Standing out in today’s crowded job market is all about skills. Can you demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills to do the job they’re hiring for—from your first day on the job? Combining two degrees to give you the specific skillset you need for the job you want is a smart solution for business students looking for a competitive edge.
Hult’s Dual Degree is the ultimate skills builder. You can combine any two Hult master’s degrees to create the ideal skillset for the role you want post-graduation—with just 18 months of study.
We caught up with Nav Dutta, Hult’s Head of Career Development & Corporate Relations for the Americas, to find out how a Dual Degree can help students achieve their career goals, what the most popular Dual Degree combinations are, and which job outcomes have been typical for recent Dual Degree graduates.
Why do a Dual Degree at Hult?
Before you deep-dive into the different degree options available and which one is right for you, let’s breakdown the top-level reasons to do a Dual Degree:
- Graduate faster. A Dual Degree can be yours in just 18 months—much less time than if you choose the path of two separate degrees.
- Become an expert in a competitive market. Being an expert in your field gives you a significant competitive edge. A Dual Degree will give you essential core knowledge and then build on this with specialist expertise, so you become a subject matter expert.
- Widen your cultural experience. Your Dual Degree means you can study at multiple campuses around the world, what we call “Global Campus Rotation”. You might start in Boston, then move to Dubai, or London. It’s a hands-on way to broaden your international experience, self-confidence, and market knowledge.
- Expand your network: Connect with and learn from others on similar paths. There are so many opportunities that new cities and new classes bring—use it to your advantage.
- Boost your confidence and knowledge so you can secure the job you really want; in the field you love.
Full tuition scholarship on second degree available—Apply by March 22 deadline
Dual Degree FAQs
What is a Dual Degree?
A Dual Degree sees you earn two postgraduate degrees in different subject areas. You start the second degree immediately after completing the first. Think of a Dual Degree as two standalone degrees, each offering specialized knowledge in addition to the foundational work completed during a traditional single degree.
How long does it take to complete a Dual Degree?
Hult’s Dual Degree programs take 18 months to complete. The first degree takes 12 months and includes both core courses and elective courses. The second degree takes 6 months and includes core courses only.
How is a Dual Degree different from a specialization?
A Dual Degree is similar to a double major or a specialization in that you study two distinct areas of business, but with a Dual Degree you study your second subject in much greater depth and graduate with two standalone degrees.
Who should take a Dual Degree?
Students who are still exploring their professional paths could benefit from starting with a generalist degree, like an MBA or Master’s in Management (Master’s in International Business), and using elective courses within these programs to decide on their second specialist degree. Those who have a clear career path in mind can use a Dual Degree combination to build the specific set of skills required for the job they are targeting post-graduation.
Can I do an internship on a Dual Degree?
Yes, in fact a Dual Degree allows for a longer internship period than a single degree.
Where can I do a Hult Dual Degree?
Where you study will depend on the degree combination you choose.
Global One-Year MBA & Master’s in International Business is available in: Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai
Master’s in International Marketing is available in: Boston, London
Master’s in Finance is available in: Boston, London
Master’s in Business Analytics is available in: Boston, San Francisco, London
Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Innovation is available in: San Francisco, London, Dubai
How can a Dual Degree help with my post-graduation location goals?
If you are targeting a specific location to work in post-graduation, you can choose to complete both degrees in a single location. A Dual Degree will give you more time in that location to expand your local network, do an internship, and understand the local job market.
On the other hand, a Dual Degree also offers an unparalleled opportunity for studying at multiple campuses via Hult’s Global Campus Rotation so you can maximize your international experience. You could take the core program of your first degree at one campus, your electives at another, and then finish your second degree at a third. London, Boston Dubai; San Francisco, Boston, London; Dubai, London, San Francisco—there are many possibilities that you can tailor to your interests and goals.
You could also take advantage of the different campus options to concentrate your studies on a particular subject at a particular location. For example, you could take your MBA in Boston and then your Master’s in Finance in London, taking advantage of the prowess of each location in both management and finance.
Full tuition scholarship on second degree available—Apply by March 22 deadline
What are the best Dual Degree combinations to take?
