The University of Westminster – study in the heart of London

The University of Westminster is a public university, located in London, which traces its origins back to 1838. The university currently teaches around 17,000 undergraduates and five thousand post-graduates and has an admission rate of 50 per cent. Applications have to be submitted through UCAS, the UK central admissions’ system, for undergraduate courses, while post-graduates can apply directly through the university portal.

The University of Westminster has 65 departments and centres, including the Policy Studies Institute, the Africa, Arab and China Media Centre and a highly-regarded Business School. Its alumni include three members of Pink Floyd, one Rolling Stone (Charlie Watts), and Olympians, politicians of every persuasion, film-makers, journalists, poets and fashion designers. The academic staff are all experts in their field. Sir Alexander Fleming, who won the Nobel Prize for medicine, taught here, as did Cherie Blair, Joshua Oppenheimer, the great Ezra Pound and Sir George Cayley, the father of aeronautical engineering.

Multicultural, dynamic and innovative, the University of Westminster is a popular choice with international and home students. The campus is spread across four sites in London, and the university also has a branch in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The University of Westminster campuses

Three of the University of Westminster campuses are located in the very heart of London, near Oxford Circus and Regent’s Park, while the fourth campus is located half an hour away from the centre by underground, in Harrow.

• The Regent campus is home to: the social sciences, humanities and the Law School.
• The Marylebone campus focusses on: architecture and the build environment, geography and environmental sciences, the Policy Studies Institute and the Business School.
• The Cavendish campus teaches: science, IT and engineering.
• The Harrow campus specializes in: Media and Communication, Art, Design, Fashion, Music Film and Television.

Choosing a course at the University of Westminster

In order to be considered for a place at the University of Westminster you must submit proof of language proficiency – IELTS 6-6.5 upwards – an IB of 33+ and strong secondary school diploma grades. Check the requirements of the courses you are interested in taking on the Westminster website to make sure you are a suitable candidate.

The search engine also includes courses which are available in Clearing and will give you a breakdown of all the modules you will cover, the structure of the course and any professional accreditations or exemptions you will gain.

Among the most popular and highly rated courses you can take at the University of Westminster are:

• Media and Communication (rated 40^th globally)
• Architecture
• Art and Design
• Geography and Environmental sciences
• Energy and the environment
• International Relations
• Public health
• Teaching and education
• Law
• Finance

The University of Westminster prides itself on its practical approach to both teaching and learning, the placements and exchanges it provides and its ongoing monitoring of the job market and developments across academic fields. You will gain knowledge, experience and confidence and take the first step towards building an amazing career.

How to get into the University of Westminster?

Undergraduate studies

Undergraduate degree applications are processed through the UK’s central admission system, UCAS. As well as uploading your predicted or actual secondary school diploma results, you will need to pay an application fee of £28.50, send in a reference and write a Personal Statement.

Postgraduate studies

Postgraduates pay £200 to submit an application and must go directly to the portal and upload their degree, a proposal for their research degree – if relevant – two recommendations, a CV, optional SAT or ACT scores, GRE/GMAT score, a personal essay, any work experience etc. 

Student Life at the University of Westminster

The University of Westminster has a very active Students’ Union that encourages students to engage not only academically, but also socially and culturally. The Union runs outreach projects such as a free legal advice clinic and supports entrepreneurship through the WeNetwork centre, which offers workshops and one-to-one career support for start-ups. On campus, you’ll also find the historic Regent Street Cinema and two student-run art galleries — Ambika3 and London Gallery West.

Sports and Student Societies

Students who enjoy sports can choose from more than 100 sports clubs, including football, rugby, hockey, dancing and Muay Thai. The university also supports less traditional activities like cheerleading and dodgeball. There are modern gym facilities, a boathouse in Chiswick and various indoor and outdoor courts and pitches.

If sports aren’t your thing, you can join one of the many student societies — from anime, coding or chess to global diplomacy, Women in STEM and motorsports. And if the society you want doesn’t exist, you can start your own with the help of the Students’ Union.

Media, Creativity and Student Initiatives

Students interested in media and journalism can get involved in student magazines or join Smoke Radio, the university’s student radio station. This is a great way to gain experience, develop storytelling skills and work creatively with others.

Support and Wellbeing Services

The University of Westminster places a strong emphasis on student wellbeing and provides extensive support services. These include:

• Advice Team – academic and administrative guidance,
• Counselling and Mental Health Services,
• Wellbeing support – workshops on stress management and healthy living,
• Lists of local GPs – to help international students register with a doctor.

Your first point of contact is your personal tutor, who can help with academic issues and refer you to specialist services when needed.

Accommodation at University of Westminster

Accommodation in halls

Living in halls is often cheaper and more convenient than private renting in London. It gives you an instant student community and easy access to campus facilities.

University of Westminster students who have firmly accepted an offer (Conditional or Unconditional) and selected the university as their first UCAS choice can apply for accommodation from late April via the housing portal. It’s worth checking which campus you’ll study at – for example, Harrow students should apply to Harrow Hall.

Halls run by the University of Westminster are modern and well-equipped with Wi-Fi, laundry rooms, shared kitchens, social areas and secure entry. Rooms can be single, double or twin, and tenancy lengths vary from 38 to 51 weeks, so always check your contract.

Prices depend on the hall and room type—for example, Alexander Fleming Hall starts from around £190 per week, while Olympic Way and North Lodge (run with Unite Students and the University of Westminster) range from approximately £260–£290. Rent includes utilities and Wi-Fi.

After applying via the University of Westminster portal, you’ll usually receive a decision within two to three weeks and will need to pay a deposit to confirm your place.

Private rental

If you do not manage to get a room in halls, then your next step is to get in touch with one of the many agencies which offer student accommodation. The University of Westminster campus accommodation office will provide you with a list of local lettings agents, and you can also look on social media and the university notice boards. Flat and house shares are common and help to keep down expenses.

Tuition fees at the University of Westminster

Tuition fees for undergraduate degrees currently average in the region of £17,500 a year, a figure which changes according to the subject and department. Thus, Accounting and Finance come in at £19,500,while Art and Emerging Technologies, and Architecture, both charge  £15,500, and the fees for Urban Design are £18,000. To get up-to-date information, check the university website.

Tuition fees for Master’s degrees also change from subject to subject. The University of Westminster offers an alumni discount at postgraduate level.

The University of Westminster provides a number of scholarships, but competition is fierce, and the majority are only open to home students. There are three types of scholarship: need-based, academic and development potential. 

Study at Westminster with Elab!

The University of Westminster is a lively, supportive and academically excellent institution, located in one of Europe’s great capital cities. Diverse, active and constantly evolving, the University of Westminster is committed to facing tomorrow’s challenges today – and helping you become a valuable, effective and impactful contributor to the global community.

Ready to apply or want to learn more? Get in touch with Elab – we’ll help you prepare a strong application and guide you through every step of the process.