UNC-Chapel Hill and National University of Singapore deepen their relationship with a new offering for undergraduate students: a joint degree.

UNC-Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have partnered to form a joint-degree program for undergraduate students from both universities. The program is the first of its kind among UNC’s U.S. peers and allows students to broaden their educational and international experiences.

The program offers undergraduate students at both schools the opportunity to graduate with a degree from both institutions.

Chapel Hill is but a small part of an enormous world, and joint-degree students have the ability to broaden their sphere of experience. By studying abroad at both schools, they will be able to transform their education into something far more unique and rewarding.

A study abroad exchange program already exists between UNC and NUS, but the joint-degree program will be different than semester or year-length study abroad; and the collaboration is believed to be the first of its kind among UNC’s peers in the United States.

Students in NUS’s Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences and UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences will be able to apply for the program once they are admitted to either university.

Eligible students at UNC will take two to four semesters of classes at NUS. NUS students will also study at UNC from two to four semesters and will be encouraged to come relatively early in their course of study to benefit from UNC’s general education offerings.

Designed for students majoring in economics, English literature, geography, history and political science, the alliance will offer the combined strengths of both universities’ curricula, as well as allow students the opportunity to fully integrate an international experience into their education.

The joint-degree program is an effective way for UNC students to pursue courses and research in Asian studies and for NUS students to explore the many study options available at UNC. For both parties, they are able to access a greater range of classes and form lasting global connections.

NUS, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006, has an established history as a leading global university. This year, it is ranked 19th in world universities and the top in Asia for social sciences by the London-based newspaper The Times.