Somaia Halawa

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

I chose Westminster as I was browsing for a high-quality digital marketing course and comparing the University of Westminster website interface with the other universities; Westminster had the best user experience in their digital channels, which is a crucial aspect for a digital marketer.

How has your experience been studying in London?

The fact that the University is situated in Central London gave me the opportunity to explore the city and the famous landmarks without taking precious time out of my student life. It has also been very interactive and engaging, going on field trips and course related outdoor activities in Marylebone High Street by critiquing the marketing strategy of real-life businesses.

What have you particularly enjoyed about your course?

I particularly enjoyed the practical side of my course. During these three years, I had the chance to explore platforms used in real marketing agencies, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Ads and Analytics, SEO measuring platforms and HTML coding. All of this contributed to the development of my personal portfolio, making me more attractive in the eyes of employers.

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

The lecturers were all very supportive and available to provide personalised feedback, and they were genuinely interested in our success by making sure we made the most out of the University resources.
We also created a special bond made of respect and inspiration.

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

Switch-23 is specifically designed for digital and interactive subjects, as it has multiple tables with digital screens, mics and adjusted lighting. Having seminars in this room helped deliver the lesson in an efficient and effective way.

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

I was a Westminster Employability Leader last year, and I also won the first prize at the Gold level in my first year following a monetary bursary. The Westminster Employability Award really enriched my skills and portfolio; by engaging in a series of networking events and meeting new people every time, I had the chance to establish meaningful connections with lots of peers. I also learned about the wider UoW opportunities, such as the Westminster Working Cultures program, the Career Mentoring program and the Inclusive Future Insights program.

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

I was a course representative and school representative, I participated in the WWC program in Leeds, Margate and Washington DC. I also participated in the Inclusive Future Insights program; I won the first prize at the Westminster Employability Award and became a Westminster Employability Award leader. I volunteered to teach the Italian language in my first year; I was a mentee twice of the career mentoring service; I'm part of the volleyball club; I took part in the Start-up 101 program series; I was a Westminster Enterprise champion; I benefited from the Global Experience Bursary and went to volunteer in Bali. I also was part of many societies such as the Networking Society, Islamic Society, MENA Society, Palestinian Society and Italian Society. Additionally, I was invited in multiple occasions to be a keynote speaker at events and share my experience. I also want to add that thanks to the Westminster Working Cultures program, I have landed my first graduate job in only my first year at the University.

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

Do it! The University of Westminster offers so many opportunities and has a wide industry network so it's very easy to land a graduate job after your degree (or even during your degree in my case!)

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

The best part of studying at Westminster was that compared with my friends at other universities, we UoW students have endless employability programs, networking events and resources to make something happen in our careers. Being at UoW will not only boost your chances of being hired but also give you the opportunity to expand your personal network beyond your classmates and build meaningful connections with people of every course and nationality.

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

Seeing that the work and effort I put in actually paid off. I tried my best to engage in the multiple extracurricular activities the University provided, and seeing that it all paid off while still being a student has been beyond rewarding. I wouldn't have a graduate job if it wasn't for the way these programs shaped me.