Gabriel Averia

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

One of my main reasons why I chose the University of Westminster was the academic faculty and the role they played in helping me to enroll to my Master of Science programme. All of the professors and lecturers that led the different modules on my course were experts in their corresponding fields. I really enjoyed attending different classes and completing various assignments, whether these were lectures on academic research or project solutions to real-world industry problems.

How has your experience been studying in London?

I definitely enjoyed living and studying in London. It’s the best place for networking and meeting new people! At any given time, there are numerous events that you can attend. These include both academic events at the university and other more casual events outside of the university. I joined various events on a weekly basis and it really helped me to meet new like minded people and develop myself professionally.

What have you particularly enjoyed about your course?

The great thing about my course was the variety of modules and work focused on analysing real-world problems and challenges. This allowed me to not only apply the things I learned to solve real-life issues, but also to help strengthen my current skill set. Some of the coursework also allowed us to work in different groups with people from different backgrounds. I really enjoyed that because it allowed me to collaborate with my classmates that came from multiple fields.

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

The academic support was excellent. The course leaders were very approachable and always willing to go the extra mile to help us out. Whether it was providing further explanation on the topics that were covered during a lecture or suggestions on how to handle issues on a particular assignment, they were always happy to provide guidance to students. A great example of this was the huge amount of help I received for my final project. I had weekly meetings with my supervisor to make sure that my project was right on track. The academic support was a big reason I was able to graduate with a distinction and I’m really grateful for that.

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

I utilised the University of Westminster's library resources a lot during my Master of Science programme. This definitely helped with my coursework, but most importantly with my final project. Access to different research papers, journals and books gave my final project a lot more depth and meaning. These were all accessible with our university credentials.

Tell us about your experience of using the University Careers and Employability Service 

I benefited a lot from the University Careers and Employability Service. I especially enjoyed events that the team organised, where alumni were invited to speak about their corresponding careers and fields. Aside from these career-focused events, the service also organised other useful activities such as one-to-one sessions with career coaches to review your CV. As an international student, they were able to provide great guidance for me.

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

I really enjoyed attending guest lectures that our course leaders organised on a regular basis. They usually invited industry professionals to talk to us about the fields that they worked in. It helped me to gain a better understanding of how different concepts in our modules were applied to the industry. I enjoyed listening and learning from their experiences because they gave me an insight into what I could be doing in the future.

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

My advice would be to make the most out of your time at the University. Try to take advantage of all the events and services available to you. Whether that’s the University Careers and Employability Service or the different clubs that are available for you as a student.

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

The best aspect of being a University of Westminster student was that I was able to balance and plan my time as a student. The different requirements were announced during the start of the modules, so it allowed me to manage my time and still focus on my career.

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

I really enjoyed working with my classmates. I was surprised to find out that my classmates came from such a wide variety of backgrounds and industries. This allowed all of us all to learn from the strengths of each other's fields. I really enjoyed my experience and would recommend the university to anyone who might be interested in applying!