Welcome from the Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement

Our University has a long and proud history of global engagement, international collaboration and educating international students. That history derives from the global nature of our student, colleague and alumni communities; our international research, academic and student mobility partnerships; the global reach and impact of our research and knowledge exchange activities; and the unique and transformative opportunities for global learning we offer our students. 

Our enduring and embedded commitment to internationalisation is evidenced by Westminster’s place in the top 20 in the UK and in the top 30 globally for international students according to 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings with 48% of Westminster students classed as international. For international outlook, the 2024 edition of the prestigious rankings puts Westminster to 68th place among UK universities and 164th out of 1,904 universities worldwide. The rankings cover 108 countries and regions globally.

We have a cutting-edge teaching and research environment and are a leading practice-focused institution. Throughout our history, we have welcomed students from all walks of life and from all over the world, into a university community committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. The educational experience we offer expands outside the classroom and across borders. We are welcoming of new relations and partnerships to serve better our diverse and international student body.

The University of Westminster provides a wealth of opportunities for our students to gain international experience as part of their study with us, and to be globally fluent, in an ever more interconnected world. We are a Westminster community of colleagues, students and alumni who are ‘global citizens’, who engage with and help shape the future of the world.

Research in our academic schools and research communities, often produced in partnership with researchers as well as educational and other institutions all over the world, focuses on effecting real impact, both locally and globally. We are proud of the myriad ways in which this pioneering research makes a difference to and across the world.

We are committed to both making international students and colleagues feel valued at our institution and to keeping the future of the University truly global.

Professor Dibyesh Anand
Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Employability)

Global Engagement Strategy

Our Global Engagement Strategy places partnership development and the expansion and enhancement of our international networks at the heart of the University’s approach to internationalisation, reflecting the opportunities and challenges of a dynamic global higher education landscape.

We benefit from a rich mix of international partnerships of diverse kinds, some recent, some very longstanding. Today Westminster has co-operative relationships with partners across the world, from Australia to Uzbekistan, and we are committed to strengthening and broadening these relationships as well as fostering new ones. 

These partnerships encompass a broad spectrum of collaborative activity and partnership models, ranging from staff and student mobility, collaborative programmes, work on curriculum development and delivery. knowledge exchange, short course development and joint research on global issues. All our partnerships underpin our work to support our students to become global citizens and support their ambitions in the global workplace.

Flags of the world

Global Westminster

The University of Westminster welcomes international students from over 169 countries, making up 50% of our full-time student population. And with over 190 partner institutions across 56 countries, the University has a reputation for being one of the most diverse and international universities in the UK. With such international student diversity, staff from across the globe and a highly international alumni community, the University of Westminster embraces global engagement in all forms.

Our Global Engagement Strategy is a key driver towards the success of the University. Focused on the global community, global experience and global research. We have a long tradition of global partnerships and extensive connections with universities and other partners across the world providing opportunities for students and staff to gain global experiences.

Our undergraduate and postgraduate courses are recognised and accredited by over 50 leading professional bodies.

Our globally engaged research achieved outstanding results in the Research Excellence Framework 2014, with some two-thirds of our research being awarded world-leading or internationally excellent scores.

Being Westminster: Our Strategy 2022–29 (PDF, 8.31 MB)

Find out more about being an international student at Westminster.