What Comes Next? is a course-aligned event series aimed at sharing the knowledge and experience of recent graduates with current students by inviting them back to the classroom.
Through the events, current students can learn about the breadth of career opportunities available to them after graduation and network with alumni in a familiar and comfortable setting.
What Comes Next? was developed based on Graduate Outcomes results and identifies courses that can benefit from additional careers support.
Attending What Comes Next? events can earn students points towards the Westminster Award.
Level 4 and level 5 students who attend a What Comes Next? event can count this towards work-based learning hours (at module leaders’ discretion).
2024–2025 events
Operating across priority courses, What Comes Next? delivered our largest series yet with impactful events taking place across all three colleges during 2024–25.
Key stats
- 10 events
- 541 total student attendees
- 39 recent graduate speakers
- 98% of students found it useful to hear from recent graduates
Testimonials
It was great to hear from the panel, especially because they are Westminster graduates. They didn’t give up and developed great employability skills. I also liked that they are all in different jobs too!
– Layla, Politics and International Relations student
Great opportunity for me to hear first-hand experiences from alumni, which motivates me a lot. I greatly appreciate their insights.
– Miyu, Politics and International Relations student
Testimonials
It was useful as I got to know how things really work in the job market and learnt insights into how you can land a job successfully.
– Muskandeep, Computer Science and Engineering student
I liked hearing about the different opportunities alumni have come across. I found it very motivating!
– Brenda, Computer Science and Engineering student
Testimonials
It was lovely to meet speakers who have chosen different pathways despite coming from the same educational background. Their experiences were amazing to hear about.
– Maja
Really helped me to think what more I could be doing with my time at university and how to make use of the university resources.
– Anjum
Testimonials
I found it useful, it made me feel confident and secure in my future career plans.
– Marta
The speakers motivated me to follow my goals and never give up and to make the most of my university experience.
– Ishaa
Testimonials
I enjoyed hearing about the many different routes available, it made me feel less constricted and more confident that it will all work out in the end.
– Amore
This talk was really helpful to me as an international student and explored options to find a career in the UK, everything was perfect.
– Yutong
Testimonials
I enjoyed hearing about the passion and perseverance in their careers. It motivates me to keep going and develop the skills I need to get the career I want.
– Alison
The talk was incredible, the speakers tapped into many worries that I have been struggling with. It was very reassuring hearing their advice!
– Dafne
Testimonials
I found the speakers’ advice very useful, particularly their comments on LinkedIn and networking.
– Machala
It was great to hear about the different personal experiences and routes that panellists took to reach their current roles.
– Mohammed
Testimonials
Really valuable advice, which is not always easily accessible.
– Stella
I found the information they provided about resources like Talent Bank and BrightNetwork really useful as well as job and course specific advice.
– Jason
Testimonials
This event gave us a chance to ask questions, where we gained useful advice and heard what it was like to work in different industries.
– Hafsa
The panellists gave such great advice. It has really helped me put more thought into my career path.
– Initzar
Testimonials
All the speakers were straightforward in their answers and very reassuring. They shared their experiences and how they used the skills they learned during their degree to improve their employability skills.
– Carina
Their experiences and advice were incredibly useful and really helped me understand the different paths available in biomedical science. I appreciate the time you took to answer our questions and provide guidance. Looking forward to applying what I've learned!
– Anisa
2023–2024 events
Operating across priority courses, What Comes Next? delivered impactful events across all three colleges during 2023–24.
Key stats
- Seven events
- 404 total student attendees
- 26 recent graduate speakers
- 98% of students found it useful to hear from recent graduates
- PR news storyGo to Computer Science and Software Engineering news page
- Full recordingGo to Computer Science and Software Engineering recording page
- Highlights videoGo to Computer Science and Software Engineering highlights videos page
Testimonials
Very useful especially for those who are starting our pathway. It is nice to hear about experiences, challenges, choices, stories, tips, and advice from them.
– Heidi Condoba, Computer Science student
What I found useful about the event was the transparency and honesty from the panellists, thereby promoting confidence and resilience.
