Interested in adding an international perspective to your college education? These days, your options extend well beyond a semester abroad with exciting options for joint and dual degrees with top universities in the U.S. and around the world. These programs typically offer a broad range of academic choices and the opportunity to acquire direct knowledge of two distinct cultures.
For a list of the top international dual and joint degree programs, read on!
GLOBAL CAMPUSES
Georgetown University in Qatar
Through its School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University offers a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service at its campus in Qatar. On the outskirts of Doha, GU-Q—a Jesuit university in a Muslim country—was established in 2005. Just as they do in Washington, DC, students at GU-Q begin their studies with a core curriculum, giving them an understanding of philosophy, theology, the humanities, economics, political science, history, and other disciplines. During sophomore year, students choose a major, allowing them to specialize in international economics, history, or politics, or the interplay of culture and politics. In addition to their studies, GU-Q students have access to work, internship, and additional study abroad opportunities.
GU-Q’s admissions process is separate from the main undergraduate admissions process with its own application form. Also, unlike the main campus, GU-Q’s admissions process is test-flexible. The most recently available admissions data show that for the Class of 2025, 28% of applicants were admitted and of the 109 students enrolling, one-third were from Qatar.
New York University
NYU has grown its international presence over the years with degree-granting campuses in in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, along with its flagship campus in New York City.
NYU Abu Dhabi, which welcomed its first class of students in 2010, is the first comprehensive liberal arts and science campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Today, 2,075 undergraduates from over 120 countries are enrolled at NYUAD and the annual acceptance rate hovers around 5%.
NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective liberal arts, engineering and science undergraduate curriculum. In addition to choosing from more than 26 undergraduate majors, all NYUAD undergraduates complete a core curriculum consisting of two Core Colloquia, each of which addresses a significant global challenge from multidisciplinary perspectives, and four Core Competency Courses, one each in Arts, Design, and Technology; Cultural Exploration and Analysis; Data and Discovery; and Structures of Thought and Society. Along with their majors and core courses, NYUAD students can access research opportunities, summer internships, language study, and deep cultural engagement.
NYU Shanghai was established in 2012 as a partnership between NYU and East China Normal University. The student body currently consists of nearly 1,900 undergraduate students, roughly half of whom are from China. Students from the United States and some 70 other countries represent the other half. English is the language of instruction on campus, though international students are required to study and achieve proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.
NYU Shanghai undergraduate students spend the first two years on core courses and select from one of 19 different majors in the arts and sciences, business and finance, engineering, and data and computer science. Additionally, over the course of their undergraduate studies, NYU Shanghai students are encouraged to spend up to two semesters studying in New York, Abu Dhabi or at one of NYU’s 12 global study centers. At the end of four years, students will earn two diplomas: an NYU degree and a Chinese-accredited NYU Shanghai diploma.
Admissions to all three NYU campuses, including Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, is done via the Common Application. Prospective applicants can choose the ED1, ED2, or RD option for all three campuses. Although NYU is notoriously tight-lipped about admissions data by school or program, these programs are competitive (single-digit acceptance rates) and draw a more self-selected applicant pool.
Important note: Don’t consider NYUAD or NYUSH as a backdoor to the main NYU campus as once enrolled, there are no options to transfer to NYU in New York City.
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DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
Columbia University Offers Three International Dual Degree Programs
With areas of study spanning the arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences, Columbia University’s School of General Studies offers students three different international programs where undergraduates can immerse themselves in the academic, social, and cultural environments of two different world-renowned research universities. Students enrolled in these programs earn two BA degrees in four years.
Exciting options include:
Sciences Po Dual BA Program
Founded in 1872 as the École Libre des Sciences Politiques, Sciences Po began as a private school before becoming fully integrated into the public education system as the Institut d’Ètudes Politiques de Paris, or Sciences Po, in 1945. Today, Sciences Po is one of Europe’s most distinguished universities and a full-fledged, self-governing institution that enjoys the freedom of a grande école and the resources of a major research university.
As a dual degree students at Sciences Po, your options include programs in Asia-Pacific Studies, Mediterranean and Middle East Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, African Studies, and North American Studies, as well as robust cultural and language programs.
Trinity College Dublin Dual BA Program
As a Dual BA student, you’ll spend the first two years studying in Dublin and the final two years in the heart of New York City. While at Trinity College Dublin, you’ll choose from one of the program’s pathways spanning the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Currently, those options include Classics, Ancient History & Archaeology, English Studies, European Studies, Film, Geoscience: Geography and Geoscience, History, History of Art & Architecture, Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures, Neuroscience: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Religion. Students then continue their chosen program of study in years 3 and 4 in one of the approved Columbia majors, while also completing Columbia’s Core Curriculum. During their time at Columbia, students also undertake additional courses and projects which constitute the extra credits necessary for the award of the Trinity BA.
Tel Aviv University Dual Degree Program
The Tel Aviv University Dual Degree Program allows students to develop a multidisciplinary perspective on contemporary issues by offering students the unique opportunity to study at a top-tier university in the Middle East, where they will study one of eight humanities and social sciences focused academic programs, before matriculating at Columbia, where they complete the University’s Core and major requirements.
