A Top-Up degree at CESINE, an international private university in Santander, Spain, known for its career-focused education, is just what the name implies. It’s a way to enhance and to add something of value to a regular bachelor’s degree. a way to enhance and add something of value to a regular bachelor’s degree.
That’s the idea behind the Top-Up degrees here. If you’ve completed two years of a university bachelor’s programme, these degrees let you enjoy the best of many worlds: you can earn an internationally recognised BA (Hons) degree (offered in partnership with London Metropolitan University) in just one year andexperience living in a vibrant European coastal city ranked the #2 most desirable destination for international students by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN).
Because CESINE is a smaller university, students have more opportunities to speak directly with lecturers and receive personal feedback. Source: CESINE
Learning that takes you far
CESINE’s six Top-Up degrees are designed to be practical and relevant to what’s happening in the professional world today. “We were often asked to apply theories and academic frameworks to real companies, social issues, or international business situations,” says Eleonora Chiesa, who completed a BA (Hons) International Business Management (Top-Up) degree.
In the “International Trade” course, for instance, that meant applying concepts in customs procedures, international documentation, and Incoterms to her one-month internship in the International Trade Department of the Cantabria Chamber of Commerce. “Seeing concepts move from the classroom into a professional environment made the learning experience much more concrete,” she explains.
And while not every subject is going to be your favourite, having the right professor can make a real difference. Certificate in International Business Practice S1 student Julie Denoyer admits that “I’m less fond of Entrepreneurship because I’m not a very creative person, but the professor really does his best to make the class interesting.”
Corporate Communication has been a different story: she loves how current and relevant discussions are. And in Oral Skills, she is just as inspired of her teacher: “Our teacher is very kind, energetic, and I’m learning a lot from her.”
Chiesa found another benefit in how CESINE teaches: everything is in English. “This meant that I could study in a language I was already comfortable with, while at the same time continuing to improve my academic and professional English,” she says.
The CESINE experience offers a good balance between study and free time. The schedule leaves plenty of opportunities to enjoy life in Santander. Source: CESINE
Global perspectives, European experiences
Chiesa may have been studying in English, but she wasn’t about to leave Spain without improving her Spanish too. And that meant getting to know the culture of the new city she was calling home. “My favourite is listening to the chants and experiencing the Racing Santander football matches. They gave me a completely different connection with the city and its people,” she shares.
Santander itself was an easy place to settle in. “The city has a very efficient and inexpensive public transport network,” Chiesa adds. “Another major advantage is Santander’s size and sense of safety. It offers the services and activities of a city while remaining very manageable, which made me feel comfortable and independent in my daily life.”
Others are just as exuberant about life in Santander. “Santander is a beautiful city to live in, full of people and activities to do,” shares student Chiara Nomeisky. BA (Hons) International Business Management (Top Up) 2025 student Nina Goike adds, “I’ve made connections with people all over the world, which I’m really grateful for.”
Those international friendships come naturally in a community with students representing more than 20 nationalities. “Studying in such a multicultural context taught me that people can approach the same situation in very different ways depending on their cultural and personal backgrounds,” Chiesa explains. “It also complemented subjects such as Cross-Cultural Management, because many of the cultural differences we discussed academically could actually be observed in our daily interactions.”
Chiesa’s time at CESINE has prepared her for further study. “Learning how to identify the right people, approach them, prepare relevant questions, and then integrate their professional insights into academic work was one of the most valuable aspects of the programme,” she says. For BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising Communications and Public Relations (Top up) student Patricia Pereira, living in Santander “opened doors for work opportunities in Spain and helped me develop my language skills,” she says.
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