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Dual Degree Programme (DDP)
DDP Introduction
Dual, double, conjoint, and simultaneous degree programs are the latest frontiers in higher education and have become popular phenomena with their worldwide recognition. Such degree programs are more common in some countries than others, and are generally available in countries whose higher education systems follow the British model, but they are becoming equally popular and are on offer at some of the top ranked North American universities. These include Iowa State University, Washington University (Missouri), Michigan Technological University, North Carolina State University, University of Arizona, University of Massachusetts, University of Denver, and many more. On the other hand in Europe and Far East, universities like University of Ghent (Belgium), Robert Gordon University (UK), Swedish University of Agricultural Scoences (Sweden), University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Applied Sciences (Germany), University of Bologna (Italy), Sunway University (Malaysia), some leading Chinese universities and several other UK Universities including Lancaster University, Leicester University, Manchester University, University of Nottingham are offering double or Dual degree programs since quite awhile. There are various types of DDP but all of them have a feature in common that the students participating in a “Dual Degree Program” normally pursue two degrees in parallel. This involves two institutions and sometimes even two different countries, where less time is spent to earn both the degrees compared to earning them separately. Moreover, the DDP prospective students, collaboration with a foreign institution, need to separately meet the eligibility criteria for admissions at both the institutions, i.e. home country institution and the partnering foreign institution.
Why a Dual Degree Programme
The DDP has witnessed quite an enormous growth in past few years, especially in the technologically advanced and developed countries of the world, as the gaining of qualifications from more than one country is seen as an advantage in today’s world. Typically a DDP provides a very good value for money as the students enrolled in DDP get two degrees without having to spend twice the time and effort that normally is consumed in completing the requirements of two degrees separately. Further, DDP provides an alternate path to the students, both in professional career or for seeking admissions in the higher degree programs. Students successfully completing the program earn two degrees and they do so in a cost-effective manner by paying only a fraction of cost involved in obtaining both the degrees separately. Moreover, two different degrees enlarges the canvass of choices of jobs and careers for their recipients, especially when the double degrees are earned from institutions in two different countries.
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