How to survive doing a double degree

Getting through a degree at uni can be a bit of a hard slog. But imagine if you did two of them at the same time? Most would think you’d have to be a damn fool to put yourself through that, however if you’re one of the crazy few who’s decided to plunge headfirst into this educational experience (deathtrap), here are a few tips to help make this period of your life a bit less stressful.

Become a master of organisation

Most people probably think that double the degree equals double the workload. While that’s not exactly how it works, completing a double degree is a bit more challenging than your average uni experience. In a normal degree you’ll do a few core courses and a bunch of electives.  If you’re a uni student, you know that the word ‘elective’ roughly translates to ‘a course where you may not need to go to lectures and you’ll probably still pass’.

In a double degree, however, you’ll be doing mainly core courses and only a few electives, so unfortunately you don’t get to slack off as much. This means you’re going to need to get organised like a boss. Make a to-do list, keep a diary where you jot down important dates, stick important Post-it notes to the back of your toilet door – whatever helps keep you on track. 

Being completely on top of the dates of every exam and assessment means nothing if you don’t actually have enough time to do the work. This is where that other important organisational skill called ‘time management’ comes in handy. Sit down, get your nerd on, and write out a weekly or monthly plan of when you’ll find time to get everything done. You can thank me later.

Pick a favourite

On the surface this might sound a bit crazy and irresponsible – like picking a favourite child – but sometimes it needs to be done. As the years roll on, you’ll probably find yourself enjoying one of your degrees more than the other, meaning you might spend a bit more time and effort on it. And that’s totally OK. However, this doesn’t mean you should completely toss the other aside like a green lolly. As long as you’re still getting the rest of your work done, focusing your attention on what you actually feel passionate about is a good thing, as it'll help you excel in an area you love.

Don’t be a party animal

Doing two degrees means belonging to two different student clubs or associations, and this usually means double the parties. But before you rush out the door to go and stock up on drinks, just take a moment. As tempting as it may be to try and set the world record for the number of uni parties attended in a year by one student, you have to remember that you’ve got a lot of work to do. If you want to actually pass the courses you’ve signed up for, you’re going to have to turn it down a notch and say ‘no’ to some of those pub crawls.

Chill the hell out

It seems like simple advice, but sometimes, unless we’re reminded to do so, we can forgot to take time out for ourselves. You’re doing two degrees, so you should try and give yourself more chill-out time. Your brain can only handle so much concentrating before it shuts down. Close your laptop, step away from the textbooks, and do whatever makes you relax and smile. 

Amy Theodore

Amy is a blogger, writer, photographer, self-confessed bookworm and Netflix binge-watcher who studies a Bachelor of Communication/Law at the University of Newcastle.

Image: UBC Learning Commons, Flickr Creative Commons license