Ruhhie Oppong

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

Coming from a background in Languages and Translation, I chose Westminster because I felt it would help me transition smoothly into the more structured field of Politics, equipping me with all the knowledge needed to step into the discipline with confidence. The moment I submitted my application was all the confirmation I needed that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

How has your experience been studying in London?

Choosing London was about more than just proximity: it gave me so much more than I ever anticipated. The city's multiculturalism is what I appreciate most; you will never find two people or two experiences the same. It is vibrant, dynamic, and endlessly engaging. Although I live in the UK, my town, compared to London, feels like a different country entirely, which made the experience even more eye-opening. It is truly something everyone should have the opportunity to experience at least once in their lifetime.

Tell us about your course (what have you particularly enjoyed about the programme)?

My course pushed me far beyond my comfort zone in the best possible way. In all honesty, I experienced Imposter Syndrome quite significantly in those early weeks. Everything felt new, different, and fast. I questioned whether I truly belonged. But that struggle became the foundation of everything. Westminster gave me the platform to discover a part of myself that had always been there but had never had the right space to come out. I have always been someone who needs to excel at everything I do, and this course challenged me to live up to that in ways I never expected, ultimately leading to me being nominated as Course Rep and taking on leadership roles across two societies.

How have you found academic support as part of your studies?

The academic support at Westminster is second to none. All my lecturers have always been just one email away; nothing was ever too small or too silly for them to address. I

would describe myself as being self-sufficient, but knowing that support was always there made all the difference. For someone who felt emotionally defeated in those first few weeks, having a Course Leader who looked at me and picked me up was truly transformative. That unwavering belief in my potential fuelled everything that followed, and I never once felt out of place or less than. The relationship I built with my lecturers is something I will always be deeply grateful for.

Tell us about any activities that you have undertaken outside of your course

Beyond the classroom, my time at Westminster opened doors I could have never imagined walking through. I had the incredible privilege of visiting a wide range of embassies and international organisations, including the Embassies of Switzerland, Ethiopia, and Senegal, the Office of Tibet, and the International Maritime Organisation, and that is just scratching the surface. What made it even more meaningful was having the opportunity not just to attend but to actively organise and lead many of these engagements, including visits to the High Commissions of Ghana, Zambia, Rwanda, and The Gambia, among others.

As part of my course, I also had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Brussels, where we visited the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the International Rescue Committee, experiences that brought everything studied in the classroom to life in the most powerful way possible.

Westminster is a place that truly values connections, and those connections are nothing short of a business-class ticket into the world of work. The extensive network I have built, and continue to build, through these encounters is something I carry with immense pride and gratitude. These experiences are not just impressive on paper; they are genuinely invaluable in helping you transition into professionalism with confidence, find your footing, and step into your career not as a newcomer, but as someone already familiar with the room.

What would your advice be to someone considering studying at Westminster?

Be open-minded and try everything, especially the hardest things. I have always been someone who needs to give my absolute best to everything, and Westminster gave me the arena to do exactly that. If you go for something difficult and succeed, it will be incredibly rewarding. If you don't, you will have gained the experience and the skills to go again. Be prepared to immerse yourself in a culture of conversations, coffees and networking, because those moments are just as essential to your growth as anything you will learn in the classroom.

What's the best aspect of being a University of Westminster student?

Without a doubt, the societies. Westminster granted me the chance to discover a new part of myself that had always been there but had never had the right platform to emerge, and it was through the societies that this truly happened. There is something for everyone

here and joining them is where everything learned in class comes to life. You are exposed to different people, different rooms, and real-world opportunities that no textbook can replicate. I can say with full confidence that these experiences have prepared me for the world of work in a way I will be eternally grateful for.

What was the most surprising or unexpected aspect of your Westminster experience?

I was surprised by how much the extracurricular opportunities enriched my academic journey, and how much I needed them. Before joining Westminster, I was completely closed off to the idea of societies or making new friends, wanting to focus solely on my studies. But these experiences, paired with the teachings in the classroom, only deepened my knowledge and broadened my world in ways I never expected. For someone who walked in feeling like they didn't belong, I walked out feeling ready for whatever comes next.