Choosing the right Dual Degree combination will depend on your career goals, both immediately after graduation and in the longer term. If you’re looking to boost your all-around business skills and have a specific industry in mind, a generalist business degree (such as a Master’s in Management/Business or MBA) makes an ideal first degree. You could then follow that with a second specialist degree in the industry you want to go into (such as finance, marketing, or analytics).
If you’re targeting a job with a very specific skill set, you can combine the two degrees that will equip you with those skills. For example, taking a Master’s in Marketing and Master’s in Business Analytics Dual Degree will give you both an understanding of brand and customer journeys and the data analysis capabilities needed for a role in Marketing Analytics.
Let’s take a closer look at the best Dual Degree combinations for specific job roles.
General business + specialist Dual Degree combinations
The most popular Dual Degree combinations at Hult are taking a general business degree, Master’s in International Business (MIB), or Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), as a first 12-month degree and following that with a second 6-month accelerated degree in a specialist area, such as marketing, finance, or analytics.
This type of Dual Degree combination is ideal as the first degree builds the essential business and leadership skills such as:
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Self-Awareness
While providing foundational skills across key business areas including:
- Operations
- Strategy
- Brand & Marketing
- Finance & Accounting
- Data & Analysis
The second degree builds on this with a deep dive into a specialist subject, equipping students with specialist skills and expertise within their chosen area. While taking a specialization as part of a general business degree can offer an overview, a Dual Degree provides students more time and greater depth to truly become an expert in their specialist field.
What jobs can I get with a Dual Degree?
The graphics below map some of our most popular generalist and specialist Dual Degree combinations to the top five potential job outcomes. We’ll start with Master’s in International Business (MIB) as a first degree, which is typically for students with less than three years of work experience.
Next, we’ll look at our Global One-Year MBA as a first degree. Like the MIB, this provides a generalist business and management skill set but is intended for students with a higher level of work experience. As such, the job outcomes associated with this degree are also at a higher level of seniority than those for the MIB combinations.
Combining two specialist master’s degrees
If you’re targeting a specific role after graduation that requires a highly specialized skill set, you can combine your Dual Degree choices to equip yourself with those skills. The graphic below shows popular degree combinations and sample job outcomes of recent graduates.
Securing the job you want post-graduation
Ultimately, securing the job you want after graduation depends on a variety of factors including:
- The condition of the local job market and your position within it
- How relevant and demonstrable your skills are for the role you’re applying for
- The value and strength of your network and how you leverage it
- Your level of prior experience
Nothing is guaranteed but it’s the job of our careers team here at Hult to get you into the best possible position to land the job you want in the location you’ve chosen after graduation. That might involve some tough decision-making and compromises in the short term and will require you to set clear priorities. For example, students whose priority is to work in the US might find that they have a better chance of securing the role they want in up-and-coming cities, like Dallas or Salt Lake City, where the job market is less competitive.
Full tuition scholarship on second degree available—Apply by March 22 deadline
Student story: Meet Monica
Monica Chap, a student from Cambodia, is currently completing her Dual Degree degree program at Hult International Business School in London.
“I chose to do the Dual Degree because it allowed me to get two degrees in just 18 months. For my first master’s, I studied International Business to gain general business knowledge. I then chose International Marketing for my second degree to focus on the creative side of marketing, as that’s where I want to build my career.
I have friends who are doing different combinations, such as an MBA followed by a Master’s in Finance, to prepare them for a job in the field they want to work in. The Dual Degree gives a lot of flexibility to study general business topics and then specialize in a specific field.
Hult is preparing me well for my future career in marketing. As well as the specialist knowledge from class, the group projects I’ve worked on for real companies have helped me develop my teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
I’ve also gotten great career advice from Hult’s advisors and many networking opportunities through company visits and events held on campus. Potential employers have been impressed by me earning two master’s degrees in a condensed period.
After graduation, I plan to apply for the UK’s graduate visa route to gain two years of work experience in a marketing role here in London.”
Full tuition scholarship on second degree available—Apply by March 22 deadline
