Sujal Israni

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

I chose to study at the University of Westminster because it is located in the heart of London. Its amazing central location and students from diverse cultures impacted my decision to study here. Westminster Business School provides ample global opportunities like networking with employers, getting recruited in big multinational companies and semester abroad exchange programs. The university has more than 100 Student Union Societies which further motivated me to become a part of Westminster’s vibrant community.

How has your experience been studying in London?

It has been a life-changing decision for me. I had never planned on coming to London for my higher studies. I am glad I worked towards my dream of studying in London and came here to live an independent life. London provides ample opportunities for students and prospective employees to gain work experience and network with employers.

What have you particularly enjoyed about your course?

My course is BA Business Management. The module choices vary according to student preferences each year. There’s a huge list of modules to choose from and all of them have something great to offer. We have had several guest speakers, interactive seminars and group activities in each module. Each module has different kinds of assignments which gives a new experience and improves our skills. As a part of the Sustainable Cities module, we recently visited Stockholm, Sweden. The entire trip was funded by the university and provided us meaningful learnings on how to become sustainable. My course leaders and module leaders have all been quite helpful and have always guided me. They are easy to approach and usually have a friendly attitude while having conversations. They take our feedback very seriously and make necessary changes if possible.

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

All module teachers are quite helpful and always available to clear our doubts. We mostly know what we are expected of in our assignments and coursework. We can watch recorded sessions and learning materials for all modules are uploaded each week. We have several sessions based on providing assignment support which is quite useful.

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

Our course offers several employment engaging opportunities like year abroad exchange programs with companies and employers. We have a Sustainability focused trip every year to a new city. We have access to the Bloomberg Financial Suite wherein we can look at stocks of companies and how they are performing in the market.

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

 
I have used the university’s Careers and Employability Services. They have been quite useful, and I have worked on my CV and interview skills with them. They have told me how I can avail internships which can boost my career opportunities. They have told me about employment opportunities that the university is offering and other job opportunities with companies which I could apply for through Talent Bank.

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

I am a member of 12 societies in the Students Union. I am an official talent bank member which is the university’s platform for providing job opportunities to students. I have been a part of the FANS role and am currently a Student Ambassador. I have completed the Westminster Employability Award Silver Level and won a cash prize for being an early finisher. I have won the Enterprise Champion Award by being a part of the Big Idea Competition and Freelancing organised by the WeNetwork team at the university. I have been a course rep for my course BA Business Management for two years. I have been selected as the School Rep for the upcoming year. I have been a part of a focus group based on improving employability at University of Westminster. I have attended Student Union events and Academic Forums as well. I am going to attend the Student Success Summit this year and talk about student experience and voice my opinions. I have worked with the Engage team to improve my CV and work on my interview skills. I participated in the Westminster Working Cultures UK programme, engaged quite a lot with the speakers and had a great learning experience. I have regularly worked with our Vice Chancellor and my course leaders to promote employability (WWC UK and International programme, Westminster Employability award) at the university.

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

I would highly recommend every student to study here. The university has a lot to offer. This is not only in terms of course related activities but extra-curricular activities like societies and employment opportunities.

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

The best aspect of being a University of Westminster student is feeling a sense of belonging and accomplishment as a student. The university’s vibrant community and diverse culture allows every student to thrive and not feel unsupported. Apart from this, I loved the Westminster Working Cultures Program which is a great opportunity for students to hear about career journeys of people who graduated from here.

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

I had never thought about my university life apart from academics and coursework. The University of Westminster has changed my perspective on university life for a student. It is much more than studying and completing assignments. The university always motivated me to get involved with sports clubs, networking events and getting employed. I am really grateful for these wonderful opportunities that have shaped me into the person I am today.