Securing a job when you’ve just graduated can be difficult enough, but there is no uncertainty around the fact that there are some careers which may require a little bit more than just a CV and covering letter.

Journalism is most definitely one of those career paths, and as varied as it may be in terms of its domains, it’s still often regarded as quite a competitive industry, which may need you to be a little bit more persistent and even slightly tough-skinned! But fear not, here is a very simple guide with some helpful tips to assist you in your path towards becoming a journalist.

Print and Online Journalism

Don’t be afraid of low-paying or unpaid work experience

Of course, working your socks off for virtually no (or very little) reward can seem extremely unfair and even demoralizing – and you’re quite right; it is. But the amount of precious work experience that an internship at a magazine or local newspaper will provide you with can be incredibly useful for polishing your skills as a journalist, as well as creating an impressive portfolio to testify to your amazing writing talent.

It’s also useful to bear in mind that since the nature of this industry can be very demanding and challenging at times, you probably wouldn’t want to be signing six-month and year-long contracts right at your entrance into the world of journalism. Instead, you’re better off testing the waters and gaining a rough idea of where your strengths and weaknesses lie, where you fit into the industry and where you see yourself in the next five years – so appreciate the time you get learning about, exploring and honing your qualities as a journalist, because believe me, you’ll appreciate it a lot in the long-run!

Build a visible network with LinkedIn

You may have heard a lot of people tell you that it is unlikely you’d be able to set foot into the journalism industry without a good network of connections, connections, and more connections. It seems a little unrealistic and you might wonder how you’re meant to go about building contacts with other journalists, if you’ve never met them before in your life? This is where the aforementioned work experience comes in.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking up an internship or two (depending on the duration for which you’ll be interning). This will ensure you get to work with – and know – a few professionals in the industry that will be able to guide you as you commence your journalism career . Take your time perfecting your LinkedIn profile and seek advice doing this if you need to. Build a network of useful contacts, share your work with them, and you will automatically be exposing yourself to so many new and exciting opportunities in your journalism career.

Set up your own blog

A blog is extremely helpful for helping your writing to gain exposure. Not only that, it can also benefit you when it comes to deciding what your writing style is and the topics that are of interest to you. If you’re able to consistently post regular content, at least once per week, you’ll also show that you’re capable of sticking to a dedicated routine, and that is bound to scream strong work ethic and commitment.

Just like physical training and exertion, writing is an exercise that you’ll need to constantly practice to improve and maintain your writing flexibility; and during those few months or so of unemployment, blogging will help immensely to keep you in touch with your creative side. Yes, that dreaded ‘writer’s block’ happens to the best and worst of us, but the more you write, the less likely it is to attack – I promise! Plus, let me reiterate the modern benefits of being able to share your work with everyone at the click of a button.

Broadcast Journalism

Volunteer at your university radio or television station

You will find that most universities have their own media stations where students interested in broadcasting careers are able to take part in different types of valuable work experience. Some include radio and even television hosting. If you’re still at university, don’t be shy to ask around for the opportunities that are available. The best part about this is that you may pick and choose what times best fit around your academic schedule, and you can be a member for as long as you like – just remember that the longer you’re active, the better. You’ll acquire some useful experience that will undoubtedly benefit you in the long run as a journalist, not to mention it will make an impressive addition to your CV.

Further your studies – take up a master’s in broadcast journalism

It’s no secret that, depending on where you choose to study, higher education can be extortionately costly. But if you can, consider applying for a postgraduate course in broadcast or television journalism. For some of you, this might go without saying, but an academic pathway will always open gates that you probably never even imagined would open. A postgraduate course in broadcast journalism will also help you gain exposure to a variety of popular broadcasting stations and will be more than useful for building up your network. Employers like to see that you’ve taken that extra mile to improve and brush up on your employability skills and requirements, so if you’re considering a postgraduate degree and believe you have the necessities to pursue it, then definitely don’t wait.

