Aston joins forces with Indian university to offer dual degree in Dubai

Aston University is collaborating with India’s Symbiosis International University to offer undergraduate dual degrees based in Dubai and Birmingham.

The first programme, launching in September 2025, will allow students to earn a degree with both a UK qualification and a qualification from Dubai, studying at Symbiosis International University’s (SIU) new Dubai campus for two years, followed by two years at Aston University in Birmingham. The 2025 QS World University rankings placed SIU, which in India is classed as a ‘deemed’ institution, as the second highest-ranked private university in India.

The course will be SIU’s first international partnership in Dubai. Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University and the Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, co-signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday 14 November. 

Speaking at the event, Professor Subic said: “I am delighted to further strengthen our two universities’ partnership across our campuses in the UK and Dubai. This strategic development will pave the way for our joint academic programmes delivery and represents a critical juncture of our internationalisation and cooperation.

“It will also equip students with a global perspective on their studies and help them develop the competitive skills which are essential for success in today’s market. 

“As well as creating new opportunities for both of our institutions, this new initiative sees us realising our ambition of extending our reach, scale by diversifying our academic portfolio and growing our student communities through international partnerships.”

The launch event was presided over by Professor Dr S B Mujumdar, founder, president and chancellor of SIU, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan minister of tolerance and coexistence, United Arab Emirates and Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar the Indian government’s external affairs minister. 

Students successfully completing the undergraduate dual degree programme will be awarded a BBA degree by SIU and a BSc Business and Management degree by Aston University. The course will take four years to complete, and the first cohort will start in June 2025. 

In June 2024, the two universities signed an initial agreement to form a strategic partnership to collaborate on a wide range of projects and activities in India, the UK and Dubai. The areas of planned collaborations include teaching, research, executive education, joint conferences and sharing of good practice.

Pictured: Professor Aleks Subic, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University and the pro-chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, co-signed a memorandum of understanding