At university, there are two types of people. Although the majority take single honours degrees, there’ll be a significant minority taking a blend of two or more subjects. Some of these may not seem to sit together (Maths and French, anyone?), but it’ll usually consist of two vaguely similar subjects. Although I study a joint honours degree, I can freely admit that there are advantages to either avenue of study!
Versatility
One major advantage of joint honours is that you’ll often look more versatile as a graduate without having to put any extra work. Having one subject is all well and good, but a subject and a language? You’ll look all the cleverer! And the mix can make the degree much more interesting – instead of constantly sitting over books, you can find yourself doing something completely different with half your week – perfect for those who never quite managed to knuckle down and love just one subject.
Year abroad, anyone?
And of course, there’s the year abroad! Although it adds a year onto the degree length, it’s usually a well-funded and amazing experience that can only serve to enrich your time at university. In particular, a year abroad is the perfect way to get out of the country for those who can’t afford a gap year – the multiple sources of funding make the travelling experience stupidly viable, and it’s another feather in your cap come CV-building time. Although it’s possible to take them on a single honours degree, a joint honours year abroad is often mandatory, which takes some of the stress out of the process.
The disadvantages
But that’s not to say that joint honours are perfect. Often the two departments won’t communicate particularly well, and this can lead to inevitable problems. One of the biggest problems can be referencing style if you take two similar subjects. This may seem like a minor problem, but it’s actually quite major – I spent the whole first year referencing in a blend of the MLA and MHRA styles, meaning I lost about 5/6 marks on each essay.
There’s also the chance that you’ll end up struggling to balance both the subjects, both socially and academically. Straddling two departments means that you could end up missing out on stronger connections that single honours students can make. But the positives can far outweigh them. Ultimately you have to ask yourself what you’re looking for – are you devoted to a single subject, or can you see yourself mastering multiple areas at university level? As with all things, take something because you want to. There’s no point pressing on with a degree you hate, even if it’ll get you that six figure salary.
Would you recommend a single or joint honours degree? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Oberazzi / Flickr
Warwick Editor for Career Camels and Deputy Comment Editor for The Boar.
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