Dual Degree Courses in the UK: Top Universities, Benefits & Admission Process

Looking for more choice and flexibility in the subjects you can study for your undergraduate degree? Or want to combine your interests across disciplines? 

Dual degree courses in the UK are one way to modify your education to suit your personal and professional goals.

A recent empirical study found a positive correlation between students’ motivation for elective course selection and their participation in learning. This suggests that students are more engaged and perform better when given the freedom to choose subjects aligned with their interests. 

A dual degree program goes further than choosing one or two optional subjects within the degree curriculum. It offers you the opportunity to specialize in two academic disciplines. Such degrees have also become more popular because students want to strengthen their knowledge base and improve their job chances by studying two subjects in greater depth. Naturally, this will provide you with a competitive edge in the job market with interdisciplinary skills.

It may also allow for diverse academic and cultural experiences, where you earn two qualifications from two universities. Many dual degree programs involve studying at institutions in different countries with access to diverse alumni and professional networks.

Note: Dual degrees offer a great mix of flexibility, specialization, and career value. But choosing the right combination—and the right university—can get tricky fast. You need to weigh academic fit, future job prospects, living costs, and whether the second university is in the UK or abroad.

That’s where GradRight can help simplify your decision.

With GradRight’s university search platform, you can explore dual degree options across UK universities with filters that actually matter—tuition, city, ROI, subject pairing, and post-study work opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a course in economics + data science or law + business, the tool helps you find your best-fit match based on your goals.

And for financing, dual degrees can be more expensive—but GradRight’s loan-search platform helps you manage that. You can compare real-time offers from 15+ lenders, negotiate terms, and choose the most affordable option—often with no collateral and minimal paperwork.

What is a dual degree program?

A dual degree program allows students to pursue two distinct academic degrees simultaneously. You can study courses in related or complementary fields. For instance, you could study economics and sociology. Alternatively, choose subjects that support each other, like economics and business. The split between the two subjects is about 50/50.
The purpose of such programs is diverse academic experiences and faster qualifications than if the degrees were pursued separately.

After graduation, students will receive two separate qualifications, which may be from the same or partner institutions.
In essence, there are two main types of dual degree programs:

• One where students earn two distinct degrees in two fields from different university departments.
• The other kind of dual degree offers an integrated curriculum in complementary disciplines. However, it is co-delivered by two higher education institutions, which can be in the same country or internationally.

Dual degrees can be pursued at undergraduate or postgraduate levels and across various disciplines, such as business, law, engineering, and the arts.

How dual degree courses work in the UK

Dual degree programs in the UK are structured in several different ways. The three main formats are as follows. 

Concurrent Degrees

The most common type of dual degrees is where students study two degrees at the same time from the same university. This allows for knowledge in two contrasting subjects or subjects that complement each other.
The University of Sheffield, which is ranked 10th in the UK, offers multiple dual undergraduate honors degree options. Some examples include BSc in Mathematics and Philosophy, BA in History and Politics and BA in Business Management and Modern Languages & Cultures.

Collaborative/Partnered Programs

UK universities also partner with international institutions or a campus of the same university abroad and allow students to study part of their program abroad and receive degrees from both universities.

The University of Portsmouth, one of the top public universities in the UK, offers several dual honors degrees in fields such as management, communication, environmental science and psychology. These degrees are offered in partnership with Australian, German and French universities. 

Similarly, India’s Symbiosis International University Dubai campus allows students to earn a degree with Aston University in Birmingham, UK. The dual degree currently offers only one option of BBA (from 2 years of study in Symbiosis) and BSc Business and Management (from the latter half of the study in Aston).

Benefits of pursuing a dual degree

Dual degrees can facilitate career mobility or offer opportunities in multiple countries. Here are some advantages of pursuing a dual degree. 

Greater Career Flexibility

You can learn important skills like time management and communication alongside your main field, which will be useful for jobs or further studies. Plus, you can join student clubs from either department. These may include volunteering projects, placements and social events. Moreover, with expertise in two areas, you can switch careers more easily and pursue roles in multiple industries or countries. This flexibility is especially valuable in the current fast-changing and competitive job climate.

Broader Knowledge Base

With a double degree, students can try completely new subjects alongside a subject they already know well. Exposure to two disciplines will also enhance interdisciplinary understanding. This helps you think in new ways, solve problems creatively, and understand ideas from more than one angle.

Synergistic and Innovative Learning

Combining two disciplines encourages the integration of ideas and approaches. This can lead to innovative solutions with a deeper understanding of both fields. For example, combining computer science and psychology can help develop user-friendly AI tools or behavioral analytics platforms. 

Time and Cost Efficiency

Completing double degree courses concurrently is faster and often cheaper than pursuing them separately. Dual degree graduates often qualify for advanced positions and higher salaries due to their broader expertise and unique skill sets. For instance, a dual degree in engineering and management can prepare you for leadership roles in tech firms without pursuing an MBA down the line. 

