Double Degree: The Complete Guide 2026
A double degree is an integrated academic pathway that allows students to earn two official qualifications at the end of a single program. In practice, students follow a jointly designed curriculum offered by two partner institutions, often located in different countries, and graduate with a diploma from their home institution as well as one from the partner university, for example a French degree combined with an American one.
These programs are built on integrated curricula designed so that coursework, credits, and competencies are mutually recognized by both institutions. Students typically alternate between the two campuses, gaining dual international academic recognition throughout the process.
A double degree is not the same as a standard study abroad exchange. The goal is not simply to study overseas, but to earn two distinct qualifications within a single program. Widely offered by business schools, engineering schools, and select universities, double degree programs significantly strengthen graduates' employability and international mobility.
Double Degrees: Key points
A double degree allows students to earn two official qualifications within a single program, through a national or international academic partnership. Widely offered by business schools, engineering schools, and universities, this format develops multidisciplinary competencies, strong employability, and an international outlook.
Unlike a standard exchange, students validate the credits and requirements of both institutions, alternating studies between two campuses. Programs vary by level and field of study.
- The Global BBA at emlyon offers a bachelor-level international double degree pathway in partnership with prestigious institutions including Aston Business School, Tongji SEM, and the Universite de Sherbrooke.
- The Master in Management (MiM) offers double degree options combining management with engineering, science, or politics, with renowned partners such as Centrale Lyon, Sciences Po Lyon, and HEC Montreal.
- The Advanced Master in Strategy & International Business Development trains international business development experts through a joint emlyon and CentraleSupelec double degree program.
- The triple degree Master in Management, Finance & Tech (emlyon, POLIMI, Bayes) develops finance and technology specialists covering AI, blockchain, fintech, and data, with a strong international and hands-on dimension.
These intensive, highly selective programs develop multidisciplinary competencies, strengthen employability, and produce hybrid, international, and strategic profiles that are in high demand on the global job market.
Understanding What a Double Degree Is
Before committing to this kind of program, it is essential to understand exactly what it entails. Often confused with similar formats, a double degree follows its own institutional logic and rules, which students must grasp to make an informed decision.
General Definition of a Double Degree
A double degree is an integrated program formalized through an agreement between two higher education institutions. It allows a student to complete a specific curriculum and fulfill all academic requirements to earn two separate qualifications.
This is not about following two programs simultaneously in an independent manner. Instead, students join a single, co-designed pathway. They complete part of their studies at each institution and, upon successfully passing the assessments of both, receive two nationally or internationally recognized degrees. This official validation by two separate establishments is precisely what makes the double degree format so distinctive and valuable.
Double Degrees in France: Framework and Specifics
In France, the grandes ecoles and university system has been instrumental in developing these high-level partnerships. Agreements are highly structured, defining entry requirements, course distribution, mandatory mobility periods, and validation procedures.
These programs are typically very selective and accessible after a competitive entrance exam or application review during the initial study cycle, for example in the second year of a Grande Ecole. Their strength lies in the complementarity of expertise they offer, such as pairing an engineering school with a business school, or a grande ecole with a prestigious foreign university.
Differences Between a Double Degree, a Double Licence, and a Bi-Qualifying Pathway
A double degree, as defined above, leads to two distinct diplomas.
A double licence is a university pathway, typically spanning three years, where the student follows courses from two licences simultaneously within the same institution and graduates with a degree that mentions both specializations.
A bi-qualifying pathway is a broader term that can sometimes refer to a double degree, but may also describe programs leading to one diploma and a partner certificate. The key is always to verify how the qualifications are officially awarded upon completion of the program.
What Are the Advantages of a Double Degree?
A double degree allows students to earn two complementary qualifications within a single program. This intensive format delivers strong added value on the job market by developing diverse skill sets and a multidisciplinary mindset.
Academic Advantages
A double degree exposes students to two academic cultures, two learning methodologies, and two teaching teams. It enables them to build both technical and managerial competencies. For example, an engineering student develops scientific rigor while the management component brings strategic, financial, and organizational perspective.