Various courses at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) offer excellent journalistic training, including the always-essential skill of shorthand; while the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) is the perfect option for those of you looking to specialise in online, multimedia and broadcast journalism.  

Try ‘vlogging’ – set up your own YouTube channel

It’s become quite common among bloggers and social media personalities to whip out their cameras and create fun, entertaining and informative videos for viewers across the globe. Creating visual and creative content, particularly in which you’re exposing yourself to the camera and talking, can be very advantageous for a number of reasons, such as demonstrating your presentation skills and your creativity level, as well as your career drive and ambition – qualities that employers love to see on your resume, which will prove extremely useful to your journalism career.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

The cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has no shortage of great places to eat - round every corner there’s bound to be an amazing cafe or restaurant to tempt you. However, the abundance of international foods, not to mention the excellent coffee and craft beers, can come at a premium. But with a savvy student approach and a little local know how, you can be eating at some of the tastiest joints in the city without blowing your student budget.

These are just to get you started and only a sample of what the buzzing city of Melbourne has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled as this city is teeming with culinary entrepreneurs and new places are popping up all the time!

Shandong Mama, Central Business District

Melbourne's Chinatown is full of amazing restaurants offering a dizzying array of dishes, but you can never go wrong with a massive plate of dumplings! Shandong Mama, a family-run joint tucked away in Bourke St Arcade, offers deliciously fresh dumplings for just a few dollars. Often voted one of the best in Melbourne, a top tip is to go for the pan-fried fish dumplings, a specialty that never disappoints!

La Tortilleria, Kensington

If Mexican food is more your thing, La Tortilleria should be top of your list. A stone's throw from the Central Business District in the pretty little suburb of Kensington, this place delivers incredibly fresh Mexican dishes with heaps of flavor. Famed for their award-winning corn tortillas, made using the traditional Aztec method and with their own locally grown corn, this is as authentic as it gets! They have a great selection of tacos and tostadas, excellent grilled meat options and sharing platters for when you just can't decide. You can easily fill up for under AU$15 and their takeaway menu is even cheaper.

Laksa King, Flemington

Frequently voted as Melbourne's most popular restaurant, the ever-present queue here is testament to its incredible Malaysian cuisine. Enjoy their flavorsome signature dish, chicken laksa, for just $11.80 - if you get in early there's even a 10 percent discount. Gather a group of your mates together, settle in and splurge on an eight-course banquet for just $32. Totally worth the money and an impressive feat if you manage to finish the lot, you're guaranteed to be strolling out of there with huge grins on your satisfied faces.

Naked for Satan, Fitzroy

In the hipster suburb of Fitzroy you can find the memorably named Naked for Satan, which has a downstairs pinxtos (small Spanish snacks) bar offering a huge array of bites where you simply help yourself. Once you've had your fill, head on up to the rooftop bar where you can follow up your meal with a locally brewed beer and enjoy the amazing views of the Central Business District.

The Royston, Richmond

Image credit: Tristan Kenney (Flickr)

This craft beer pub in Richmond serves one of Australia's most iconic pub meals - the chicken parma. Tender chicken breast topped with Napoli sauce, ham and melted cheese, you simply can't leave Australia without trying one of these bad boys. Most Melbourne pubs offer excellent mid-week parma and pint deals to help power you through to the weekend, but The Royston's Parma Tuesday offering, along with one of its original craft beers, is hard to beat.

Queen Victoria night markets, Central Business District

When it all gets too much and you simply can't decide, head to the Queen Vic night market and the culinary delights of Melbourne will come to you. With stalls ranging from spicy Sri Lankan curries, kangaroo burgers and steaming bowls of pho, this place can get you fed for under $10 and still leave you with a few dollars for dessert. Open during both summer and winter, you're spoilt for (cheap) choice all year round!

I admit, I’ve been guilty of this too. I have found myself, on numerous occasions, quite contently negotiating a rather insignificant sum when asked about my minimum salary expectation in job applications.