– Omar Habib, Computer Science student
- PR News StoryGo to Human Nutrition news page
- Full recordingGo to Human Nutrition video page
- Highlights videoGo to Human Nutrition highlights video page
Testimonials
Was amazing to hear everyone’s personal experience and how everyone carved their own path.
– Meenakshi Jayachandran Nair, Human Nutrition Student
Knowing that I am not the only one who felt ‘lost’ or did not have it clear on what to do next felt good!
– Xarem Jereije, Human Nutrition Student
- PR News StoryGo to Business Management news page
- Full Recording 27 November
- Full recording 28 November
- Highlights video 27 November
- Highlights video 28 November
Testimonials
I love how everyone’s experience was different yet positive. It was helpful to hear what the panel did during university before deciding on their next steps.
– Fatima Lukman-Mohammed, Business Management student
The event has given me a stronger insight on ways to network and what resources can be used to support my journey.
– Romina Krasniqi, Business Management student
- PR News StoryGo to Tourism and Events news page
- Full recordingGo to Tourism and Events video page
- Highlights videoGo to Tourism and Events highlights video page
Testimonials
I had a fantastic time learning about what it’s like working in the events industry after I graduate. The girls were so friendly and kind to me and gave the best advice to me on what to do when I start working in the industry. This made me more confident in choosing to work in the events industry.
– Karina Kular, Tourism student
I found it useful to hear each person’s experiences and [about] their industry as it made me more confident in my work and my applications for jobs.
– Fatima Sadiq, Tourism student
- PR News StoryGo to Photography and Film news page
- Full recordingGo to Photography and Film video page
- Highlights videoGo to Photography and Film video highlights page
Testimonials
Thank you for sharing your stories and showing us that there is no concrete path we should take but to always be curious and strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
– Boyan Dragomirov, Film student
I found it extremely helpful as the panel showcased a wide variety of insights and tips. I loved how at the end the panel showcased their work, as I feel like it helped me understand more about them.
– Ines Palma, Photography student
- PR News StoryGo to Biomedical Science news page
- Full recordingGo to Biomedical Science video page
- Highlights videoGo to Biomedical Science highlights video page
Testimonials
Going to the Biomedical Science event was eye-opening! It provided invaluable insights into the diverse career paths available after the course, and what steps to take to progress quickly. I’m very grateful for the alumni that came to speak with us and excited for what’s to come.
– Suhana Rahman, Biomedical Sciences student
It was great to hear from people who were once in a similar position to the one I'm in now! The advice from the graduates was helpful and specific, and has definitely motivated me to think more about my future and where my degree in Biomedical Sciences can take me.
– Sarah Eden, Biomedical Sciences student
2022–23 events
After a successful pilot series, What Comes Next? expanded across all three colleges in 2022–23 to include events within the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries (DCDI), Westminster Business School (WBS) and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).
Key stats
- Seven events
- 328 total student attendees
- 32 recent graduate speakers
- 97% of students found it useful to hear from recent graduates
- PR news storyGo to Finance 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Finance 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Finance 2022 video highlights page
Testimonials
The Alumni speaker event was great because it provided insight into the industry from someone that attended our University. Besides that, the panel gave us advice and feedback on what it takes to go to the next level in our professional career. Personally, I feel motivated and would advise anyone who is interested in working in the financial sector to attend similar events.
– Timotej Zrnec, Finance student
- PR news storyGo to Computing 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Computing 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Computing 2022 video highlights page
Testimonials
The Alumni Panel was quite informative about what’s it really like to find a job after university, and how certain steps I am able to take to improve my chances as well as broaden my knowledge on the types of jobs in IT, I left the event more dedicated than ever. Thank you!
– Christopher Pascal-Kelly, Computer Science student
- PR news storyGo to Business Management 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Business Management 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Business Management 2022 video highlights page
Testimonials
I had such a great time at the event, it was a really valuable opportunity. And so great to hear the students felt it made a positive impact too!
