In today’s competitive academic and job landscape, many students are exploring dual degree courses in India to gain a competitive edge. These programs allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously or in an integrated format, saving time and enhancing their skills across multiple domains.
But are dual courses the right path for everyone?
In this article, we will cover the advantages, disadvantages, top combinations, eligibility, and career scope of dual degree programs in India. Let us start!
Topics Covered
What Are Dual Degree Courses?
Dual degree courses allow a student to pursue two academic programs either simultaneously or in an integrated structure. For instance, a student may pursue a B.Tech + M.Tech, or a BBA + MBA integrated course.
According to the UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines, students can now pursue two degrees together, either in physical + online mode or in different streams. This flexibility has opened new doors for ambitious learners.
Types of Dual Degree Courses in India
There are mainly three types of dual degree courses available:
1. Integrated Dual Degree Courses
- One combined program (e.g., B.Tech + M.Tech)
- Duration is usually 5 years
- Offered by institutions like IITs, NITs, etc.
2. Simultaneous Dual Degree Courses
- Two separate degrees from the same or different universities
- One course in regular mode, the other in distance/online mode
- Allowed under UGC 2022 guidelines
3. International Dual Degree Courses
- One degree from an Indian university and one from a foreign university
- Usually through exchange programs or collaborations
Popular Dual Degree Courses Combinations in India
Here are some of the most preferred dual degree programs in India:
- B.Tech + M.Tech (Engineering)
- BBA + MBA (Business Management)
- BA + LLB (Law)
- B.Sc + B.Ed (Teaching)
- B.Com + CA (Commerce + Professional)
- BCA + MCA (Computer Applications)
- B.A. + M.A. in different languages or humanities
- B.Sc + M.Sc in Science Streams
These combinations are offered by top institutions like IITs, IIMs, NLSIU, DU, IGNOU, Mumbai University, and many more.
Advantages of Dual Degree Courses in India
1. Time-Saving
Dual degree programs are designed to help you complete two degrees in a shorter time frame than pursuing them separately.
2. Cost-Effective
Since you’re completing two degrees in a compressed time span, the overall tuition fees, hostel charges, and living expenses are reduced.
3. Multi-Skilled Profile
Dual degree holders develop interdisciplinary skills, which are highly valued by employers across industries.
4. Better Job Opportunities
Companies prefer candidates with broad knowledge, especially those combining technical and managerial or legal and corporate skills.
5. Academic Flexibility
You can explore two different fields and keep multiple career paths open.
6. Eligible for Competitive Exams
Dual degrees make you eligible for exams like UPSC, NET, GATE, and other higher education or job-based competitive exams.
Disadvantages of Dual Degree Courses
1. Heavy Academic Load
Managing two courses, assignments, and exams simultaneously can be mentally and physically exhausting.
2. Lack of Depth in One Field
When juggling two degrees, you may not be able to give full attention to either one, which could affect subject mastery.
3. Recognition Issues
Some dual degree formats (like combining a distance and a regular course) may not be accepted by private employers or foreign universities.
4. Time Management Challenges
It requires excellent discipline and time management skills to succeed in a dual course format.
5. Unrelated Fields Can Be Confusing
Pursuing unrelated degrees (like BA + B.Sc) might cause confusion in career focus and job selection later on.
Eligibility Criteria for Dual Degree Courses
The eligibility criteria vary depending on the course and the university. However, general criteria include:
- Completion of Class 12 (10+2) with the required stream (Science/Commerce/Arts/Humanities)
- For postgraduate integrated programs: a bachelor’s degree
- Admission through entrance exams like JEE, CLAT, DUET, CUET, etc.
Top Indian Universities Offering Dual Degree Courses
Some of the best universities and institutes offering dual degree programs are:
- IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology)
- NITs (National Institutes of Technology)
- NLUs (National Law Universities)
- Delhi University (DU)
- Mumbai University
- Indira Gandhi National Open Unihttp://ignou.ac.inversity (IGNOU)
- Amity University
- Symbiosis University
- Christ University
- Ashoka University
List of IITs in India
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a group of autonomous public technical universities in India. They are recognized globally for excellence in education, research, and innovation in engineering, technology, and sciences.
Key Highlights
- Established by: Government of India
- First IIT: IIT Kharagpur (1951)
- Total IITs (as of 2025): 23 across India
- Entrance Exam: JEE Advanced (after qualifying JEE Main)
- Programs Offered: B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc, MBA, Ph.D.
- Governance: Under the Ministry of Education, Government of India
Why are IITs so important?
- Global Reputation: Ranked among the best engineering institutes worldwide.
- Top Faculty: Highly qualified professors and researchers.
- Excellent Placements: High salary packages in India and abroad.
- World-Class Infrastructure: Modern labs, research centers, and hostels.
- Alumni Network: Many IITians are CEOs, entrepreneurs, and global leaders.