The reason? I can’t tell you if it’s my somewhat humble nature, or if I, to some extent, undervalued myself slightly because I’d just graduated and therefore shouldn’t expect more than the minimum starting wage. To me, the latter seems very plausible. I desperately want to assure you that this is also the case with other female graduates, who seem to be pricing themselves a little lower than their male equals – but I would probably be slightly misinforming you.

The sad truth

Research shows that students of both genders are pessimistic about their graduate starting salaries, and this is particularly the case with women. Save the Student’s recently published National Student Money Survey 2018 discovered that “while men feel slightly more positive about earnings than a year ago (when they predicted a starting salary of £23,139), women still price themselves a full grand under the average, and four grand less than male graduates.”

This is despite the overwhelming number of female university applicants in comparison to male applicants – as reported by The Independent, recent statistics from UCAS showed that almost 100,000 more women than men are applying to universities in the UK – 367,300 female applicants in contrast with 269,660 male applicants, which leaves an exact gap of 97,640 students.

Are these statistics shocking to me? Unfortunately, not really. Growing up, many women would probably tell you that society has often tried to shove the idea into their heads that no matter how successful they’d like to become when they’re older, they probably never will earn as much as their male counterparts.

Is this because men are the traditional breadwinners and women supposedly aren’t? Or is it that dreaded assumption that all women are expected to ultimately take the part-time route because they are going to become mothers one day, and thus will require more domestic time to attend to their maternal duties and responsibilities? Or maybe it’s just that somehow, men are more capable of doing the very same job that we can and love to do, and thus remain more deserving of a grander reward? At least that’s what society likes to tell us – (curse you, society). Luckily, I have a mindset that has always rebelled against this type of notion – so I’m all well and good?

Not exactly. There still is that undoubted, subconscious belief lingering in the back of my head.

Am I alone in this?

Luckily (but also regrettably) not. According to a study reported in a 2017 article by CNN, female UK students expect to make a confounding 14 percent less than their male peers when applying to their first jobs, while women in their 20s are paid five percent less on average. Why has that become such a thing? It could be because we have unknowingly succumbed to the ever-present gender pay gap. 

Robert Joyce, associate director at the Institute of Fiscal Studies, admitted that since there are more educated young women in the UK than there are men, we can safely rule out the explanation that the early-career five percent “wage difference is not due to education” – rather, it is simply owing to discrimination, as young female starters in the workforce are facing a generous gender pay gap even before they have children or spend any time away from the office to start a family – of course, how dare we merely expect to receive as much money as our male colleagues for the same role.

However, there is hope…

Well, the good news is, the gender pay gap is gradually getting smaller – further statistics by the Resolution Foundation have reported that although women born between 1981 and 2000 have salaries that are five percent lower on average, women born between 1966 and 1980 were paid nine percent less than men when they were beginning their careers in their 20s – ladies, let us take a moment to express our gratitude.

Amanda Goodall, a Senior Lecturer at Cass Business School in London, said that progress has been made because young women today are better equipped than their predecessors to effectively negotiate salaries. Maybe that gives women of my generation a glimmer of hope, in that they now own the privilege to be able to have a say in what they can and can’t earn?

…and bad news

Yet, I wouldn’t get too excited if I were you. Unfortunately, despite all our attempts to stick our heads out of the dark ages, women can still expect to suffer underpayment throughout our careers. – Wait, is that my lifetime I am being told? Laura Gardiner of the Resolution Foundation said that, “Small hourly pay gaps quickly grow into large lifetime pay penalties that can leave women…worse off over the course of their careers.” (I think I’m about to lose all my inhibitions and manners at this point.)

Gardiner also adds that having children still comes with a rather unfair price to pay: “Training, progression and promotion are much harder to come by when working part-time, which many women with children either choose to do or feel they have to because of high childcare costs.” That’s nice, discourage more women from enjoying motherhood in their lives, why don’t you.

Do subject choices play a part in this?

In October 2017, the UK government’s Office for National Statistics reported that men are more likely than women to work in higher paying jobs, such as managers, directors and senior officials, while women in the very same professions are getting paid an hourly wage that is 16 percent less on average.

