Sarah pursues a Top-up degree after completing her Higher Vocational Education (YH): “It’s helping me get a foot in the door of the global job market”
With a Higher Vocational Education diploma in procurement and supply chain management, Sarah Öström decided to begin FEI’s Top-up degree in International Business Management. FEI is the only education provider in Sweden offering Top-up degrees in collaboration with Coventry University in the United Kingdom. It is a unique opportunity for individuals who wish to build on their YH qualification or previous university credits and obtain a bachelor’s degree.
– This Top-up degree is opening completely new doors for my future career. With a bachelor’s degree, I will have a wider range of job opportunities, while the programme’s international perspective helps me gain a foothold more easily in the global job market, says Sarah Öström.
Sarah had long considered further study but had not found the right programme. Then—quite literally like a letter arriving in the post—she received a brochure from FEI, which brought her attention to the Top-up degree in International Business Management. She began the programme in January 2023.
– The programme has definitely exceeded my expectations. It is very thorough, the lecturers are incredibly skilled, and being able to study remotely gives me a great deal of freedom. I also gain so much from my fellow students; many come from similar backgrounds, but all of us have different skills and experiences. It leads to many interesting discussions.
The programme consists of several modules within business administration, focusing on management. Studies are carried out full-time over one year or part-time over two years. So far, the course Business Data Analysis has particularly captured Sarah’s interest.
– In this course, we learn about various tools and methods to efficiently analyse statistics and data processing. But all the courses have been very rewarding so far, and I’m looking forward to delving deeper.
The programme is delivered either on-site in Stockholm or live online via the hybrid format FEIFLEX. This made it possible for Sarah to move to the United Kingdom and continue her studies remotely. As students are enrolled at Coventry University’s international campus, the programme is classified as EU studies abroad and is therefore eligible for Swedish student finance (CSN).
– Living abroad is something I have always dreamed of. When I was accepted to the programme, I moved from Luleå to Oxford, where I now live. With FEI’s study format, everything felt right, and I’m very glad I took this opportunity.
After completing her studies, Sarah wants to remain abroad and hopes to find a job focusing on global issues. For anyone with a Higher Vocational Education qualification who wants to continue studying and take the next step in their career, she strongly recommends FEI’s Top-up degrees.
– For me, it’s important to feel that I’m doing something meaningful and helping as many people as possible, whether at a large company or in an international organisation. It may sound a bit cliché, but I truly feel that anything is possible once I have my bachelor’s degree. Anyone with similar ambitions who wants to progress and take their career to the next level should definitely apply for a Top-up degree, says Sarah Öström.
The academic partnership with Coventry University
Coventry University has worked hard to become a global institution and has established several campuses and initiatives around the world, including Coventry University Group. Coventry University has a continually growing international presence, with over 50,000 students currently enrolled in its programmes worldwide, and collaborates with more than 70 partner institutions in over 40 countries. At present, FEI is the university’s only academic partner in Sweden.
In collaboration with Coventry University, FEI offers five different Top-up degrees, each leading to a Bachelor of Science (Honours), which is recognised as equivalent to a Swedish bachelor’s degree by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR). All programmes are taught in English and comprise one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.
Published on 25 May 2023