Mehdi Zidani

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

Having previously visited other universities, what stood out to me about the University of Westminster was that lecturers are very accessible and responsive. In addition to lectures and seminars, the academic staff offers dedicated one-to-one meetings with students if and when they need them. There is also a huge number of resources available for students from books and other materials in the library to specialised software licenses and labs. Lectures are recorded so you can re-watch them in your own time. The facilities are great and the University is very diverse. Also, the campuses are in a convenient central London location with good transport links. You can access the libraries at all the campuses and some of them are open 24 hours.

How has your experience been studying in London?

London is one of the best cities in the world filled with opportunities. Finding and connecting with individuals who work in industries that you’re interested in is much easier in London if you're willing to put yourself out there. You can do this either through the University’s programmes or just by interacting with other students and people around you. You’re never too far away from someone who works in an industry that you’re interested in, or someone who has connections to individuals that do.

What have you particularly enjoyed about your course?

What I’ve enjoyed about my course so far is that there is an emphasis on employability. Most of the modules I’ve done start off with either a discussion regarding what type of jobs the module relates to or an introductory task to search for job vacancies related to that specific module. There’s no ambiguity in terms of what the skills you gain can be used for. This is especially important for a computer science-related degree as there is a huge amount of programming languages that you could learn. Each one takes a lot of effort to master, so having expert guidance from your lecturers on what you should focus on is extremely helpful. The lecturers often help you define a target industry you want to get into, and they use their experience in the industry to give you insight into issues you might face.

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

As I mentioned earlier, lecturers are very accessible and responsive. They’re only an email away if you ever have any questions and they respond within a reasonable time frame. I’ve seen lecturers leading modules with over 300 students and they still make the time to answer everyone’s questions. There is a dedicated platform for students to raise their concerns regarding exam and or coursework due dates and again this is something that’s actively monitored and dealt with. This is very reassuring as a student.

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

The University provides all the necessary software we need for our course. Students can also access them on their personal computers. A lot of the providers offer their software for free or at a discounted price to students. The University obtains the licence, but you can download them onto your computer and use them anytime. You’ll never be in a situation where your learning is limited due to the inability to access tools that you might need.

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

I haven’t used the service myself as I’ve been very lucky to find a job by myself. However, I do look for opportunities on the website on a regular basis and I know it’s something that I will be using very soon to apply for internships. It’s updated regularly and they often send emails to students letting them know about the available opportunities.

I have taken advantage of the mentoring scheme that the service offers. As part of the scheme, the service organised one-to-one meetings for me and some other students with industry professionals. It was very insightful as it allowed us to gain a better understanding of the industry. I feel like we’re much more ready now to hit the ground running when we finally land the role we want.

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

Whilst studying at the University I’ve been able to obtain an operational management role in one of the world’s largest health and security companies. Whilst the role is not directly related to my degree, I’ve been able to utilise other skills I’ve gained while studying at Westminster.

The real-world application of my skills and industry experience are things that I feel will give me an edge in the job market after I graduate. The fact that I’ve been able to take on this obligation whilst studying full time is a testament to the University's flexibility and willingness to cater to student needs. I have also been a course representative which again highlights the University’s willingness to give students a voice while allowing them to be part of the decision making.

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

The University of Westminster is an established and well-respected institution that has been around for a very long time. They know how to support students and they have dedicated staff to ensure you have the best access to opportunities.

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

Westminster is a well-known institution with plenty of alumni. I’ve been in many situations where I've mentioned that I'm a student at the University of Westminster and I get a warm response either because the student also studied at the University or knows someone who has. It’s a great conversation starter and career-wise it allows you to build rapport which is key in growing both your personal and professional networks.

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

For me, it was being able to take on additional career-related commitments whilst studying. As discussed previously, there are plenty of opportunities available at the University. The staff at the University understand that students need to dedicate a large chunk of their time outside of the University to work to support themselves. This is demonstrated through the responsive staff, recorded lectures, and provisions such as a 24-hour library.