The statistics also revealed that one of the reasons there is an overall gender pay gap – which is 18 percent in favor of men – is the fact that there are three times as many women working part-time than men. Is that it? Not quite. A pay gap of nine percent remains for full-time working women in every major occupation group, including those dominated by female workers – say what?

Additionally, even though women hold nearly half (45 percent) of full-time “professional occupations” including scientists, engineers and health professionals, their hourly wage is, on average, 11 percent lower than that of their male co-workers. That is pretty darn unfair, if you ask me.

There is also no doubt that young women at universities are more often than not choosing to study subjects that, in comparison to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), tend to lead to lower-paying jobs. Last year, the BBC reported that some of the discrepancies in the gender pay gap can be explained by differences in subject choices, where women are more likely to go for courses such as education, creative arts, humanities and English language/literature – while men tend to gear more towards subjects like computing, engineering and architecture.

Why are women underrepresented in STEM?

It could very well be argued that many women are discouraged from entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, because of the common gender-based stereotypes that surround those subjects.

As reported by The Guardian recently, women make up a mere 14.4 percent of those working in STEM in the UK, despite occupying almost half of the overall workforce. One of the main reasons for this revolves around the fact that, quite simply, fewer girls than boys are choosing to study STEM subjects. Why? Let us explore…

Science may have something to do with it.

Apparently, science has a little something to answer to this. The Guardian’s report reveals that as we’ve learnt from biological accounts, boys tend to be better than girls at spatial tasks, whereas girls are more inclined to perform well in verbal recall tasks. Although you would be relieved to know that these are minor differences, and their impact on STEM ability is quite futile.

Naturally, girls have been found to perform just as well, if not better than their male peers in STEM classwork, but their level of performance sees a decline in tests and exams. The reason for this is partially due to girls being more anxious about tests than boys – but could this also be a result of the stereotypical expectations that are imposed on young girls? 

Society may have a lot to do with it.

A study by Luigi Guiso, Professor and Chair of Macroeconomics and Finance at Goethe University Frankfurt and his colleagues explored how boys perform in mathematics compared to girls. Overall, the maths scores for girls averaged 10.5 points (two percent) lower than the mean average for boys. But here’s the catch – this difference varied depending on the country. For instance, in Turkey, boys outperform girls by 22.6 points, whereas in Iceland, it is the girls that outperform the boys by 14.5 points. When the countries were classified according to gender equality, the research discovered that the mathematics gender gap disappeared in the more gender-equal countries, such as Norway and Sweden.

Fascinating, right?

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here. Even with these numbers at hand, there is still a higher proportion of men than women in STEM-related careers, even in gender-neutral countries like Sweden. Why is that? Well, a study of 1,327 Swedish secondary school students was able to discover why boys are more attracted to STEM subjects than girls: Girls reported feelings of “social belongingness”, which means that they felt more comfortable studying in classes that had more of their own gender. “Self-efficacy” (the belief that one has the capacity to succeed in a specific field) was another very significant influence; girls scored lower with “self-efficacy” in STEM, which demonstrates that they conform with the stereotype that girls are less capable than boys in these subjects.

So why is this happening?

In a nutshell, I think society is to blame for all the troubles women face, including their professional aspirations – (yeah okay, drama queen). I admit, prior to my delving into writing this piece, I had assumed that biology and (a very basic understanding of) so-called ‘societal norms’ were indeed the main culprits as to why so many women are expecting lower salaries than their male counterparts.

Now I know that that is simply not the case; with the gender pay gap still in existence, it has many of us almost surrendering to the idea that our academic and professional abilities are inherently different to those of men.

Of course, we’ve now established that the effects of science and biological predispositions are rather trivial in this case. Studies such as Luigi Guiso’s, which proved that women in gender-equal societies are much more likely to achieve mathematics grades that are as high as, if not higher than those of their male peers, have also proven that differences in academic abilities among the two genders are indeed determined by the social stigmas and gender-based stereotypes that have been plaguing us since the Big Bang.