Here is the list of IITs in India:
| Sr. No. | Name of IIT | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Kharagpur | West Bengal | www.iitkgp.ac.in |
| 2 | IIT Bombay | Maharashtra | www.iitb.ac.in |
| 3 | IIT Madras | Tamil Nadu | www.iitm.ac.in |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | www.iitk.ac.in |
| 5 | IIT Delhi | Delhi | home.iitd.ac.in |
| 6 | IIT Guwahati | Assam | www.iitg.ac.in |
| 7 | IIT Roorkee | Uttarakhand | www.iitr.ac.in |
| 8 | IIT Ropar | Punjab | www.iitrpr.ac.in |
| 9 | IIT Bhubaneswar | Odisha | www.iitbbs.ac.in |
| 10 | IIT Gandhinagar | Gujarat | www.iitgn.ac.in |
| 11 | IIT Hyderabad | Telangana | www.iith.ac.in |
| 12 | IIT Jodhpur | Rajasthan | www.iitj.ac.in |
| 13 | IIT Patna | Bihar | www.iitp.ac.in |
| 14 | IIT Indore | Madhya Pradesh | www.iiti.ac.in |
| 15 | IIT Mandi | Himachal Pradesh | www.iitmandi.ac.in |
| 16 | IIT Varanasi (BHU) | Uttar Pradesh | www.iitbhu.ac.in |
| 17 | IIT Palakkad | Kerala | www.iitpkd.ac.in |
| 18 | IIT Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh | www.iittp.ac.in |
| 19 | IIT Bhilai | Chhattisgarh | www.iitbhilai.ac.in |
| 20 | IIT Goa | Goa | www.iitgoa.ac.in |
| 21 | IIT Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir | www.iitjammu.ac.in |
| 22 | IIT Dharwad | Karnataka | www.iitdh.ac.in |
List of NITs
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are a group of premier public engineering institutes in India. They are recognized for providing high-quality education in engineering, technology, and sciences, and are second only to the IITs in prestige and academic excellence.
Key Highlights
- Established by: Government of India
- First NIT: NIT Warangal (established in 1959 as REC)
- Total NITs (as of 2025): 30 across different states and UTs
- Entrance Exam: JEE Main
- Programs Offered: B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc, MBA, MCA, Ph.D.
- Governance: Under the Ministry of Education, Government of India
Why are NITs important?
- National Importance: All NITs are Institutes of National Importance.
- Pan-India Presence: Located in almost every state and union territory.
- Strong Curriculum: Focus on both theoretical and practical learning.
- Good Placements: Many students get placed in top MNCs and PSUs.
- Diverse Culture: Students come from across the country through All India Quota.
Here is the list of NITs:
| Sr. No. | Name of NIT | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NIT Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) | Tamil Nadu | www.nitt.edu |
| 2 | NIT Surathkal | Karnataka | www.nitk.ac.in |
| 3 | NIT Rourkela | Odisha | www.nitrkl.ac.in |
| 4 | NIT Warangal | Telangana | www.nitw.ac.in |
| 5 | NIT Calicut | Kerala | www.nitc.ac.in |
| 6 | NIT Durgapur | West Bengal | www.nitdgp.ac.in |
| 7 | NIT Kurukshetra | Haryana | www.nitkkr.ac.in |
| 8 | NIT Jamshedpur | Jharkhand | www.nitjsr.ac.in |
| 9 | NIT Hamirpur | Himachal Pradesh | www.nith.ac.in |
| 10 | NIT Silchar | Assam | www.nits.ac.in |
| 11 | NIT Nagpur (VNIT) | Maharashtra | www.vnit.ac.in |
| 12 | NIT Jaipur (MNIT) | Rajasthan | www.mnit.ac.in |
| 13 | NIT Allahabad (MNNIT) | Uttar Pradesh | www.mnnit.ac.in |
| 14 | NIT Bhopal (MANIT) | Madhya Pradesh | www.manit.ac.in |
| 15 | NIT Patna | Bihar | www.nitp.ac.in |
| 16 | NIT Raipur | Chhattisgarh | www.nitrr.ac.in |
| 17 | NIT Agartala | Tripura | www.nita.ac.in |
| 18 | NIT Srinagar | Jammu & Kashmir | www.nitsri.ac.in |
| 19 | NIT Meghalaya | Meghalaya | www.nitm.ac.in |
| 20 | NIT Goa | Goa | www.nitgoa.ac.in |
| 21 | NIT Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh | www.nitap.ac.in |
| 22 | NIT Sikkim | Sikkim | www.nitsikkim.ac.in |
| 23 | NIT Mizoram | Mizoram | www.nitmz.ac.in |
| 24 | NIT Manipur | Manipur | www.nitmanipur.ac.in |
| 25 | NIT Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | www.nituk.ac.in |
| 26 | NIT Delhi | Delhi | www.nitdelhi.ac.in |
| 27 | NIT Puducherry | Puducherry | www.nitpy.ac.in |
| 28 | NIT Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh | www.nitandhra.ac.in |
| 29 | NIT Ladakh | Ladakh | www.nitladakh.ac.in |
| 30 | NIT Nagaland | Nagaland | www.nitnagaland.ac.in |
List of NLUs
National Law Universities (NLUs) are a group of autonomous law schools in India. They are established to provide high-quality legal education and produce world-class lawyers, judges, and policymakers. NLUs are considered the top-tier institutions for legal studies in India.