Greater Exposure

Many programs offer the chance to study in different countries, such as the UK and the USA. This gives you work rights in the UK (Post Study Work Visa) and the US (OPT). Overall, you will end up expanding your global job opportunities and cross-cultural competencies after graduation.i

Popular degree combinations in the UK

Universities in the UK offer several degree combinations as dual degree (joint honors) programs. Below are the most popular and in-demand combinations and subject areas in the UK for 2025.

There are multiple other combinations that students can choose from at some of the best universities in the UK.

Top universities offering dual degree courses in the UK

Several leading UK universities offer dual degree programs. 

• The University of Oxford allows students to choose several joint honors degrees, including history and politics, mathematics and computer science, and classics and English/modern languages. 

It also offers a distinguished 1+1 MBA. This dual degree with Saïd Business School combines a specialist Master’s (e.g., data science, public policy, music, economics, health and environmental science) with a one-year MBA.

Oxford’s Public Policy 1+1 is another two-year graduate course. It links a Master’s in public policy with another Oxford Master’s degree.

• Imperial College London allows for a dual degree too. Science undergraduates (biochemistry, biology, biomedicine, and chemistry) can add a year in management at Imperial College Business School and graduate with a degree such as “Chemistry with Management.”
• Similarly, University College London (UCL) offers multiple joint honors programs. Some examples include:

• BSc in Economics and Geography
• BA in Philosophy and History
• BSc in Engineering and Management

UCL also offers a 4-year dual degree in European Social and Political Studies with Sciences Po in France.

Other examples of dual degrees by UK universities with foreign university partners are listed in the table below

Several other reputed universities offer dual degree courses in the UK. These include the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London and Nottingham Trent University.

Eligibility and admission process for dual degree programs

The eligibility of dual degree programs in the UK involves specific subject prerequisites for both disciplines. Normally, you would have to apply for both subjects and be accepted by both departments.
Note that there may also be higher overall grade requirements than single honors equivalents.

Similarly, the application process may require you to submit two sets of documents, such as

• academic transcripts,
• personal statement,
• and letters of recommendation

For instance, to be accepted for the Oxford 1+1 MBA course, you will have to submit two separate applications. One to meet the entry requirements for the Oxford MBA and the other partnering Master’s program you choose at Saïd Business School. The application deadlines and decision dates will also differ.

Some programs also offer options to transfer from a single to a dual degree. For example, at the University of Warwick, students apply to the single-year MA and then transfer to the double degree during their first year. Alternatively, you can apply to both partner institutions if starting abroad.

Integrated degree vs Dual degree: Key differences

Integrated degrees combine undergraduate and postgraduate study in a streamlined curriculum. The duration is generally between 3.5 and 5 years, depending on the combination and level of degrees. 

Here are the main differences between an integrated and dual degree course in the UK.

However, the two degrees can sometimes overlap. For instance, Northeastern University London offers a 4-year double degree program for undergraduates. You study for 3 years in London and then spend your 4th year at Northeastern’s Boston campus. Students also have the option to either earn two bachelor’s degrees, one from the UK and one from the USA, or complete their UK bachelor’s and then earn a US or Canadian Master’s degree.

Things to consider before choosing a dual degree course in the UK

Studying a joint honors degree at university can be challenging. As you might have noticed, the application process is itself more complex and time-consuming than a single degree. Here are some things to know beforehand to make an informed decision.

• Workload: Dual degrees are demanding and require strong time management skills. This means you’ll have a heavier workload than friends doing a single subject. You may also have fewer choices in what you study, as many courses will be compulsory. For example, history and modern languages students often don’t get to write a dissertation, even if they want to explore a topic deeply.
• Cost and Competition: While efficient, dual degrees can be more expensive upfront than single degrees. Another issue is that joint honors courses are very competitive and take very few students. For example, Oxford’s dual degree in history and economics accepts only 12 people a year. 
• International Mobility: If you apply for a dual degree that includes studying in two countries, you will have to consider visa requirements and the logistics of relocating and housing.

So, dual degree courses in the UK offer ambitious students the chance to gain two qualifications but come with their challenges. However, if you can overcome them with careful planning, you will broaden your expertise and improve career prospects in less time than pursuing two separate degrees. With careful consideration of the workload, costs, and alignment with their career goals, you can commit to a dual degree.

FAQs

1. What is a dual degree program in the UK?

A dual degree course in the UK allows students to study two subjects at the same time and earn two separate qualifications from different departments or even universities.

2. What are the benefits of pursuing a dual degree course?

Dual degree courses offer broader career flexibility and academic exposure. The skills across disciplines will possibly increase employability by combining knowledge from two fields in one program.

3. Which are the top universities in the UK offering dual degree programs?

The University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Warwick, University of Edinburgh, and University College London (UCL) are some top universities in the UK that offer dual degrees.

4. How is an integrated degree different from a dual degree in the UK?

An integrated degree combines two levels (Bachelor’s + Master’s) into a single qualification. A dual degree, on the other hand, awards two separate degrees in different or related subjects. 

5. Can international students apply for dual degree programs in the UK?

Yes, international students can apply for dual degree programs in the UK. You can apply to dual degree courses in the same way but will have to meet subject-specific requirements, language proficiency, and visa regulations for both programs.