Starting university is a big step for students and while it is exciting, the experience can be stressful. Moving away from home to a brand-new city, state or country is enough to make anyone feel anxious. Yes, it may take a while to settle in, but choosing the right university also plays a major role in levelling out that transition.
Depending on the length of your programme, your chosen university will be the place you call home over the next few years, so you really need to make sure it’s going to be the right fit. It can make all the difference between a fantastic or average first-year experience. No establishment understands that better than the University of Westminster, one institution that’s proud to be the place students call a ‘home away from home’.
With over 20,000 students in attendance, the University of Westminster is a popular choice among the world’s prospective scholars. Its vibrant learning environment, state-of-the-art facilities and contemporary teaching methods draw potential students in from all four corners of the globe.
The London-based public institution also has an excellent alumni network that includes Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey; fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood; and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters. Intrigued to know more about this exceptional university in the heart of the UK capital? Here’s what you need to know about University of Westminster and why it’s the ideal place to further your education…
A dynamic location
For city slickers or those hoping to become part of a bustling crowd, you will simply love where this university is located. All four campuses are based in London, with three set in Central and one in Harrow, north-west London. The central London campuses comprise of the Cavendish, Marylebone and Regent Campus. All three are strategically placed within walking distance from one another. This also presents a great opportunity for students to explore London’s most iconic attractions – it’s one of the most popular cities in the world for a reason! The fourth campus is only a short tube ride away in Harrow, where the creative Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design is located
Excellent academic programmes
The university boasts a range of comprehensive schools and faculties that provide a plethora of courses, including undergraduate, postgraduate, research degrees, professional and short courses and English language support.
Students can also apply to six different schools and faculties, including the Westminster Business School, Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design, Westminster Law School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Architecture and The Built Environment. Each school holds several accreditations, recognitions and validations from respective professional bodies. To find out more about a specific degree or order a prospectus, contact the university team.
Besides providing students with top-notch academic programmes, the university has created global partnerships with hundreds of universities and other institutions in more than 20 countries worldwide. These international partnerships support students and staff by working on academic development, strengthening research portfolios and improving graduate employability rates.
A variety of professional industrial links
Aside from making you feel like a valued member of the community, Westminster aims to help students find relevant work and internship experience to boost career prospects and increase their chance of finding employment. If you’re unsure where to start, head over to the Career Development Centre where they’ll help you get you started. The Centre provides students with plenty of help and support through the provision of one-to-one advice, mentoring programmes, and volunteer work. The team also offers advice on how to ace your interview and oversees the construction of your CV and work applications.
There are many students who choose to work part-time to earn extra money to fund daily activities,. The beauty of being in central London is students get to work with consultancies, businesses and organisations around town that will provide first-hand experience of real-life projects even before students graduate. In the past, students from the University of Westminster have worked with companies like the BBC, the Financial Times, IBM, NHS, Pfizer, Ralph Lauren, and Rolls Royce to name a few.
So this is all extremely impressive but by no means is that all; the institution is committed to developing teaching, research and mobility partnerships that don’t just deliver internship opportunities but also relevant education and internationally-recognised research. From this, the University of Westminster has cultivated partnerships with universities around the world, working on collaborative teaching, comprehensive multi-activity, mobility, as well as progression and research projects. Browse the extensive list of universities working with the University of Westminster.
A great student experience
Once you step foot in the university during orientation week, you’ll be greeted by friendly, current students who’ll be able to tell you the ins and outs of life at Westminster. The university has a group of ‘Friends of Arriving New Students’ (FANS), who will greet the Freshers and assist them with planning their first few weeks at university. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything going on – don’t worry; current students are there to lend a helping hand and make sure you don’t miss out on any essential course-based inductions. The team also runs tours of the facilities, and will do everything they can to pass on useful information to new students.
Follow the University of Westminster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Youku
Liked this? Theny you’ll love these…
5 UK graduate business programmes with top employment outcomes