Key Highlights
- Established by: Individual state governments under Acts of Parliament or State Legislature
- First NLU: National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru – established in 1986
- Total NLUs (as of 2025): 22
- Entrance Exam: CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) – for UG & PG programs
- Programs Offered: BA LL.B (Hons), BBA LL.B (Hons), LLM, Ph.D.
- Affiliation: Bar Council of India (BCI) and UGC-recognized
Why are NLUs important?
- Top Legal Education: Known for producing top legal minds in India.
- Excellent Faculty: Blend of academics, practitioners, and visiting experts.
- Internships & Placements: At leading law firms, corporates, courts, and NGOs.
- Judiciary & UPSC Prep: Many alumni join the judiciary or clear civil services.
- Moot Courts & Debates: Strong extracurricular focus on legal reasoning and advocacy.
Here is the list of NLUs:
| Sr. No. | Name of NLU | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bengaluru, Karnataka | www.nls.ac.in |
| 2 | NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad, Telangana | www.nalsar.ac.in |
| 3 | National Law Institute University (NLIU) | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | www.nliu.ac.in |
| 4 | WB National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | Kolkata, West Bengal | www.nujs.edu |
| 5 | National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | www.nlujodhpur.ac.in |
| 6 | Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | www.hnlu.ac.in |
| 7 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | www.gnlu.ac.in |
| 8 | Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | www.rmlnlu.ac.in |
| 9 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) | Patiala, Punjab | www.rgnul.ac.in |
| 10 | Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) | Patna, Bihar | www.cnlu.ac.in |
| 11 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) | Kochi, Kerala | www.nuals.ac.in |
| 12 | National Law University Odisha (NLUO) | Cuttack, Odisha | www.nluo.ac.in |
| 13 | National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) | Ranchi, Jharkhand | www.nusrlranchi.ac.in |
| 14 | National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJAA) | Guwahati, Assam | www.nluassam.ac.in |
| 15 | Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | www.dsnlu.ac.in |
| 16 | Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) | Tiruchirappalli, TN | www.tnnlu.ac.in |
| 17 | Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLU) | Mumbai, Maharashtra | www.nlumumbai.edu.in |
| 18 | Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (MNLU) | Nagpur, Maharashtra | www.nlunagpur.ac.in |
| 19 | Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad (MNLU) | Aurangabad, Maharashtra | www.mnlua.ac.in |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) | Shimla, HP | www.hpnlu.ac.in |
| 21 | Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU) | Jabalpur, MP | www.mpdnlu.ac.in |
| 22 | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU) | Sonepat, Haryana | www.dbranlu.ac.in |
Career Scope After Dual Degree
Dual degree students enjoy diverse career options depending on the combination chosen. Here are some possible outcomes:
- B.Tech + MBA → Tech Manager, Product Manager, Startup Founder
- BA + LLB → Advocate, Legal Consultant, Corporate Lawyer
- BBA + MBA → Business Analyst, Marketing Head, Finance Officer
- B.Sc + B.Ed → Science Teacher, Education Coordinator
- B.Com + CA → Chartered Accountant, Auditor, CFO
Students can also pursue higher education such as Ph.D., or attempt government jobs after dual degrees.
Final Verdict – Is Dual Degree Right for You?
Dual degree courses in India are a smart choice for motivated and focused students. They offer value for time, money, and provide versatile career opportunities. However, they also demand hard work, discipline, and a clear career plan.
Before enrolling, students should consider:
- Their interest in both subjects
- University reputation
- Career goals
- Personal capacity to manage workload
With the right planning, dual degrees can become a launchpad for success in today’s competitive world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1 Can I do two degrees at the same time in India?
Yes. As per UGC guidelines, you can pursue two degrees—one in regular mode and another in distance or online mode.
2 Are dual degrees valid for government jobs?
Yes, if both degrees are obtained from UGC-approved institutions, they are valid for competitive exams and government jobs.
3 Is a dual degree better than a single degree?
It depends on your career goals. Dual degrees offer broader skills but can also lead to burnout if not managed well.
Follow this link to get list of populat universities in Gujarat.
Share Your Thoughts!
Are you planning to pursue a dual degree course in India? Do you think it fits your career goals? Share your views in the comments section below!