Professional Advantages
On the job market, this type of pathway sends a strong signal to recruiters: autonomy, capacity for hard work, and adaptability. It opens up broader professional opportunities in hybrid sectors such as technology, finance, digital marketing, and innovation consulting, often leading to strategic positions and stronger compensation.
Personal Advantages
Often international in scope, a double degree fosters independence, mobility, and cultural openness, while expanding a student's network through two alumni communities.
What Double Degree Programs Exist?
The range of double degree programs has expanded significantly to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving professional landscape.
Particularly common, this format typically pairs an engineering cycle with a management master's from a business school, a specialized master's in a complementary technical field such as a combined engineering and architecture degree, or a university research master's. These programs produce engineering manager profiles that are highly sought after.
Business schools offer a wide variety of partnerships. Their Master in Management program can be combined with a master's from a foreign university, an engineering degree, or a Sciences Po master's. These pathways develop future decision-makers who are comfortable navigating geopolitical, economic, and managerial challenges.
A new generation of programs is emerging at the intersection of disciplines. Today, students can find double degrees combining management with data science, design thinking, agronomy, tech law, or cultural institution management. These specialized programs address highly in-demand market niches.
Available from the first year of undergraduate study, double licences such as Law and Economics or Mathematics and Computer Science are more selective than standard programs. They provide a solid disciplinary foundation and open doors to a wide range of master's programs or competitive entrance exams for grandes ecoles.
Available Fields of Study in Double Degree Programs
Among the wide range of double degrees available, some programs stand out for their innovation and relevance to contemporary challenges. emlyon business school, guided by its 'makers' vision, offers several highly pertinent examples that reflect current trends in higher education.
Double degrees in engineering cover sectors such as renewable energy, applied physics, computer science fundamentals, and advanced mechanical engineering, typically paired with a management component.
This is the most established field in double degree education. Programs aim to equip managers with a technical, international, or sector-specific specialization, spanning areas such as luxury, healthcare, and digital industries.
This is the fastest-growing area. Double degrees in artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, and technology management are extremely sought after by companies in the tech and finance sectors.
Double Degree Opportunities at emlyon business school
Double Degree in the Bachelor Program
The Double Degree pathway of the Global BBA at emlyon business school offers a high-quality program with a strong international dimension. Through prestigious academic partnerships including Aston Business School, Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Glendon College, Tongji SEM, Sungkyunkwan University, Murray State University, and Universite de Sherbrooke, students earn a second recognized qualification. This selective pathway develops intercultural competencies, adaptability, and employability, effectively preparing students for careers in a globalized environment.
Double Degree with the Master in Management
The Master in Management (MiM) at emlyon business school offers numerous double degree pathways combining a Master in Management with a second qualification in engineering, science, political studies, or international management. In France, partnerships include Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne, Sciences Po Lyon, and Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, enabling students to combine technical and managerial expertise. Internationally, emlyon also offers double degrees with recognized universities such as HEC Montreal, Aston University, Tongji University, and Nagoya University of Commerce and Business. In total, the MiM offers more than 20 accessible partner institutions for double degrees, generally available during the master's cycle following a selection process. Students can develop a hybrid profile as a manager-engineer, manager-scientist, or international manager, all of which are highly sought after in today's job market.
With more than 230 academic partners worldwide, students can also complete an international exchange, spend a semester at the Shanghai campus, or pursue a double degree in France or abroad. This international openness represents a unique opportunity to broaden expertise and expand professional horizons.
