Top Dual Degree Programs in India

Top Dual Degree Programs

Dual degree programs, as the name suggests, provide the opportunity for aspiring students to earn degrees in different disciplines of the same level of study, at the same time. 

The respective Universities, by the guidelines on the subject, have delineated the Dual degree programs. Universities have prescribed particular Second Degree Programmes that can also be pursued by the students under the dual degree programs in India. 

In other words, the respective Universities spell out the details of the courses that can be pursued simultaneously under the Dual degree programs. Here, the most appealing feature is that the students pursuing Dual degree programs are conferred with two separate degrees. Students must be aware of the fact that the guidelines on Dual degree programs involve certain riders.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 anticipates innovative and adaptable curricula that will enable creative interdisciplinary study combinations and provide multiple entry and departure points for dual degree programmes. 

As awareness about higher education is spread across the masses, the growing demand for higher education has brought the constraints of the availability of seats in regular modes of learning to the fore. 

To overcome this problem, Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs), across India, have started Online and Distance Courses at a much cheaper cost under the Dual degree programs. The Online mode of learning affords students the perfect comfort of learning from anywhere at their chosen time. There is no hassle to reach the College in time. The students are at liberty to manage their time as per their own set of priorities. 

In tune with the NEP 2020, the University Grants Commission has formulated and issued guidelines about pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously under the Dual degree programs to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both conventional and Online Distance modes of learning.

To make things crystal clear, it will be prudent to look at the UGC guidelines for dual degree for pursuing two Academic Programmes simultaneously under the dual degree programs in India.

The UGC Guidelines for Dual Degree

1. A student is allowed to enroll in two full-time academic courses in the physical mode as long as the class schedules for the two programmes do not conflict.

2. A student may follow up to two ODL/Online academic programmes at once, one in a full-time physical mode and the other in an Open and Distance Learning (ODL)/Online mode.

3. Only HEIs that have been approved to operate these programmes by the UGC, the Statutory Council, or the Government of India may provide degree or diploma programmes in the ODL/Online mode.

4. Where applicable, the regulations announced by the UGC as well as the relevant statutory/professional councils will regulate degree or diploma programmes under these guidelines.

5. These regulations shall be in effect as of the UGC's notification of them. Students who have previously completed two academic programmes concurrently before the notification of these rules are not eligible to claim any retroactive benefits.

Only students pursuing academic programmes other than Ph.D. programmes are subject to the mentioned UGC standards for dual degree programmes.

The universities can design systems through their statutory bodies to permit their students to pursue two academic programmes concurrently as part of their Dual degree programmes based on the previously mentioned UGC guidelines for dual degrees. The students' query- Can I pursue two degree at a time is now aptly answered in light of the UGC guidelines for dual degree.

The following are the top colleges and Universities that allow learners to avail the opportunity of accelerated learning in multi-disciplines under their Dual degree programs. 

The programmes and courses for earning the second degree simultaneously with the first, are explicitly provided by the Universities. The prestigious Universities that facilitate students to earn a second degree as well are the following:-

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), BITS Pilani., Amity University, University of Rajasthan, Punjabi University, Delhi Technological University, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

Benefits of Earning Dual Degrees Simultaneously under Dual Degree Programs

1. Accelerated learning

The foremost Dual degree benefit is that the students acquire knowledge and skills of two disciplines at the same level of study simultaneously, thereby, broadening their wisdom without investing additional years in another programme. 

2. Improvement of skills

Another dual degree benefits are that students upgrade their skills in two different streams at the same time. With the acquisition of knowledge and skills in two different domains, the students’ prospects of employability in the market increase manifold without elapse of additional time.

3. Confidence Building Measure

Earning dual degrees simultaneously boosts the morale of the students and it helps build inner confidence in the person. Dual degree benefits, at a personal level, are enormous and can not be quantified.

4. Time Management Skills

Students pursuing dual degrees inadvertently learn time management skills and emphasized appropriately fixing priorities as per the need of the two different curricula. The entire journey of learning, and pursuing two programmes help in bringing about the overall personality development of the students.

The students of dual degree programmes get experiential learning in two streams that give them immense exposure at an early age. 

Students often seek to know what is double ma. Double degree or double ma means one is doing a Master's degree in two subjects, for example, Masters's Degree in English as well as in History. 

