Case Study

I finished my secondary school in Portugal and I took a gap year to explore my options. I was quite active in Portugal, worked as a volunteer firefighter and an Assistant Manager. However, I felt that I was quite young and that I should take an adventure, something that would help me develop myself as a more conscious and active member of whichever society I ended up in and the option to study abroad attracted me quite a bit.

As a European, the desire to learn and explore all the opportunities and cultures that are available was something that always excited me. Sunderland appeared during my research and it had just the perfect conditions: it’s a calm city perfect to study, with great transport and the facilities were simply fantastic. Additionally, the living cost and style were quite appealing.

The best part of my degree was definitely the wide overview of what a business is and how departments interact with each other. The assessments were always meaningful and current and the degree is delivered in a way that everyone, experienced or novice, will always get something out of it. It's fantastic if you prefer the area of strategic management and aim for more senior leadership positions.

University is a fantastic tool to change your life. But as with any tool, it only does what you want it to do! The more you give to your university and community, the more you develop your skills and experiences to be suitable for today's ever-changing job market. Develop yourself beyond the basics of your degree, search for more, and experience more, only that will make you more competitive than everyone else!

After graduating I took a sabbatical year with the Students’ Union. Since then I developed myself as a professional and I’ve seen first hand what the job of a senior manager in an organisation is. 

The University of Sunderland is truly life-changing. Lectures are extremely helpful and dedicated, services are fantastic and always accessible, both the Students’ Union and the University have a strong partnership that makes our experience valuable for life!"

Published 14 January 2020