Conjoint degrees in New Zealand


Apart from the fact that you can study two degrees in place of one in the same amount of time, conjoint degrees have various other benefits, such as: 

• You can opt for two correlated disciplinary areas that can complement each other. For instance, Bachelor of Health Science complements Bachelor of Nursing
• Knowledge of two disciplines add to your employability value and you have an edge you’re your competitors with skills and knowledge of two domains 
• Almost all the combinations are completed within/less than 5 years, which would otherwise take a little less than 8 years if both disciplines were pursued separately 

Many students end up confusing a conjoint degree with the dual/double degree. Here is how they are different from one another:

Usually, the conjoint degrees are four years of full-time degree programs. To understand comprehensively, a bachelor program covers eight courses per year. However, a conjoint degree usually consists of nine courses per year. So, a three-year bachelor’s degree includes 24 courses i.e. 360 points. For instance, if you opt for BA/BSc conjoint, it consists of 36 courses i.e. 540 points. In short, you have to study 17 courses i.e. 255 points in each conjoint discipline that might also include one course from General Education and the other one as an elective course. But, the number of points required for completion of the conjoint degree will vary as per the particular conjoint combination.

In conjoint degree, you’ll be charged as per the course. Although a conjoint degree can be more expensive than a bachelor’s degree, but it’s not twice the price, as you cannot double the number of courses.

The years 2018-19 witnessed a spike in the trend where students opted majorly for arts, humanities, health sciences and other allied courses. Engineering, advance sciences and other courses are fairly new additions. Some of the most popular combinations are: 

• Bachelor of Teaching with a Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Teaching with a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance
• Bachelor of Business with a Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Arts with a Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Management Studies with a Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Social Sciences with a Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Teaching with a Bachelor of Social Sciences 

You might get an opportunity to start a conjoint degree in the first or second year of your study program, and usually, all the programmes are completed within four to five years, depending upon the combination you choose. Don’t worry If you have already begun your studies, you still have the option to take a conjoint degree. To explore this further, we’re always there to guide you. 

Updated on October 15, 2020