In their first two years at TAU, students will choose from programs including Digital Culture and Communication; Modern Jewish and Israel Studies; Literature; Middle Eastern Studies; Philosophy; Psychology; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and Life Sciences. After completing their second year at TAU, Dual Degree Program students will matriculate at the Columbia University School of General Studies where they will further their study in one of Columbia’s liberal arts majors and participate in Columbia’s Core Curriculum in a variety of disciplines, including literature, art, music, science, and the humanities.
Students interested in the International Dual Degree Programs in partnership with Sciences Po, Trinity College Dublin, and Tel Aviv University must apply by January 2 for fall enrollment. There are no early decision options for these programs. Last year, 217 students from around the world enrolled in one of Columbia’s three international dual degree programs, having been admitted from a pool of just over 1,000 students. Although not a hyper-selective admissions process, these programs are nonetheless competitive. The admissions process includes a review of the applicant’s academic history, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (if required or submitted), a personal essay, and an interview conducted in English. Applications will be reviewed by a joint committee featuring admissions representatives from both Columbia University’s School of General Studies and Trinity College, Sciences Po, or Tel Aviv University. The interviews and the application review process focus on assessing “fit” with these very specialized programs.
For additional information, please check the admissions page for each international dual degree program here: Columbia and Trinity College Dublin, Columbia and Sciences Po, and Columbia and Tel Aviv University.
Top universities also offer a range of five-year joint degree programs in partnership with top universities around the world that allow students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years.
UC Berkeley Dual Degree Programs with Sciences Po and University of Hong Kong
UC Berkeley offers two dual degree programs that combine two years of study at renowned international institutions with two years of study at UC Berkeley: Sciences Po in France and the University of Hong Kong.
Both dual degree programs offer a unique, international undergraduate experience, comprised of two years in either France or Hong Kong and two years at UC Berkeley. Additionally, upon graduation from the UC Berkeley-Sciences Po program, students receive a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Sciences Po and a Bachelor of Arts degree in their major of choice from UC Berkeley. Graduates of the program are also guaranteed voluntary admission into one of Sciences Po’s Master’s programs.
Admission to the program is highly competitive and students apply as first year students to the program, submitting both the Sciences Po or HKU supplemental application and the standard UC application by November 30. Applicants are evaluated on their academic achievement, intellectual engagement, and their own representation of their experiences, ideas, and aspirations. Students must be approved for admission by both UC Berkeley and Sciences Po or HKU to be considered for the Dual Degree Program. Instructions on how to apply are available here.
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JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS
St. Andrews William & Mary Joint Degree Programme
The Joint Degree Programme between William & Mary and the University of St Andrews is one of the few international undergraduate joint degrees offered with a U.S. university. Students complete two years at each institution and earn a single degree — a Bachelor of Arts (International Honors — with the insignia of both institutions).
The program offers you a greater range of academic experiences than either school can offer on its own. It gives you the opportunity to experience two distinct intellectual and national cultures. Your studies will have more breadth than a traditional St Andrews degree as well as more specialization than is usual at William & Mary. Students pursuing this joint degree can choose from one of six majors: Classical Studies, Economics, English, Film Studies, History, and International Relations.
Admission to the joint degree program is through a separate but parallel admissions process. As a first step, you choose your home campus – either William & Mary or St. Andrews – and then complete the appropriate application and supplements (Common App for William & Mary applicants, UCAS for St. Andrews applicants). Decisions for the joint degree program are not made until April. You can apply ED to William & Mary but there is no early admission for the joint degree.
Admissions statistics are not readily available but last year (Class of 2027), 49 students enrolling at William & Mary were part of the St. Andrews William & Mary Joint Degree Programme.
Johns Hopkins University BA/MA Program in International Studies
JHU provides a select group of undergraduate students a unique opportunity to pursue an accelerated dual-degree program between Hopkins and Sciences Po that will ultimately result in a both a bachelor’s degree from Hopkins and master’s degree from one of the four schools of Sciences Po. Unlike the Columbia dual degree programs, students apply for this special BA/MA during the sophomore year at Hopkins. Selected students spend their junior year at Hopkins, choosing their courses so as to ideally complete their major requirements before beginning their studies at Sciences Po. During their senior year, students remain enrolled at Hopkins but study in Paris as Sciences Po master’s students. During their second year, students have graduated from Hopkins but continue working towards their master’s degree at Sciences Po.
NEXT STEPS
Global campuses, dual degree, and joint programs can offer students the best of both worlds, studying at top universities and gaining important global perspectives. If you’re considering one of these options, be sure to take advantage of admissions information sessions to learn more about the nuts and bolts of these programs as well as the exciting benefits.
If you’re seeking customized hands-on guidance tailored to your unique goals, consider working with our expert team in our platinum Private Counseling Program. From determining your application strategy and college list to guiding you through every stage of the application and essay writing process (and so much more!); we’ve got you covered!
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In addition, Maria is proud of her long-term volunteer work with Opera North (Lebanon, NH) in fundraising, marketing and audience engagement. She is an avid masters rower with the Upper Valley Rowing Foundation (Hanover, NH) and also serves as a member of its board of directors.
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