Wiktoria Zielinska

Why did you choose the University of Westminster? 

When choosing a university, I had in mind staying in London, so the location was an important factor. I heard great things about the University, but what stood out to me was its diverse and inclusive environment which I found to be absolutely true! 

How has your experience been studying in London?  

I would describe my experience as truly developmental and enriching. I had the pleasure of studying in one of the most diverse universities, which offered a broad range of opportunities to get involved in and, most importantly, I have met truly amazing and open-minded people who were always happy to help. I moved to London from my home country not long before starting my degree. 
 
Academically, the University of Westminster provided me with numerous opportunities to develop professionally and personally. For anyone considering studying here, I strongly recommend taking advantage of what’s available and learning from the experience. 

The University offered a broad range of student societies, employability resources, and social events to participate in. There are career and networking events, which I also found very helpful. The university teaches the importance of knowledge, employability, and people skills from day one, which I found useful for personal growth. 
 
Lastly, the aspect that truly makes our University is our people and the inclusive and diverse environment that makes it so valuable. I have met many proactive, ambitious, open-minded and friendly students across all free years and formed long-lasting relationships. The university staff was also very helpful and dedicated, and it was very transparent that they care about teaching and student development. 

As to the next steps? I want to grow professionally and personally further, forming new connections and meeting people. 

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

I very much enjoyed the variability of assignments such as group projects, presentations, essays, and reports, and a vast amount of learning techniques, allowing me to develop academically on a very high level by utilising different skills and methods of collaboration depending on the project type. 
 
I also appreciated optional modules from different sectors and courses such as Global Ethics, or the Designing of the Sustainable World which allowed me to expand my professional acumen as well as employability skills (public speaking, relevant to the current real-world of work). 

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

I found the university staff and the lecturers always friendly and supportive. We could ask questions or express our doubts if we had any. Particularly during seminar sessions, due to the formation of small groups, the teaching was more direct, personal and inclusive. I feel that we had all the possible support needed to be able to email, post questions on the discussion board or simply ask. 

Are there any stand-out facilities associated with your course?  

Even though I am not planning to undertake a career in science due to my personal goals, I very much appreciate the possibility of completing laboratory practical sessions, which greatly exceeded my expectations and developed critical thinking, attention to detail and practical skills being able to work on CRISPR gene editing as part of the Gene Editing module which is not widely available across other universities. Additionally, a tissue culture lab is something that is definitely outstanding, and I am grateful I could participate in the sessions. 

Have you used the University Careers and Employability Service? If yes tell us about your experience  

Yes, I think the service is absolutely amazing if a student engages with it and gets involved. Starting from initially booking academic workshop sessions through completing the Employability Award (an absolute must for everyone who wants to develop their transferrable skills), I got involved in the Inclusive Futures programme, which expanded my soft skills further – participation in group case studying, skills session, and workshops on the company’s side. 
 
I was also fortunate to participate in the Westminster Working Cultures in the UK and Toronto, which I think are such valuable programmes to participate in. They allowed me to learn about various industries, and I mean it literally; through many sessions and workshops with Westminster alumni, I was able to expand my business acumen and industry awareness. But importantly, as I said before, people make it special. It is the opportunity to meet like-minded students who are also driven and want to grow as people and form long-lasting relationships. 

As the Careers Employability Service, it is also a great opportunity to get involved in voluntary or paid opportunities such as mentoring programmes to gain career direction and further insights. 
 
Therefore, what is left is to apply yourself and put yourself out there with the intention of learning and an open mind. 

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

I feel that from the extracurricular and academic point of view, I really took advantage of the possibilities at the University of Westminster, which are truly many, and they are easily accessible, always advertised either by lecturers or the email newsletter. 
 
For that reason, I’d like to choose to speak about my favourites. I had the pleasure of participating in the Westminster Working Cultures in the UK and Toronto, which were both 5-day intensive programmes containing workshops, skills, and networking sessions with people within the vast alumni network. The experience allowed me to expand my transferrable skills, business outlook, and industry knowledge and gain confidence in meeting people. Most importantly, the programme allowed me to form long-lasting relationships, from one of which I got to know about the opportunity to help out and engage in the Networking Society. 
 
I got involved within the society-related work during my third year of studies. It was a great opportunity to spend time with my friends, grow, and contribute to the student community, creating opportunities for networking and development for students. We really had a great time together and definitely are planning to stay in touch, leaving society in good hands for the next year! 
 
An important part of my journey was always trying to get out of my comfort zone. If I had thought about being Vice President of the Networking society during my first year, I definitely wouldn’t have done it! But these are those little things we do on the way to push ourselves a little bit more that allow us to grow, and I had a great environment full of opportunities at the University of Westminster to do this, progressively engaging in more and more. 

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

Go for it and enjoy it! These three years pass quickly, so make sure to live it fully. Go out of your comfort zone both academically and as a person. Definitely be proactive and look for and take the opportunities coming your way, as this is the way to grow and develop, but don’t forget that what also matters are the people and the relationships you meet along the way. Take advantage of all the socials available and be open to meeting people and making friends. 

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

Diversity and people. I find people at Westminster incredibly open and friendly but also driven and ambitious. The environment is very inclusive, and you can feel it which is great. 

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

I’d say availability of the opportunities to engage academically and socially. The whole Careers and Employability service is broad in itself, offering support in job applications, employability programmes, mentoring, and many more, as well as the number of societies available and events carried out during the year. 

Your Thoughts   

It's truly inclusive, supportive, open and driven environment to grow and develop as a person. The staff and the people are core of it!