Is It Legal to Do Two Bachelor's Degrees at the Same Time from Two Colleges?

The ability to pursue two bachelor's degrees simultaneously from two different institutions depends on various factors, including availability, institutional policies, and legal considerations. This article explores the legal and practical aspects of concurrent enrollment and helps you understand the implications of undertaking this ambitious academic journey.

Concurrent Enrollment: Possibility and Challenges

While it is technically possible to be enrolled in two different universities to work on two different bachelor's degrees—perhaps one online and the other at a traditional campus—this arrangement presents significant challenges. The complexity lies in managing the increased course load, multiple assignments, and examination schedules. Enrolling at more than one institution simultaneously can lead to overwhelming responsibilities, making it crucial to carefully consider your academic and personal commitments.

Practical Considerations of Concurrent Enrollment

Being a full-time student at University A and taking a single course at University B is one feasible option. However, attempting to handle 18 credits at University A and more than just a three-credit course at University B would be highly demanding. The number of hours required for studying and attending classes at two universities exceeds the capacity of a typical student. Therefore, completing both degrees simultaneously is not advisable unless you have exceptional time management skills and a robust support system.

Countries and Universities with Flexible Policies

In some countries, such as New Zealand, pursuing two degrees concurrently is common. This is particularly true for interdisciplinary fields like medical law and engineering, where people often combined a law or business degree with a medical degree. Universities in these countries often provide ample resources and support to help students balance multiple degree programs effectively.

It is common for people in New Zealand to work on two degrees at the same time. Medicine, law, and engineering are undergraduate degrees so people might do a law degree and a business degree at the same time.

However, whether you can enroll in two programs simultaneously also depends on the specific policies of the institutions.

Legal and Institutional Policies

In India, the situation for concurrent enrollment is more restrictive. In 2007, the Apex Court made a pronouncement that obtaining two degrees simultaneously is not permissible. As of 2016, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued an order prohibiting students from pursuing two regular degrees together. This means that if you attempt to enroll in two regular degrees at the same time, it may not be legally recognized by the relevant educational bodies. However, you can take on one degree in a traditional full-time mode and the other online or via distance education. This arrangement may be feasible but the recognition of the second degree remains uncertain.

In 2007, the Apex Court in India gave a verdict that obtaining two degrees at the same time is not permissible. As of 2016, the UGC issued an order prohibiting students from pursuing two regular degrees together. You can do one degree in a traditional full-time mode and the other online or via distance education, but the recognition of the second degree may still be questionable.

Conclusion: The decision to pursue two bachelor's degrees simultaneously is a significant academic and personal commitment. It requires careful consideration of your academic capacity and institutional policies. Whether it is legal to do so depends on the country and university in question, and the potential challenges should not be underestimated. For those who are determined to pursue two degrees concurrently, it is essential to seek guidance from academic advisors and understand the implications of such a decision.