So, what do you think? Do you agree that it’s all down to society, or do you stand by the notion that women are just ‘naturally’ different to men when it comes to their subject choices and salary expectations? Let us know in the comments below.

Included in the range of scholarships offered by QS is the Leadership Scholarship, which awards US$10,000 to a student demonstrating strong leadership skills. We’re pleased to announce that this year’s winner is Burkinabé student Clara Salame.

Clara will now study a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US, having previously studied her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. This was an extremely competitive program, internationally accredited by the US’ Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, in which only 12 students were eligible to pass the final examination, meaning Clara had to work extremely hard in order to graduate as an internationally registered dietitian.

Clara then studied a master’s degree in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition at University College London (UCL) in the UK, and says this is where she discovered her passion for research, as she feels rewarded by making a profound impact in scientific evidence.

This passion for research has spurred Clara on to pursue a PhD, as she says: “Nutrition is a passionate, fast-growing field in which a wide range of knowledge still needs to be discovered and unraveled. It is constantly evolving, and I want to contribute to it and be part of the evolution. Therefore, I decided to further my scientific career by obtaining a PhD to be at the cutting edge of scientific discovery.”

Clara was attracted to studying abroad in the US as she felt that the funding and technical resources in Lebanon were quite limited, and she also felt that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers one of the country’s best graduate nutrition programs.

Advice for other applicants

Clara would firstly definitely recommend attending the QS World Grad School Tour “to every student who’s not sure of what they want to do later on, and even to those who already know what they’d like to do, as it would help them make a choice or get exposed to even more options.” She says her own experience of attending the fair helped her to learn about the many options available in grad school, and what the requirements are for different universities.

She also advises: “Do not worry if you do not have everything figured out, be perseverant and keep your options open. Keep looking for what you want, and if you work hard, a lot of opportunities will come your way.”

If you're settling in to Melbourne to study, you're in for an incredible few years in Australia's most cultural and artistic city. But if you can tear yourself away for a day, you won't have to venture far to find jaw-dropping sights and enjoy amazing experiences. The relatively small state of Victoria packs a punch and is teeming with beautiful wineries, national parks and a world-famous coastline. So pack a picnic and your sense of adventure, and get exploring!

Get a taste of the Great Ocean Road

This quintessential Aussie road trip is practically a rite of passage. Whilst you ideally need a few days to explore it fully, you can easily see some of the highlights in a day trip.

Firstly head to Torquay, the surfing capital of Australia. If you’ve never surfed before, where better to give it a try? If you fancy staying on dry land, catch the Bells Beach Surf Film Festival in January and let the experts show you how it's done. Carry on to Lorne for a spot of lunch before driving on to Kennett River, then take a turn down Grey River Road where you are almost guaranteed to spot wild koalas. It's a bit further on the main attraction, the Twelve Apostles, but well worth the effort! The lesser known but equally impressive Loch Ard Gorge is just down the road as well.

Enjoy a classy beach escape on Mornington Peninsula

With the very end of the peninsula just an hour and a half's drive away, you have plenty of time to explore and relax. Head right down to Point Nepean for impressive beach walks and amazing views of Victory Bight and Port Phillip Bay. Then take your pick of classy beach towns, such as Sorrento and Rosebud, to explore on the way back. If you fancy treating yourself, a soak at the Peninsula Hot Springs is definitely recommended. There’s an array of hot pools set within the natural landscape, so wind your way to very top to enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding area.

Pan for gold in Ballarat

Equally accessible via train or car, Ballarat is the historical heartbeat of Victoria. Gold was discovered here in 1851 and you can experience what a gold rush town was really like at the Sovereign Hill living museum. Try your hand at panning for gold, then head down into the underground gold mine or chat with the many skilled craftsmen at work. If you head out in the winter, you can also enjoy Ballarat Winter Festival and round off your day ice skating or strolling along the Winter Wonderlights Christmas in July display.

