So, you’ve enrolled on a joint honours degree, turned up for induction and welcome week – now what?
Whether you’ve chosen to study computer science and maths, psychology and sociology, or if you’ve chosen to tackle the big three – philosophy, politics and economics – you’re in for a busy, rewarding and occasionally overwhelming academic ride.
Balancing the demands of two (or more) subjects can be tricky, and adopting good habits early will stand you in good stead. Here, we offer some top tips to help you stay on top of your studies.
Make friends in both subjects
Although it might sound obvious, making friends and feeling connected within your departments is crucial. Make sure you attend social events during induction and welcome week for all subjects so that you can identify other people doing joint honours (this can be difficult because lectures in individual subjects will often include both single and joint honours students).
You can also sign up for societies related to both subjects. Feeling connected in both departments is important; there will be times when the going gets a bit tough and you will need friends to help you through.
Early organisation is crucial
You’ll be juggling two departments, two sets of lectures, two reading lists, two sets of deadlines and more. Staying organised and planning early is crucial.
Map out your deadlines as soon as possible (you could use a digital planner like Trello or colour code by subject) to avoid being caught off guard by overlapping exams or essays (and yes, you could have two 3,000 word essays due in the same week).
Know your degree
Make sure you get to grips with how your degree is structured. Joint honours degrees run differently (even within the same university) so you might have a 50:50 split, a 70:30 split, or you might major in one subject and minor in the other.
Knowing how your degree is structured will help you manage and prioritise tasks. It is essential that you understand how module choices in years one and two will affect the options available to you in year three – particularly your choice of dissertation. Knowing the rules means that you can make smart choices and tailor your degree to your interests.
Know your academic support network
Find out who your programme lead is (the academic organising the programme from the subject that is “hosting” you) and who the joint honours lead academic is in your second subject (if there isn’t one, ask why).
This will be important because these will be your go-to people if you have any questions about coursework, exams, referencing systems or subject-specific academic practices during your degree.
Sometimes different subjects use different conventions so make sure to speak to both leads if you’re ever unsure.
Use your knowledge to your advantage
When doing a joint honours degree, you are learning to think in two different academic “languages”.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of treating each subject separately. Remember to use your knowledge wisely, find connections and apply your knowledge across the two subjects in your assessments to add real depth and critical appraisal to your work.
Communication is key
It is challenging for universities to run joint honours programmes, particularly when the two subjects are not in the same faculty (for example, music and maths).
Departments and faculties might do things differently and don’t always communicate regularly with each other, which means they might not notice that two major deadlines fall on the same day.
Explain the situation and see if there is any flexibility. In most cases, they will value your honesty and will try to help (or be able to explain why it is not possible to change the deadlines, but at least then you’ll understand why).
Use your student voice
Find out who your student reps are for both subjects. Provide regular feedback to both departments about your experience on your joint honours degree – either formally through things like student-staff liaison committees (SSLCs) that typically run every term/semester or more informally, like when you meet with your course tutor.
This will help improve the joint honours experience for the next cohort of students (and you will have benefitted from previous students’ feedback). It is always good to give both positive and negative feedback.
It’s a balancing act
Although you might find that you are naturally drawn to one subject over the other, or find one subject more fun or interesting, try to strike a balance between the two.
Spending too much time on one subject (and avoiding elements of the other if it is more challenging) is likely to affect your overall performance and final result.
Look after yourself
With the unique challenges of studying two subjects, you might find yourself constantly pushing hard. Be mindful of your mental and physical health – there is support out there so speak to your university (or student union’s) support/well-being services if you find that you are struggling.
Pacing yourself will be important, but also make sure you look after yourself by taking regular breaks, seeing friends and continuing to do things that you enjoy and find fulfilling.
What next?
Yes, your course will be full on but it will also give you a critical edge when it comes to career options and landing a job.
Employers look for people who can successfully manage competing deadlines, prioritise tasks and bring different ways of thinking to the table. When applying for that dream role, highlight the key skills that you have mastered from doing a joint honours degree – time management, being adaptable, critical thinking, and drawing from different areas. You’re not just getting a degree – you’re becoming a multidisciplinary superhero!
In short, stay organised and balanced, get to know your degree and the support available, have fun and, most importantly, look after yourself! Good luck!
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