Of late, the demand for Integrated Programmes/Dual Degree Courses in different branches of study has increased as alternative Programmes in place of common Undergraduate followed by Postgraduate Courses, with more and more students opting for the same. Students after completing their 10+2/12th Class are required to take the right decision. This is the turning point and deciding factor for their future careers. Hence, most students and their parents are stuck at this stage to decide which course of study is the best to pursue after completing the 10+2 / 12th Class.
This article dwells on various concerns of students and parents and provides important clues to help take the right decision for prospective students and their anxious parents.
Integrated Programmes/Dual Degrees have emerged as Leaders offering excellent opportunities to students, with the advanced global trends in the field of education and training, and most of the student clientele choose these Programmes as they provide them with the best opportunities in their future careers.
Education Experts opined that Integrated Programmes/Dual Degrees offer a host of benefits of in-depth knowledge of the subjects with a professional touch.
One of the core differences is – after completion of the course (dual or integrated), students are awarded 2 different degrees (one in the core area and the other one in the specialisation) for a dual degree course. In the case of the integrated programme, only a master’s degree will be awarded in the specialisation chosen by the student. In the case of a Dual degree course, students can study interdisciplinary courses (core and specialisation) which provides savings in terms of time and fee for one year. In the case of Integrated Programmes, students can save one year of study, but the total course fees shall be the same as that of common UG + PG programmes together. It is pertinent to mention here that both Integrated and Dual Degree courses have the same advantage of better placement and in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialisation. Choosing between an Integrated and Dual degree is also a challenge for students. Students are required to exercise due diligence before selecting a course for study after 10+2.
Having explained the core differences between Integrated and Dual Degrees, in the following paragraphs, both Integrated and Dual Degrees are discussed combinedly.
Following is the list of the most popular combination (dual courses) of 5-year integrated Programmes available in various Colleges/Universities in India. The list is not exhaustive.
Commerce Stream:
Arts Stream:
Science Stream:
Engineering Stream:
Management Stream:
Students with 10+2/12th class are eligible to seek admission subject fulfilment of the requirements of the College/University. Students also need to obtain qualifying scores/rank/marks in the Entrance Tests conducted by the University concerned and/or in the National Entrance Tests as applicable.
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Opportunities are galore in the field of Finance, HR, Sales and Marketing/Retail and the roles offered to the students shall be as Management Consultants/Retail Managers/Digital Managers/Sales Managers etc. The package offered shall range between Rs.4.0 LPA to Rs. 25.0 LPA depending on the specialisation and College/University. Opportunities are also available for budding entrepreneurs to start a business.
Students with Dual Degrees/Integrated Programmes in Engineering have opportunities in the software and hardware fields as Big Data Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, Data Analysts, Blockchain Developers/Engineers, Software Developers, Computer System Analysts, and Networking Engineers. The Package offered to the students shall range between Rs.4.0 LPA to 30.0 LPA depending on the specialisation and College/University.
Students with the above Dual Degree have opportunities in the Legal field as Legal Advisors /Standing Counsels in Corporate Sector and Government Departments. They have opportunities to join as Magistrates/Judges after clearing the relevant Government examinations. The expected package shall range between 3.6 LPA to 15.0 LPA.
Students with this Integrated Programme have a wide range of opportunities right from Writer to Academician, Editor to Soft Skill Trainer, and PRO to Blogger/Content Strategist with an annual package ranging from Rs.3.5 to 6.0 Lakhs.
Students with Political Science have opportunities in the field of Journalism, social media, Public Relations and more importantly Politics, with a package ranging from Rs.3.0 to 8.0 LPA.
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Against the above backdrop, it can be concluded that Integrated Programmes and Dual Degree Courses are unique alternatives for common/general Undergraduate/Postgraduate Programmes offered in various Colleges/Universities across India.
Students pursuing these programmes have added advantages and major benefits post-completion of the Courses in their chosen programme, an edge over the general/common degrees.
Students after 10+2/12th Class must weigh between the two options of regular Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses and Integrated/Dual Degree courses and take the right decision in consultation with their peers/parents/experts, by exercising due diligence.