Columbia University, located in New York City, is a popular choice with UK applicants, but many are not aware of the university’s multiple dual degree programmes with other international universities. These programmes are an excellent fit for students who are very keen to study abroad, and they also offer a blend of Columbia’s excellent academics—including their well-known Core Curriculum—and the opportunity to experience another environment tailored to a student’s specific interest. Columbia offers dual BA degrees with
Trinity College Dublin
,
Sciences Po
in Paris (the oldest and largest of the programmes), and
Tel Aviv University
. Students on these programmes will spend their first two years abroad at one of these campuses, and their final two years at Columbia; they will receive a BA degree from both institutions.
The Columbia/Sciences Po programme is a great choice for students interested in politics and social sciences. A major element of this programme is the
Civic Learning Programme
, through which students complete an independent project in one of three areas: general welfare, the common good, and the promotion of equality and solidarity. At Sciences Po, students choose a concentration (generally based around a region they want to specialise in for their degree) and that determines the campus at which they will be based. You can view the regions and campuses in the graph linked
here
. To apply to the Columbia/Sciences Po programme, students should use the Columbia dual BA website.
The Trinity dual BA programme offers thirteen majors, and a UK style of learning in which students focus intensely in their chosen subject. This is a great opportunity for students deeply interested in a particular subject, who still want to explore the broad-based study characteristic of American education. To apply to the Trinity programme, students apply through a portal called the CAO (Central Applications Office) which processes applications for undergraduate courses at Irish universities.
The Tel Aviv programme focuses on interdisciplinary study in the humanities and social sciences. In their two years at TAU, students choose from the following academic tracks: Digital Culture and Communication, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Life Sciences, Literature, Middle Eastern Studies, Jewish and Israel Studies, Philosophy, and Psychology. Applicants use the Columbia dual BA website to put through their applications.
Academic
In the Dual BA programmes, there are different academic requirements for each major, so potential applicants should read the requirements thoroughly to make sure they do not miss anything. For the European Studies major at Trinity/Columbia, advanced language skills are required. At Sciences Po’s Menton and Poitiers campuses, students need languages (French and Spanish). All the dual BA programmes are test-optional, and although good test scores can sometimes benefit students applying to test-optional universities, these programmes are truly test-optional and applications will not be strongly affected by this requirement if submitted as part of a test-optional application. As always, good test scores will be looked upon favourably.
Columbia is well-known for its
core curriculum
, which helps students build a broad base of knowledge through required courses spanning various subject areas. Much of Columbia’s learning is discussion-based, and students can take advantage of New York as their classroom, bringing conversations to life. Dual degree students will do part of the Core (aside from transfer credits), but some classes are mandatory. 60 credits from Trinity, Sciences Po, or Tel Aviv will transfer to Columbia, and students will have 64 credits left to fulfil at Columbia. Students will benefit from academic advisors at both institutions.
Good-fit students for Columbia’s dual degree programmes will be strong academically, independent, mature, appreciate the value of international education and have knowledge of each school, and have interests that go ‘outside the box.’
Study abroad programmes aren’t offered at Columbia’s dual degree programmes, and students will need to spend two years in residence at both campuses. Dual degree students will belong to the
School of General Studies
on the Columbia campus.
Admissions
Applicants to Columbia’s dual degree programmes must submit the below along with their applications:
* An essay that takes the form of a personal statement, and resembles both the style of US and UK personal statements. Both universities will read the personal statement, so students should ensure balance in their writing.
* A CV, 1-2 pages maximum length
* An interview, which is mandatory and by invitation only. This takes place online with a Columbia representative and admissions officer and/or faculty from the satellite campus, who have read a student’s application. Students will be notified of their interviews by mid- February. The interview is an additional step to the overall admissions process, and is much less casual than the alumni interviews done by many US universities. At Sciences Po, the interviews tend to ask about geopolitical issues in the region to which they are applying; at Trinity, students meet with faculty from the department to which they are applying; and at Tel Aviv, the interview is more open-ended, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the campus.
Therefore, fit is a very important aspect of a successful Dual Degree programme, as faculty and/or admissions officers will have met all students admitted to the dual programmes.
The Columbia dual degree programmes offer a great experience to students. They enable them to have a truly global education, and blend Columbia’s academic excellence with exploration of other academic interests. To talk through any questions you may have about Columbia’s dual degree programmes, dual degree programmes through other universities, or general questions about US and global applications, you can set up a free call with an expert counsellor here:
www.ueseducation.com/free-call