Case Study

Alina Manole

BA (Hons) Business and Management


Alina Manole is a final year student studying for her BA (Hons) in Business and Management at the University of Sunderland in London. She tells us about how she went from a nursing degree to going after her newfound dream of working in business.

The University presents so many opportunities to grow personally. It’s the perfect place to learn what you need for your future career. 

“I started out thinking I was going to be a Nurse, so it might seem a little odd that I ended up studying for a business degree.

I just finished my nursing course last summer but I didn’t see myself working in this sector. 

But my studies helped me realise that the world of medicine really isn’t for me.

I knew I needed a change, but question was, what do I want to do?

A lot of things changed during my first degree, the biggest of which was becoming a mum.

Obviously, life became a bit complicated. I knew I wanted to do something that could support my family.

The more I thought about it, the simpler the answer became – business.

I chose the course at the University of Sunderland in London because I saw it as my best chance of graduating with a great degree and having lots of career opportunities in the future.

What I didn’t expect was for my studies to help me discover who I really want to become, my qualities and what I’m good at.

It’s been helping me to develop both personally and professionally.

My favourite modules have all been about using numbers and calculations, particularly the Accounting and Finance one.

Maths is something I’ve always liked, ever since high school. Now I get to use it in my degree. 

But I’ve also enjoyed the classes on professional development and managing people. They’ve taught me about qualities I didn’t even know I had.

When I graduate, my main aim is to become a manager. Whether that happens straight away, or I work my way up, I don’t mind.

I just want to put the learning I’ve gained here into practice and show I understand how important it is to be a good leader.

As a mum, studying under lockdown was never going to be simple.

It’s not the easiest thing in the world to stay focused when you’ve got a child wanting all your attention.

But I managed it by being as creative as possible and managing my time well. It wasn’t the most convenient situation, but I learned to adapt.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to my face-to-face classes and engaging with my lecturers and classmates.

The University presents so many opportunities to grow personally. It’s the perfect place to learn what you need for your future career.

Perseverance is a key quality for success. You should know how to stay focused and motivated.

But above all, read, read, read!”

Want to follow in Alina’s footsteps? Take a look at our Business, Management and Finance courses now.

You can also register your interest or book a personal consultation to find out more.

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