10 Feb 2020

With Uni just weeks away from kicking back into gear, the thought of changing degrees or quitting altogether can seem oh so tempting. Whether you’re already in the midst of your degree or just about to start, the possibility of doubling your degree can seem both exciting and daunting. Double degrees aren't for everyone, so there are some things you should know before diving headfirst into one.

You’re in this for the long haul

Double degrees can be a really useful way to diversify your skill set, whilst making you more employable. However, they usually come with a bit more time spent at uni. You need to consider whether or not you’re ready for an extra year or two of the university lifestyle. Some people are, some people aren’t.

You’re given the chance to broaden your horizons

If you’re a bit undecided about which route to take on your career, double degrees are great because they let ya try out two avenues at once.

Something like Law and International Studies works well because while you’re working two separate parts of your brain, you’re also studying two areas that can complement each other in the long run. Also, if you’re liking one degree more than the other, you have the option of scaling down to one degree, without dropping out altogether.

It could be expensive

Whilst our HECS debt seems like an unimportant amount of fake money floating out in the void, one day when we are old and weathered, having finished our time at university, that cheeky amount of money is going to bite us on the ass. If you’re planning on studying a double degree, that mystery money money could be doubled (see what I did there?). You need to weigh up the pros and cons of a double degree because you’ll be investing more than just time into it.

It’s a compact way to study

With a double degree, you’re lessening the risk of studying one degree, only tolerating it, and then heading back to uni for what you really wanted to do. If you’re clever with your time and studies, you could be in and out of university in 4 or 5 years, with two separate areas of expertise. After getting your bachelors out of the way, you have a better chance to able to breathe or travel or just take a break, without the stress of potentially having to go back to right some university wrongs.

Double degrees aren’t for everyone, but if you use them to your advantage, they can be a completely worthwhile and clever way to play the university system.

Remember:  you’re never trapped in a certain degree or university. So, if you’re excited about a double degree but skeptical as to whether or not you can see it through till the end, you don’t have much to lose by just trialing it out (except for that magic HECS money that might pop up later).