about the longevity of the program, which is "a reflection of the sustainability of the program over time," she says, and about study or research opportunities and scholarships. They should talk to current students about the program; ask recent grads where they are employed; and speak with the faculty or coordinator of the program.

Mexican student Campos, who will graduate this September, says her two years in Germany and Russia gave her "more personal development" than standard programs would.

"I had the chance to experience life and learn from it," says Campos. "Moving from different countries and facing different cultures has made me a more mature and sensible person."

See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities.

Anayat Durrani is a Los Angeles-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering global universities, including those in the Arab region.