Hi guys, I'm currently in year 12, and with VTAC Applications approaching soon I'm currently considering what to put as my preferences. My top choice is BA at Melbourne however I'm also quite drawn to the idea of pursuing a double degree at Monash, as it would probably offer me more employment opportunities after finishing uni. I only know one person IRL who did a double degree (arts + commerce) at Monash, but he eventually dropped arts in his second year after finding the workload too stressful.
I've got a couple of questions - first, what is the workload like in comparison to only doing a single degree? My friend told me it was hell but I'm hoping for some more opinions (I'm aware it could vary between different degrees but generally what is it like?)
Also, would you say it's worth giving up electives / breadth subjects in uni in order to pursue a double degree?
Finally, would you recommend someone who's still deciding what they want to do in the future to do a double degree, or would it be better to do a single degree with a wide range of electives/breadths subjects?
Thanks in advance! And if anyone has any experience with double degrees at other unis, I'd love to hear them as well!
Btw, if anyone's wondering, I'm thinking of arts+science or arts+music at Monash.
Howdy! Haven't yet read any of the replies above, so apologies if some of this is repetitive.
I think these are really good and important questions to be asking at the moment. In Year 12, I really had no idea what a double degree was or what it entailed. I ended up studying straight Arts and, whilst I enjoyed it very much, would really like to have another degree to my name now that I've finished.
To answer your questions/comments:
My top choice is BA at Melbourne however I'm also quite drawn to the idea of pursuing a double degree at Monash, as it would probably offer me more employment opportunities after finishing uni.
Perhaps. For example, in theory, having Arts/Education or Arts/Science is "better" than just having Arts - on paper at least. But degrees themselves won't get you that far. More Australians than ever before are studying at a tertiary level. Many markets are saturated. But you're right in that, theoretically, that's probably the case.
I only know one person IRL who did a double degree (arts + commerce) at Monash, but he eventually dropped arts in his second year after finding the workload too stressful.
Just as you should take this post with a grain of salt (as it's just one person's opinion), I'd encourage you to do the same for your friend's experience. Uni is so different for each individual - even if the circumstances seem comparable.
first, what is the workload like in comparison to only doing a single degree?
From a structural perspective (at Monash, at least), you still study four units per semester. I think that's one of the most common misconceptions about double degrees - that, on a semester-by-semester basis, you're actually studying more units. Double degrees just extend your time at uni by a little bit - they don't (necessarily) add more units within each semester.
Would Arts/Science have a bigger workload than straight Arts, though? Yeah, probably, if you're measuring workload by contact hours and the like. What would you be hoping to study in Science?
Also, would you say it's worth giving up electives / breadth subjects in uni in order to pursue a double degree?
If I could go back and do a double degree, I think I would. My electives were great, and I enjoyed a very vast range of subject matter in Arts. But I could have had, say, a Science or Education degree to my name for just one extra year of study, when they usually take three year. Seems worth it to me.
The interesting thing with Arts is that not all Arts degrees are "equal". For example, to qualify for my Bachelor of Arts, I studied more units than those who study Arts as part of a double degree.
Finally, would you recommend someone who's still deciding what they want to do in the future to do a double degree, or would it be better to do a single degree with a wide range of electives/breadths subjects?
Not a hugely qualified opinion but like, if you're doing Arts/Science, you'll still have access to a huge range of subjects.