Spot the wildlife on Phillip Island

An easy two-hour drive from the city brings you to Phillip Island, home to pelicans, stingrays, wallabies and penguins – if you’re a fan of wildlife, you’ll be in heaven here.

Arrive at the small fishing town of San Remo at around midday to witness the feeding of the pelicans and stingrays. Carry on over the bridge and to the south of the island for a walk around the rugged Cape Woolamai, with its dramatic pink rock formations and panoramic views. Finish up your day at Summerland Beach where you can watch the hoards of penguins waddle back home after a long day of fishing.

Sample the wine and produce of the Yarra Valley

Just an hour's drive from Melbourne through picturesque rolling fields, the Yarra Valley offers a welcome city escape complete with world famous cool-climate wines and local, fresh produce. If you're struggling to recruit a designated driver (understandable, considering what's on offer!) then opt for one of the many tour bus companies instead. Head straight to the cellar doors to sample the best of the regions wines, Domaine Chandon and Giant Steps are great places to start.

But there are not just top-class wines to tickle your taste buds. Sample cheeses at the Yarra Valley Dairy, enjoy over 450 varieties of fruit at Rayner's Orchard and indulge in the finest sweet treats at the Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Healesville Sanctuary is also in the area, home to iconic Australian animals, including dingoes, kangaroos and the illusive platypus.

Go bushwalking in the Dandenong Ranges

Image credit: Abir Anwar (Flickr)

A 45-minute drive or a one-hour train ride from Flinders Street station brings you to the 1,000 Steps, officially the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk. This 3km return walk is a unique tribute to the Australian soldiers who fought on the real track in Papua New Guinea. One of the most popular spots in the Dandenong Ranges, it's a challenging yet beautiful walk up the creek and a great way to work up an appetite! If you're after something a little less strenuous, take a picnic to Sherbrooke Forest for fewer steps but equally stunning forests.

Finish up your day at Emerald Lake Park, where you can journey aboard Australia's first preserved steam train, Puffing Billy! Sit back, take in the view and relax those muscles after a long day's hiking, as the train winds its way along the original mountain track.

Sponsored by Tecnológico de Monterrey

Every student, at one time or another, dreams of changing the world. Whether it’s a dream such as winning the battle against climate change, or maybe writing a beautiful novel, the thought of one day accomplishing something amazing can often be the only thing keeping you going through early morning lectures and late nights spent in the library.

Some universities will always be better suited for these dreamers than others. In northern Mexico, not far from the US border, researchers at Tecnológico de Monterrey are proving they have what it takes to dream big and change the future of their country.

Tecnológico de Monterrey has prided itself on the transformative research that occurs within its buildings for years, with the university receiving over 17,000 academic citations between 2012 and 2017. Now, that focus on research is being taken even further through the annual ‘Projects That Transform Mexico’ initiative.

What’s it about?

Projects That Transform México is an initiative aiming to identify the research and innovation projects making a positive change for Mexico, either because they solve important problems in Mexican society or innovate aspects of Mexican life.

To participate in the initiative, a project must meet several criteria, including the participation of graduate students in the team, the existence of a robust experimental prototype and proof it will have a demonstrable impact in areas such as health, education, sustainable development, quality of life and economic development.

Videos on all of this year’s projects can be found here, or keep reading for more information on this year’s projects:

Biodegradable packaging to preserve environment and reduce waste

Plastic pollution is a really hot topic right now and researchers Hugo Mújica and Aurora Valdéz, from Tecnológico de Monterrey, think they have an answer. They’ve developed a system capable of turning the peel from different fruits like orange, grapefruit and mango into a film that can substitute the traditional synthetic polymer films and packages currently used on many products. They hope their project will reduce and control waste and reduce the damage done to the environment by plastics.

Improving eyesight with biopharmaceuticals

The research team integrated by Judith Zavala, Jorge Valdez and Víctor Manuel Treviño, from Tecnológico de Monterrey Medicine School, are working on a biopharmaceutical which will prevent the rare growth of ocular conjunctiva, an eye condition which is currently only treatable with surgery. This group of Mexican experts have made important improvements in the development of an alternative procedure using the “Siempre Viva” plant.

