Westminster Executive Summer School

Course summary

Studying at Westminster Executive Summer School is an inspirational, empowering experience that will enable you to step out of your comfort zone, learn advanced skills and boost your career prospects. 

Based at Westminster Business School – one of the largest, longest-established and most diverse institutions of its kind in the UK – our courses put you at the heart of a vibrant international community in central London. You can select from four specialised courses, each of which are taught by experienced academics and active practitioners, and complemented by a range of relevant trips and social events.

Our courses give you an insight into the latest thinking and research findings, and show how contemporary theory can be applied to the challenges businesses face in the real world. You will learn best practices – and share examples from your own experience – in a collaborative, supportive environment.

You can choose to spend one or two weeks at the Summer School, studying one or two courses during each week or session (see booking section below). We offer a 10% discount if two courses are booked. You will not only acquire a professional certificate, you will also build a new network and gain a fresh perspective – providing the perfect springboard into your future career.

Westminster Business School

Whether you are an executive wanting to develop your business skills or an employer looking to upskill your team, our professionally-focused courses will help you succeed.

The University of Westminster was founded 80 years ago with the vision of enabling people from all backgrounds to improve their skills and career prospects. Today we are one of the largest and most experienced providers of business education in London with over 6,500 students and – with over 140 nationalities represented – one of the most diverse.

We lead the way in terms of research impact, scoring 2nd out of 108 Business and Management submissions in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Informed by this research, our teaching is practical, relevant and future-focused, empowering professionals from all over the world to tackle the challenges they face in business today.

What is included in the course cost?

Site visits

As part of your course, you will get the opportunity to visit a UK business linked to the topics you are studying. These include visits to:

• Wimbledon Tennis Club tour and museum
• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• Tottenham Hotspur Football Club stadium tour
• 8 Bishops Gate (an iconic 51-storey multi-use building in the City of London)
• UK Parliament (House of Commons, House of Lords and Westminster Hall) guided tour

Note: these visits are subject to change.

Networking dinner

Meeting and interacting with fellow executives and building your own international network of professionals is a very valuable part of your Summer School experience. With this in mind, we host a networking dinner during the course. Due to take place at a prestigious London venue (such as the House of Commons or the Shard in the City of London, and including a guest speaker from the business world), this dinner will give course delegates the chance to engage informally outside of the classroom.

Discounts and offers

You receive a 10% discount if you book two courses across both sessions.

We offer a 20% discount on our Westminster Executive Summer School to University of Westminster alumni.

Deadline for course bookings

The booking deadline is 16 June 2025.

Course structure

You can choose to book one course in a session or two courses across both sessions.

Session one

Digital Marketing Strategy

With an estimated $627 billion spent globally on digital advertising in 2023 according to an Insider Intelligence report, the way businesses communicate with their prospective customers has undergone a radical transformation. This course aims to give marketing professionals and managers the skills they need to capitalise on the opportunities digital marketing offers businesses. As well as gaining an overview of digital marketing concepts, you will explore how communication and engagement with customers has changed, and the differences this has brought in terms of consumer behaviour. Within this context, you will learn how to develop and implement a digital marketing analysis, plan and strategy. You’ll also get hands-on with practical tasks, using a computer-based simulation to help you develop relevant skills.

This course includes a networking dinner at Westminster House of Parliament and a talk by an expert from the industry.

Find out more about the Digital Marketing Strategy course. 

Or

Leading International Projects

A successful international project manager needs to have an in-depth knowledge of the many factors – macro-environmental, economic, cultural and political – which impact international projects today. This course is aimed at international project managers operating in a foreign environment, and focuses on the theory and practice of managing international projects, including International Development Projects. You will cover a broad range of topics including the challenges and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence, techniques for assessing and managing risk, the effect of global supply chains, and how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are affecting international projects. Exploring real life case studies and learning as part of a group of like-minded professionals, you will gain skills which will enable you not only to deliver strategic projects, but also to drive successful business strategy.

This course includes a networking dinner at Westminster House of Parliament, and a trip to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (the venue for the London 2012 Olympic games) as an example of a mega International Project.

Find out more about the Leading International Projects course.

Session two

Strategic Leadership

The transition to a net zero economy is predicted to create up to 18 million new jobs by 2030 according to the International Labour Organization, and this workforce will need to include leaders who are adept at managing change. This course is designed to help existing and aspiring senior managers to develop an understanding of the leadership skills and strategies needed in an era of global sustainability challenges. You will explore the behaviours and practice required to lead and manage in new ways, and learn how to apply your leadership competence to generate solutions which align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

During the course you will have plenty of opportunities to build your own network including attending a networking reception hosted by the Summer School team, and a site visit to an organisation demonstrating excellence in driving the sustainability agenda.

Find out more about the Strategic Leadership course.

Or

Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

For any contemporary business, understanding data is the key to success. This course will give you the skills to use data in order to make more accurate, evidence-based decisions. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of data analytics techniques and their applications in the field of business intelligence. The focus will also be on putting theory into practice through hands-on exercises and case studies. You’ll learn how to select and use different tools effectively to interpret data and gain insights into your own organisations’ performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions that will drive growth and profitability. 

Find out more about the Data Analytics and Business Intelligence course.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements. However as all classes are delivered in English, an appropriate level of English language proficiency is required.

Accommodation

If you're looking to stay overnight in London, you may be able to book/reserve a room at one of our halls of residence:

• Marylebone Hall 
• Alexander Fleming
• Harrow Hall