Hello! My name is Kirsten Parkes and I am a postgraduate student at the University of Westminster studying for an MA in Marketing Communications. I grew up in Toronto, Canada where I completed my Bachelor of Honours Arts degree in Sociology.
To further my education I was looking for an international opportunity, as I have a passion for exploring new cultures and travelling. Applying to Westminster Business School seemed like the best option to both expand my learning in Marketing Communications as well discover new parts of the world. When researching various postgraduate schools in Europe, Westminster caught my eye because of the current and innovative course offerings, such as Direct Marketing & Social Media in the Digital Age, Public Relations, Integrated Marketing Communications and Promotional Marketing & Event Management. I felt that these courses would give me the knowledge and practical skills that I would later be able to apply to my career. Westminster Business School also encourages students to apply for an internship program. This is a great way to experience the UK working industry first hand and to develop more of an understanding of what area of work each student is interested in. All of this is possible within a year of hard but rewarding study; I was certainly eager to join the Westminster Business School community!
Living in central London was something I always aspired to do and the location of the University of Westminster made this very possible. I was eager to be part of the big city where there was never a dull moment! I moved here by myself, so it was difficult to leave friends and family back home, but I knew I would meet exciting new people and do many fun things. It has been six months in London, and I have to sometimes pinch myself as a reminder that I am lucky enough to be here.
Joining Westminster Business School allows you to meet many international students, most of whom want to explore what this beautiful country has to offer. You immediately have a network of like-minded people! I love how every day there is a new bar or restaurant to check out, a food festival to try new things, a gallery opening – the list can go on forever. What I find most unusual about London is how cars drive and pedestrians pass on the left hand of the street. Sounds pretty monotonous, but I have yet to get used to this small factor, and I am always looking the wrong way. There have been many awkward moments when passing pedestrians on busy streets!
My most helpful tip to those interested to join Westminster Business School and live in London is to bring a smile and a positive attitude! As great as it is to live in London, it rains quite a lot and being a student, you are bound to be busy with course work. Exploring new areas and trying new things is a must to keep every student’s spirit up. Always read websites such as TimeOut or scan the local newspapers to find fun things to do. This has definitely been my recipe for success so far and it is definitely going to be a struggle to bid London farewell!
Latest posts by Westminster Business School Blog (see all)
- Team Atlas Makes It To The Semi-Finals Of The Universities Business Challenge – The World’s Leading Event For Employability And Enterprise Skills - December 18, 2015
- #LoveFestive Photo Competition – What Does Festive Mean To You? - December 1, 2015
- Business Economics Course Attends Institute Of Fiscal Studies Conference - November 30, 2015