Should I Apply for a Business-Technology Degree?

In recent years, we have seen the employment landscape rapidly change. Today, more jobs are interdisciplinary, rather than focusing on a singular speciality. This is especially true in the technology industry. As technology is being utilised and implemented in multiple fields, it has created a need for employees to become proficient in business as well. This is why several schools and colleges worldwide are now offering a combination of technology and business degrees to undergraduate students. Even colleges that are known to be “tech colleges” such as Georgia Institute of Technology have started offering this option. 

This unique marriage of two seemingly separate subjects will enable you to gain valuable exposure in both fields, gain a skill set that will help you in your future career prospects and also give you a unique edge over other applicants. Moreover, if you are interested in both disciplines and are confused about what to major in or want to approach a business-related field from a technological lens, then this is an extremely attractive option as you can study both simultaneously.

Here is a breakdown of where you can study a business-technology degree:

1) Options in the US:

Colleges in the US focus on holistic education. As such, you can choose to major and minor in the field of your choice. For example, you can choose computer science as your major and business as your minor. However, if you want to major in both disciplines, then some universities offer a dual major that you can usually complete in a four-year duration. Some of these options are New York University’s Bachelor of Science in Business and Technology Management and University of California, Berkeley’s Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology programme that offers you a choice of five tracks. As you are gaining specialised knowledge in two distinctive fields, most of these programmes will award you with two bachelor’s degrees, one for the specialised engineering or technology major you have taken and the other for the business or management major. The admission process for these programmes is usually college-specific. Often, you are required to apply to the programme directly and your admission is based on your fit and qualifications. Alternately, some colleges allow you to transfer into the dual-degree programme if you are academically eligible and have a high GPA. This option is extremely competitive as there are only a limited number of seats available.

2) Options in the UK:

While the UK is known for its focus on in-depth subject specialisation, some colleges have started offering students combined programmes to bridge the gap between technology and business. For example, the University of Manchester has a Mechanical Engineering with Management course while University College London offers Mechanical Engineering with Business Finance. However, as the main focus of most of these courses is the technology side and only give you a broad background in business, you won’t be awarded two bachelor’s degrees. To apply to these programmes, you must apply through UCAS, similar to any other course. Apart from this, some colleges offer a combined honours programme to undergraduate students. Here, you can create your subject combinations from a curated list, which is generally unavailable otherwise. One such college is the University of Exeter; through its Flexible Combined Honours degree, you can choose to combine management with computer science. As with other programmes, you have to apply for this through UCAS.

3) Options in Canada:

Similar to the US, Canada has a more interdisciplinary approach to education, with the option of majors and minors. Despite this, colleges like The University of British Columbia (UBC) and University of Waterloo, among others, combine business with technology in their programmes. At UBC you need to complete the university-specific application form and only once you are admitted to the BCom programme will you be able to select the combined major option. However, you will only receive a BCom in Business and Computer Science, rather than two degrees. At Waterloo, on the other hand, you will apply to Ontario Universities’ Application Centre to learn computer science at Waterloo and study business at Wilfrid Laurier University, right down the road. After five years, you will earn a Bachelor of Computer Science from Waterloo along with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

4) Options in Australia:

By and large, Australia is known for its focus on specialised courses, however, there are a few colleges that are making the shift and have started offering interdisciplinary courses. At the Australian National University, for example, you can opt for the Flexible Double Degree, which gives you the option to combine two bachelor’s degrees. One must be a technology-based degree–ranging from software engineering to advanced computing–while the other can be commerce, economics or business administration. Alternatively, The University of Sydney has two options. If you want to pursue a dual degree–Bachelor of Advanced Computing and Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Commerce. In Australia, most of these courses are for five years and will offer you two bachelor’s degrees. The admissions process for international students differs per college, so make sure to check their individual pages for more information.

5) Options in Singapore:

Once a system focused on rote learning, Singapore has revamped its education system, preparing students for success in the workplace. Out of the six public colleges here, most offer dual undergraduate degrees. At the National University of Singapore, you can complement your computer science, information systems or engineering studies with a degree in business administration. Nanyang Technological University also offers a few options for students who want to pursue both business and technology; students can choose from obtaining a double degree in business and computer engineering or computer science. Each of these courses has its own requirements and requires you to apply directly to the college, so make sure that you check each individual requirement. Apart from this, you can choose to apply for the Singapore University of Technology and Design and Singapore Management University’s four-and-a-half-year dual-degree in engineering and business management.

Many colleges are now offering the option of dual degrees, so make sure that you research each option and find one that is best suited to your future goals. If you plan to apply to the US, read our blog post on everything you need to know about the common application or if the UK is more suited to your goals, then read our blog post on what not to do when writing your UCAS personal statement. If you have any other questions, get in touch with us.