Crossing borders, earning degrees

In 2010, a new undergraduate program quietly launched between Sciences Po in France and Columbia University in New York. Students would spend their first two years immersed in political science, history, and economics at one of Sciences Po’s regional campuses, then transfer to Columbia for the final two years. At graduation, they would walk away with not one but two degrees — a French bachelor’s and a Columbia BA. What once looked like an elite experiment has now become part of a broader wave.

Across the world, “dual-campus” or transnational programs are expanding rapidly. UK universities alone taught nearly 600,000 students overseas in 2021/22, with Asia hosting over half of them. Meanwhile, branch campuses such as NYU Abu Dhabi or Duke Kunshan University in China are attracting thousands of international students who split their learning across continents. For many graduates, the payoff is clear: stronger placement rates, smoother entry into global graduate schools, and a network that spans multiple regions.

What counts as a dual-campus model?

Not every overseas exchange or semester abroad qualifies. What sets “dual-campus” programs apart is that students formally split their studies across two countries with clear credit continuity and degree outcomes. The main formats fall into three categories:

• Dual or Joint Degrees. Two universities collaborate to deliver a single integrated program, often structured as a “2+2.” Students earn degrees from both institutions. A leading example is the Columbia–Sciences Po Dual BA, where students spend two years in France followed by two years in New York (Columbia–Sciences Po).
• Global Branch Campuses. A single university operates fully accredited campuses abroad, giving students the option to rotate. NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai are notable cases: graduates earn an NYU degree identical to one from New York, but with an international network baked in (NYU Global University).
• Joint Institutions. New universities are co-founded by partners from different countries, awarding degrees that carry dual recognition. Duke Kunshan University (DKU) in China, established by Duke University and Wuhan University, blends American liberal arts training with a Chinese context (Duke Kunshan University).

These models differ in governance, cost, and admissions selectivity, but they share one goal: embedding global mobility directly into the undergraduate experience.

Do students really benefit?

The promise of dual-campus degrees is simple: by learning in two environments, students gain broader networks, cultural agility, and access to different labor markets. The reality is more complex, but evidence from around the world points to some consistent benefits.Graduates often report higher employability and smoother entry into graduate programs compared to peers from single-campus tracks. Placement rates at institutions running such models tend to be strong, with many students securing roles in the same regions where they studied. This suggests that the true value lies less in the brand of the university and more in the regional pipelines these campuses create.

Another advantage is global recognition. Business schools like INSEAD or multi-campus institutions such as ESCP have long operated on this logic, sending students across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Their alumni demonstrate how multi-campus exposure translates into international careers, especially in sectors that prize adaptability — consulting, finance, policy, and academia.

At the same time, the benefits are uneven. Students in globally connected fields reap more than those in professions anchored to local markets. And the model does not eliminate structural challenges: high costs, relocation stress, and immigration rules still shape outcomes.

Why demand is growing

The rise of dual-campus and cross-border models is not only about universities chasing new markets, though the business dimension is undeniable. For many institutions, expanding abroad or partnering with peers provides financial stability and global visibility. But the student story is equally important, and that is where demand continues to accelerate.

Students increasingly see value in exposure beyond one academic culture. A split program means navigating two education systems, two sets of teaching methods, and often two languages. That experience builds resilience and adaptability in ways a single campus rarely can. The cultural immersion is just as powerful: living in different regions gives students firsthand understanding of global workplaces, consumer behavior, and political environments — insights that employers consistently prize.

The model also strengthens business networks. Multi-campus schools structure mobility into the curriculum so students rotate across Europe, North America, Asia, or the Middle East. For graduates, that means not just a diploma but an early professional network spanning multiple hubs. In today’s labor market, where careers often cross borders, that kind of embedded connectivity is a real differentiator.

How to choose the right program

For students considering a dual-campus pathway, the challenge is less about whether the model works and more about finding the right fit. A few guiding questions help:

• Accreditation. Is the degree formally recognized in both countries, and does it carry the same standing as a single-campus program?
• Curriculum design. How are the two halves of the program integrated? Strong models have clear continuity, so students don’t feel like they are starting over midway.
• Networks and exposure. Beyond the classroom, what access do you gain to business ecosystems, cultural immersion, and alumni networks in each location?
• Cost transparency. What is the total cost across both campuses, including living expenses, and what financial aid is available?
• Career outcomes. Does the institution publish graduate employment or placement data specific to the program?

Choosing the right dual-campus degree is less about chasing prestige and more about matching the program’s structure to personal goals. For students who get that match right, the value of cross-border learning extends far beyond the diploma.

Conclusion: Beyond borders, toward belonging

Cross-border learning is no longer an experiment at the margins of higher education. With dual-campus and multi-campus programs scaling rapidly, they are becoming a mainstream way for students to prepare for global careers. The model is not about collecting extra diplomas — it is about building adaptability, cultural fluency, and networks that stretch across regions.

For families and students, the opportunity lies in choosing carefully: a well-designed program can multiply exposure and employability, while a poorly structured one may add little beyond cost. What is clear, though, is that higher education is steadily moving from being somewhere you go to being something you cross. The future of learning will be measured not just in credits and classrooms, but in the borders students are able to bridge.