– Lauren Gillies, Alumni speaker
- PR news storyGo to Photography and Film January 2023 news page
- Full recordingGo to Photography and Film January 2023 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Photography and Film January 2023 video highlights page
Testimonials
Thank you so much for having me! I really enjoyed the event and am glad that we covered such a broad range of topics relating to industry. It genuinely was lovely to see so many people interested in working in industry.
– Etive Pomfret-McHardy, speaker
- PR news storyGo to Politics and International Relations February 2023 news page
- Full recordingGo to Politics and International Relations February 2023 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Politics and International Relations February 2023 video highlights page
Testimonials
I especially enjoyed that the speakers were working in different fields, so I got to listen to different experiences.
– Alen Melero Yerinkova, Politics and International Relations student
- PR news storyGo to Pharmacology and Physiology March 2023 news page
- Full recordingGo to March 2023 video page
- Highlights videoGo to March 2023 video highlights page
Testimonials
I had a great time at the event and would like to say thanks for organising the whole thing, it felt very streamlined and professional. It's also great to hear that students found the event useful!
– Jake James, speaker
- PR news storyGo to Human Nutrition 2023 news page
- Full recordingGo to Human Nutrition 2023 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Human Nutrition 2023 video highlights page
Testimonials
My experience at the event was really moving. I was so inspired by the honesty of the panelists about their choices and tough decisions… It gave me a taster of what really comes next after school.
– Omotola Akinnagbe, Human Nutrition student
2021–2022 pilot-year events
Operating across priority courses in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the 2021–22 pilot year, What Comes Next? delivered events featuring recent graduate panels, who shared with current undergraduate students their own stories regarding what they each did with their degree.
Key stats
- Four events
- 200 total student attendees
- 11 recent graduate speakers
- 96% found it useful to hear from recent graduates
- PR news storyGo to Politics and International Relations 2021 news page
- Highlights videoGo to Politics and International Relations 2021 video highlights page
- Full recordingGo to Politics and International Relations 2021 video page
Testimonials
It was an honour to come back to Westminster to speak to the students and give them advice, as it wasn’t long ago that I was in the same position and would have loved to have this opportunity. I’m glad I could be of assistance and hope that the advice given will help them in their careers.
– Speaker Tasfia Sufi, Support Team Leader at the Cabinet Office (International Relations BA, 2018)
- PR news storyGo to Politics and International Relations February 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Politics and International Relations February 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Politics and International Relations February 2022 highlights video page
Testimonials
To see former students return to Westminster and share their wisdom, maturity and guidance was most heartening and reassuring.
– Dr Sanjay Joban, Course Leader for the Psychology and Counselling BSc
- PR news storyGo to Criminology and Sociology February 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Criminology and Sociology February 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Criminology and Sociology February 2022 video highlights page
Testimonials
It’s a good experience to have these conversations because you’ll also learn through hearing from the other speakers or responding to questions you might not have asked yourself.
– Speaker Rania Joudi, Security Specialist at the International SOS (Criminology and Sociology BA, 2019)
It’s an absolute pleasure to see what interesting and important things our alumni are doing and to give them a chance to share their experiences with our current students. I couldn’t be prouder of our alumni. Undoubtedly, our current students will have a much better understanding of what they need to do to get the job of their dreams following this event.
– Dr Lea Sitkin, Senior Lecturer and Co-Course Leader for the Criminology BA
- PR news storyGo to Biosciences March 2022 news page
- Full recordingGo to Biosciences March 2022 video page
- Highlights videoGo to Biosciences March 2022 video highlights page
Testimonials
It was great to participate in the Biosciences alumni panel and impart a little wisdom on working life after graduation!
– Speaker Orlando Ross, Technologist at Abbott (Biomedical Sciences BSc, 2021)
Playlists
Access full recordings and highlights videos via our YouTube playlists:
2024–25 event recordings and highlights
2023–24 event recordings and highlights
2022–23 event recordings and highlights
2021–22 event recordings and highlights
Alumni video series
In addition to the events, alumni from the School of Humanities, School of Architecture and Cities and International Business courses have also shared their career experiences and top insights in short videos: