Double degree - double the opportunity

Studying at two universities or majoring in two fields simultaneously is becoming a popular choice for many students, as companies and businesses are increasingly demanding a wider range of skills from their employees in the future. To meet this growing demand, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, launched a dual degree program in Tourism Studies in the 2008-2009 academic year. In 2012, over 20 of the first students in the dual degree program graduated. Although students faced some challenges while pursuing a dual degree, they reaped many rewards from their efforts. Below are the opinions of some students who graduated with a dual degree this year.

Pham Le Thuy Linh: A double degree is a new opportunity.

(Graduated with a Good grade in English from the University of Foreign Languages ​​and a Excellent grade in Tourism Studies, specializing in Hotel Management; currently a trainee in the field at Sofitel Plaza Hanoi Hotel)The double degree truly gave me an opportunity, a fascinating path forward. Although I didn't initially intend to study this field, I now see that choosing to pursue a double degree in Tourism Studies was the right decision. Studying there has given me access to many opportunities that not everyone gets. For example, every year the Faculty of Tourism Studies welcomes volunteer students from Canada, and I seized this opportunity to interact and make friends with many international students. Or, all students in the Faculty of Tourism Studies participate in a very interesting internship program in Central Vietnam, which helps our class bond even more – something not every double degree program at any university offers. Furthermore, I frequently meet with businesses and network with my classmates during my studies. Graduating with two degrees gives me more freedom to choose a career path, as I possess both foreign language skills and solid knowledge in the Hospitality and Tourism Studies field. I found it easier to work in many different places and positions, not just as a translator as I had initially thought before pursuing my double degree. However, earning a double degree wasn't easy. It required high determination and continuous effort, especially effective study and exam preparation methods, as time was limited. In class, I always sat in the front row to focus on lectures and actively participated. Before exams, I organized the material I had learned using mind maps; each time I took notes, I remembered the material very quickly. Additionally, I created opportunities for myself to participate in extracurricular activities to enhance my soft skills and English communication abilities. Usually, people pursue a double degree to supplement their main field of study, but for me, the English language degree became a complementary element to my Tourism Studies double degree. For me, the double degree was an opportunity, and I'm proud that I seized it and turned it into my asset.

Nguyen Hong Nhung: Earning a double degree is a good investment.

(Graduated from the Department of Chinese Language at the University of Foreign Languages, pursued a double degree in Tourism Studies, specializing in Hotel Management, and is currently working at Calidas Hotel.)My double degree in Tourism Studies has led me to an interesting job, and I'm satisfied with my current work. Graduating with two degrees made me feel much more confident because I had more opportunities than others. And that mindset has partly helped me find a good job like the one I have now. In my final year at the University of Foreign Languages, I was very confused about what I would do after graduation because I didn't have many career options since studying languages, and a bit childishly, I regretted my time as a student, so I decided to pursue a double degree. However, with what I've gained and achieved today, I see that the double degree was indeed a good investment for my future. Of course, there were many difficulties during the learning process, and the biggest difficulty was time. Honestly, there were times when I considered quitting because I was discouraged and very tired. We study for our first degree all day and our second degree in the evening, and we have classes all week. Sometimes we're at school all day on Saturdays and Sundays, mornings and afternoons. Many of us are final-year students who have internships, so our study time is quite limited. Furthermore, the university campus is quite far from the University of Foreign Languages, and many of us don't have our own transportation and have to take the bus, so we're often late for class. But these difficulties also help us bond; we often give each other rides to and from school. Another challenge is tuition fees; of course, studying for two degrees is much more expensive. And whenever I face difficulties and obstacles, I always think about the interesting things our teachers teach in class. I remember Professor To Quang Long – a lecturer in the Faculty of Tourism Studies – telling us: "Success only comes to those who persevere the most," so I decided to boost my spirits again. In fact, every professor who taught us left an indelible impression on the class. Each one had a memorable quote that stuck in the minds of every student in the class, so for our class, "every day at school was a joyful day." A double degree not only gave me career opportunities but also the chance to grow, broaden my knowledge, build valuable relationships, and meet admirable people.

Pham Thi Van Anh: Proud to have graduated with two degrees.

(Graduated from the Japanese Language Department of the University of Foreign Languages, double degree in Tourism Studies, specializing in Hotel Management, currently working as a sales representative for a Japanese company)I enrolled in the double degree program simply because I wanted to learn another practical specialization, one that we already use in our foreign language studies for work. Besides that, I know that currently, very few people working in the tourism industry know Japanese, while the number of Japanese tourists visiting Vietnam is increasing, so I thought this would be a very promising career opportunity. The main classes at the University of Foreign Languages ​​are in the mornings, while the double degree program in Hotel Management at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is in the evenings. With such a packed schedule, I faced quite a few difficulties in my first year of the double degree. Then, when it came to the final exams, the number of subjects to take doubled compared to other students. It was very stressful. Honestly, there were many times I wanted to give up because I was so tired, especially in the third year when the number of subjects and the amount of knowledge increased significantly. But at that time, one of the motivations that helped me persevere was the support of my classmates and the dedication and understanding of the professors in the Faculty of Tourism Studies. We've all been very close over the years of our studies, helping each other overcome difficulties. Now that we've graduated and many of us have gone abroad to work, we still occasionally exchange experiences. The spirit of unity and camaraderie among us in the class is also a great motivation for me to continue my studies. Furthermore, my parents are a huge source of motivation because the tuition for a double major is more expensive than a regular program, so my family had to ensure they could cover the tuition fees so I could focus on my studies. All the skills I gained from practical experience during my double major internship have helped me a lot in building relationships with people, establishing professional connections, and getting used to the professional hotel environment. Especially when creating my resume, I feel much more confident with two excellent-grade diplomas, which makes me very proud.

Do Huy Hoang: Studying at two schools isn't "overwhelming" if you know how.

(Graduated from the Department of Chinese Language at the University of Foreign Languages, double degree in Tourism Studies, specializing in Travel and Tour Guiding, worked at Carnival Tours)For me, pursuing a double major was about increasing career options and exploring new paths. I found it very wise to pursue a double degree, as well as choosing the Faculty of Tourism Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In my final year studying Chinese at the University of Foreign Languages, I realized that career opportunities were limited, and to have a better stepping stone, I chose to pursue a double degree. And I can say that the double degree created a turning point in my life. Studying at two universities was truly demanding, but I found it rewarding because of what I gained. Besides giving me more career choices, the double degree also allowed me to broaden my knowledge, make many friends, meet dedicated and passionate professors, and have many interesting experiences. More than once, I have to thank the professors at the Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The professors not only taught me specialized knowledge in my field but also expanded my knowledge to include social skills and abilities that I hadn't encountered while studying at the University of Foreign Languages. Their dedication motivated me to persevere and complete my double degree successfully. In reality, a double degree isn't as "heavy" or difficult if you choose a field that is similar to or complements your main major. Besides being exempt from courses already taken in your first degree, the specialized knowledge from both fields can support each other and help you become more proficient. Furthermore, with serious, diligent, and hardworking study, you will ultimately achieve well-deserved results. I think in the future, more majors should be offered that allow for double degrees, giving students more suitable and optimal choices.