University of Westminster

History

• The University of Westminster was names with Privy Council approval in 1992. It was established in London's Regent Street in 1838 as the original Polytechnic, focussing on innovation and scientific discovery.
• It was re-launched by philanthropist Quintin Hogg in 1882 and in 1970 was renamed the Polytechnic of Central London (known as PCL).

Location and transport

• Three of the University's four campuses are based in central London, with excellent transport links.
• The leafy Harrow Campus is served by tube, rail and bus links. From Northwick Park tube station, Baker Street is around a 20-minute journey.

Entry standards

• Our average entry tariff is 300 points. For some subject areas specific A-levels are necessary. Applicants with vocational qualifications, the International Baccalaureate, or international school leaving certificates are welcomed.
•  For studio-based subjects applicants are asked to provide a portfolio in support of their application, or take part in an interview.
• Get more details on entry requirements at the University of Westminster online.

Student mix

• On average, there were 6 applicants to every full-time first degree place at Westminster last year.
• Last academic year, the School of Media, Arts and Design was overall the most popular in average with 7.3 applications for each place. The most popular course in this School had more than 28 applications for each place (undergraduate Fashion Design). The second most popular course was undergraduate Architecture with 26 applications for each place. The overall average for the School of Architecture and the Built Environment was 6.8.

Course flexibility

• Full- and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses, short and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and foundation degrees.

Research standards

• Westminster was ranked 70th out of 106 in the most recent research assessment.
• In RAE2008, media and communications research has been rated the best in the UK, art, and architecture research groups were all assessed as world leading. It was also recognised internationally for research in areas such as law, life sciences and the environment, computing, business, and planning.
• Many of the courses have a strong work-related focus, and these skills are included in many degrees.

Academic strengths

• Media, Architecture, Languages and Subjects allied to Medicine, Psychology, Electronic Engineering, Construction and Surveying, English.
• Westminster offers the largest range of languages of any British university.
• Shaping the future of professional life, with a strong work-related focus, and transferable skills.

Disability Services

Student facilities, including library and computing

• When you join the University you will have access to all four of our libraries – two have 24-hour opening throughout the academic year. Check online for opening hours and locations. Your home library holds the collection of resources that supports your course as well as other general resources. You will have an Academic Liaison Librarian who has special responsibility for your area of study and who works closely with your lecturers to ensure that recommended materials are available.
• You will have access to the University's library collection online via Library Search which allows you to find information in both print and electronic formats, reserve items, extend loans and more. Our collection includes over 30,000 e-journals, 20,000 e-books, and 230 databases.
• The Harrow Campus also features music and television studios, and radio production facilities.
• As well as getting help and advice from library counter staff in person or over the phone, you will also be able to use the online 'Ask-a-Librarian' service.
• IT services – there are more than 3,500 Microsoft PCs, Sun workstations and Apple Macs across the University for you to use. We provide general applications and word processing packages as well as a wide range of specialist software for your area of study.
• You will be given a University email account, which is delivered by Google. You can use the PCs in the University's computer suites for supervised training sessions, research, completing assignments, group work, online learning as well as general internet access. You can also
• borrow a laptop from the library counter. Wireless access is available everywhere on all campuses. Information on your course is available as an app for your phone.
• Blackboard is our virtual learning environment which provides you with resources and information to support your course modules. You can also access Blackboard with your mobile device.
• You get can help and support with IT issues face-to-face at our drop-in centres, which are located at each campus, or over the phone, or online through our FixIT Centre.

Students' Union

• UWSU offers a range of entertainment throughout the year including club nights, fancy dress parties, live music, dance acts and performances, trips and events. A wide variety of active sports clubs train regularly and play in competitive matches and we also organise one-off tournaments for groups of friends to enter e.g. 5-a-side, badminton, volleyball and dodgeball. UWSU is unique in also having a Students' Association for each of the seven schools of the University,
  which organise events and activities for students and build a sense of community at school level.
  
  There are more than 80 different societies for you to join. You can also get involved in our award-winning _Smoke_ magazine and Smoke Radio station and the newly formed Smoke TV.

Sport

• The Harrow Sports Hall offers a compact gym, along with a wide range of activities including five-a-side football, netball, cricket nets and table tennis. The Regent Campus gym offers cutting-edge cardiovascular equipment, free weights, resistance equipment and a power plate, alongside two dedicated studios and a large multipurpose hall.
• This hosts a range of classes and activities including yoga, martial arts, aerobics, dance and many more. Use of the equipment and participation in activities is included in your student gym membership, while there is a fee for non-members.
•  The playing fields at Chiswick are the home ground of the University's football, hockey, American football and rugby teams. With world-class synthetic turf pitches, tennis courts and natural pitches it is an excellent home location for the sports teams, and the grounds and facilities form an impressive sports complex that is complemented by a main pavilion housing restaurants, bars, a social room and changing facilities. Our historic boathouse is situated on the River Thames, and marks the finishing point for the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The University is investing heavily in its buildings and recreational facilities.
• P3, at the University's Marylebone Campus is a vast underground exhibition space that has hosted events during London Fashion Week, the launch of Architecture Week and student degree shows. A programme of events, Ambika at P3 brings together artists, architects and creative practitioners from across the capital.
• London Gallery West at our Harrow Campus exhibits contemporary media, art and design work.
• In 2010 the University opened The Gallery, a major new art and exhibition space at the University's headquarters at 309 Regent Street. This provides a showcase for students and established artists, as well
• as a venue for debates and events.
• Work is now well underway on the £38.5-m redevelopment of our Harrow Campus, home to state-of-the-art film and television studios, computer technology, broadcast equipment and music studios which are among the best media and creative arts educational facilities in Europe. Work was recently completed on the multi-million pound refurbishment of our Life Sciences laboratories at our Cavendish Campus, while a multi-million pound refurbishment is also underway at our Marylebone Campus.

Availability of part-time work

• Both the Career Development Centre and the Students' Union provide help in securing part-time paid and voluntary work.
• As many of Westminster's courses have strong work-related themes, there are strong links to industry.

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