In case someone wants to pursue a double MA in any two subjects simultaneously then he or she can register in the University that offers these programs in Distance Mode of Learning. 

This way, one can pursue simultaneously, double ma. Additionally, a student is permitted to enroll in two full-time academic programs in the physical mode as long as the class schedules for the two programs do not conflict.

IGNOU Offers Dual Degree Programmes 

Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) allows students to pursue dual degree programmes simultaneously. A student seeking a degree from another university may enroll in an IGNOU degree program online or through open and distance learning (ODL) under dual degree programs. 

Students often ask -can I pursue two degree at a time. Yes, the students can pursue two degree programmes as per the UGC guidelines for dual degree. The students can pursue only two academic programmes simultaneously at the UG and PG levels subjects to fulfillment of the eligibility criteria for admission to each of the two programme (s) in the following manner:- 

One program in regular/ODL/Online format from a non-IGNOU institution and one program in ODL/Online format from the IGNOU.

Or

Both the programmes in ODL or online mode from IGNOU will be permitted in Two separate admission cycles only.

Or 

In case of two UG/PG programmes in Online mode taken in two separate admission cycles in the same academic year i.e. one programme in January and another programme in July or in case of one UG/PG programme in ODL and other in online mode, the admission can be taken in two separate admission cycles in the same academic year i.e. one programme in January and another programme in July.

Amity University 

Students at Amity University can also pursue two degree programmes to earn two degrees simultaneously- One full-time & the other in Online Mode under its Dual degree programs. Earning two Degrees is optional. Thus, students can do an additional degree in online mode at the same time as with the full-time programme.

All the students pursuing full-time degrees from Amity University can opt to do an additional degree in online mode at subsidized rates. Students need to first take admission to a full-time Degree programme to be able to avail of this option. They have the option of choosing a second degree either at the application stage or at a later time.

UG and PG difference is quite noticeable as UG stands for an Undergraduate programme while PG stands for a Postgraduate programme. UG and PG means that the former is a Bachelor’s programme and the latter is a Master’s programme. Another ug and pg difference is that the UG course is 3-4 years in duration while PG courses are of 2 years in duration. Thus, the students must now be fully aware of what ug and pg mean. 

2 year degree courses include the postgraduate courses that one pursues after completing the undergraduate courses. The list containing the details of Second degree programs serves as dual degree examples. The students at Amity University can opt for the Second Degree Program given in Table-A.

Table- A

Dual Degree Examples of Second Degree Programs by Amity University

Students often ask about the integrated dual degree meaning. Amity University offers Integrated BBA - MBA (International Business). The programme is of 5 years duration. The import of the integrated dual degree meaning is earning two degrees e.g. one Bachelor’s and another Master’s degree. Likewise, integrated dual degree meaning may be integrated B.Tech- M.Tech; B.A.- M.A.; B.Tech. - MBA and the like. In a way integrated dual degree meaning is dual degree bachelor and master programs.

Conclusion of Dual Degree Programs in India

The facility of pursuing Dual degree programs is a unique feature permitted by the University Grants Commission that enables the desirous students to acquire skills and knowledge in two disciplines without elapse of additional time which otherwise must have been taken in earning the second degree consecutively. Earning Dual degrees simultaneously infuses tremendous confidence in the person as one attains in-depth knowledge in two streams. 

The learner although finds much devotion, yet he/she manages to pursue both programmes successfully by efficiently resorting to time management while preparing for the examinations involved in both courses. Integrated dual degree meaning is dual degree bachelor and master programs or professional degrees like BBA-LLB, BA-LLB, and the like.

In choosing dual degree programs in India, the students need to adhere to the UGC guidelines for dual degree. 

The expert team of Distance Pathshala endeavors to keep aspiring students informed with the latest Online and Distance industry-oriented programmes. The team of Counsellors of Distance Pathshala provides material information to aspiring students about meaningful Online and Distance Learning programmes from the best Universities.

Aspiring students must seek guidance from the expert team of Distance Pathshala for choosing the best Online and Distance Courses from the Best Online Universities. Students must not hesitate in approaching the seasoned team of education experts at Distance Pathshala.

FAQs of Dual Degree Programs in India