Cutting down on food waste

Every single year in México, 20.4 million tons of food are wasted. This project, entitled Zero Loss, is led by Tecnológico de Monterrey researcher Silverio García Lara and aims to use innovative strategies including intelligent containers, post-harvest technologies and climate information services to assure and increase the productivity in a sustainable way.

Remote laps for students

Manuel Macías is the leader of this Tecnológico de Monterrey project, which aims to improve distance education through the creation of three remote labs. These labs assure access to physical resources no matter where the students are.

Managing water resources

Our final project from this year is an initiative of Tecnológico de Monterrey, Femsa Foundation, and the Inter-American Development Bank, and aims to provide consulting and education in how to sustainably manage and use water resources.

For more information about these projects and how the university is aiming to transform lives through its research, click here.

Tecnológico de Monterrey is ranked within the top 200 in the world in the latest QS World University Rankings and was the top university in Mexico in the 2018 edition of the QS Graduate Employability Rankings. To learn more about the university, click here.

Sponsored by IULM

Are you considering embarking on a dual, double or joint degree? Students have so many study options nowadays, it can be confusing to decipher some of the higher education lingo.

Dual degrees, also known as double degrees, are courses which award two degrees instead of one, and in less time than it would have taken to study the two degrees consecutively.

They aren’t to be confused with joint honors degrees, which involve splitting your time between two subjects - such as French and Spanish - or joint degrees, which are single-diploma degrees designed by two or more universities, although dual degrees do also involve studying at two different institutions.

For instance, the Milan-based university IULM offers students enrolled to its dual degree program in Hospitality and Tourism Management the possibility to spend a year at the University of Central Florida in the US or Université Grenoble Alpes in France or a semester at a partner institution. Or, if you’d rather study a master’s in Strategic Communication, then you can earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Marketing Communications – in addition to the Italian degree (Laurea Magistrale) -  by choosing to study at Huddersfield University during the second term of your second year.

These opportunities to study at a different university and in a different country are a fantastic chance to learn a new language and earn a diploma from a recognized university abroad, something which is particularly useful if you want to work abroad in the country you end up studying in. Upon graduation, IULM students studying Hospitality and Tourism Management spending a year at the University of Central Florida obtain the eligibility to work for 12 months in the US. Moreover, this extra experience will also ensure your CV is able to be more competitive in the domestic labor market.

Studying and living abroad has several other, less noticeable, impacts which should also be considered. Immersing yourself in another culture is a great way to develop a more open-minded attitude and experience what it’s like for people from different backgrounds than yourself. Plus, the skills you’ll learn in collaborating with students from other countries will prepare you perfectly for modern, international workplaces.

These types of degrees are particularly popular in the travel and tourism industries. Manuela De Carlo, who is a lecturer at IULM, explains why.

She says: “Companies are very interested in our programs because they are different. In this sector, an international perspective is very important as is the ability to travel to work in a different country.

“Companies working in the tourism sector tend to transfer their employees from country to country, hence a great ability to adapt is required. This can be achieved through a dual degree program abroad.”

Professor Stefania Romenti, who is Coordinator of the Master’s degree course in Strategic Communication at IULM, says: "A dual-degree in the field of communication allows students to aspire to international careers such as being a Global Reputation Manager, which is one of the most important career opportunities of the Master's Degree in Strategic Communication at IULM University".

The Milan-based university offers two dual degrees fully taught in English: a Master in Strategic Communication and a Master in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Both courses offer the possibility to specialize, complete work experience and international experience.

The Master in Strategic Communication is ideal for anyone looking to pursue a career as a communication specialist, stakeholder relationship manager, global reputation manager or a strategic communication manager.

The Master in Hospitality and Tourism Management, on the other hand, is perfect for students seeking to work as hospitality managers, online travel and digital marketers, event managers,  or experience design and destination managers.