MiM after a preparatory class Brochure
Triple Degree with the Master in Management
The Master in Management, Finance & Tech is designed for students who want to develop dual expertise in management and financial technologies. This triple degree is awarded jointly by emlyon business school (Lyon), POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Milan), and Bayes Business School (London). The program equips students with strong skills in market finance, data visualization, programmatic technologies, and technological innovation, all built on the generalist foundation of the Master in Management. Students are trained in key areas such as blockchain, cybersecurity, AI applied to finance, and fintech, in close alignment with market expectations. Through real-world projects, practitioner-led sessions, and international periods, the Master in Management, Finance & Tech prepares students for hybrid, high-value-added careers at the crossroads of finance, technology, and consulting.
Master in Management, Finance & Tech Brochure
Double Degree in the Advanced Master
The Advanced Master in International Strategy & Business Development at emlyon business school is a program for students holding a Bac+5 qualification, offered as a double degree in partnership with CentraleSupelec. The program trains international business development experts capable of driving commercial activity in technology and industrial sectors. It combines emlyon's expertise in strategic management, negotiation, and international business development with CentraleSupelec's approach to engineering, innovation, and complex project management. The program runs approximately 13 months and includes a six-month professional mission in a company, providing concrete hands-on experience in an international context. Coursework covers international strategy, finance, intercultural management, project management, and complex negotiation. This Advanced Master prepares graduates for roles such as international business developer, business engineer, strategy consultant, or development manager, within technology companies operating on global markets.
How Does a Double Degree Program Work?
The structure of a double degree is carefully organized to ensure pedagogical consistency and successful validation of both programs.
Organization of the Academic Pathway
The program typically extends one additional year beyond the initial cycle. A classic model for a business school student is two years at the home institution, one full year of mobility at the partner institution, and a final year of specialization or internship. The distribution can also be structured by semester. The workload is significant, as students must validate the complete credit requirements of both programs.
Mobility Conditions in France and Abroad
Mobility is a defining feature of the double degree format. It may be national, for example between a Paris-based grande ecole and one in Lyon, or it may be international. Students are fully integrated into the life of the partner university, attending the same classes, sitting the same exams, and accessing the same student services. This immersive experience is central to the learning journey.
Assessment Methods and Validation of Both Degrees
Validation of the double degree rests on obtaining the required ECTS credits from each institution. Grades earned at the partner institution are converted using a pre-established equivalency scale. A thesis or final project can often serve as a joint assessment instrument for both programs. The award of both degrees is conditional on successfully completing all requirements of both pathways; failure in one can jeopardize the award of both.
Criteria and Steps for Joining a Double Degree Program
Access to these high-level programs is subject to rigorous selection.
Selection Criteria
Selection panels for double degree cohorts primarily look for academic excellence, reflected by a strong application with consistent grades, particularly in the core subjects of the targeted program. A solid level of English (TOEFL, IELTS) is mandatory for international pathways. Motivation, clarity of professional goals, and the ability to manage two programs simultaneously are assessed through a cover letter and interview.
Application Process
The process is often handled internally. The student applies within their home institution, for example at the end of the first year of the Master in Management at emlyon business school. The application is reviewed, and shortlisted candidates are then presented to the partner university, which has the final say. Additional tests such as the GMAT or GRE, or an interview in a foreign language, may be required depending on each institution's criteria.
Chances of Gaining Admission to a Double Degree Program
Admission prospects depend heavily on preparation. A well-developed professional project, strong grades, prior international experience, and a candidacy that demonstrates coherence between the student's background, the targeted double degree, and their career goals all make a decisive difference.
Duration and Cost of a Double Degree
Duration and cost vary significantly from one program to another and should be studied carefully before making a decision.
How Long Does a Double Degree Take?
The standard duration adds one full year to the initial cycle. Some agreements, more intensive in structure, can be completed in just one additional semester, while others, which include a gap year or extended internship periods, may lengthen the overall pathway further.
How Much Does a Double Degree Cost?
Cost is a critical factor. Students generally continue paying tuition fees to their home institution throughout the full duration of the program and may also be required to pay fees to the partner institution. Additional mobility costs must be accounted for, including accommodation, transport, insurance, visas, and day-to-day living expenses in a new country or city. In such cases, mobility grants may partially offset these costs.