{"id":7104,"date":"2026-04-10T08:45:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/?p=7104"},"modified":"2026-04-10T08:45:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:45:18","slug":"beyond-the-books-culture-creativity-and-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/beyond-the-books-culture-creativity-and-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Books: Culture, Creativity and Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7104\" class=\"elementor elementor-7104\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2091028 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2091028\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fa74943\" data-id=\"fa74943\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b56e511 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b56e511\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">U<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">niversity life is about more than just lectures and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">exams<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">it\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">\u00a0about personal growth,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">\u00a0trying new things and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">building lasting connections.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">That\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">\u00a0why we offer a vibrant range of extracurricular activities designed to help you explore your interests, develop new\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">skills<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">and make the most of your time\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259259423 BCX0\">with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW259259423 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb0b7d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fb0b7d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a0b61c5\" data-id=\"a0b61c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-301c94b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"301c94b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd08f78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cd08f78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">Outside of my studies,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">I\u2019ve<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">\u00a0been actively involved with the UWSU Volleyball Team. One memorable experience was travelling to Portsmouth to compete in the BUCS Championships as part of a mixed-gender team. We train weekly with a professional coach, and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">it\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">\u00a0been\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">a great way<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW31158505 BCX0\">\u00a0to stay active, develop teamwork skills, and connect with people from different courses and backgrounds.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW31158505 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36734c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"36734c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Cedrick-scaled-e1775809972987-291x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-7106\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Cedrick-scaled-e1775809972987-291x300.jpg 291w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Cedrick-scaled-e1775809972987-992x1024.jpg 992w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Cedrick-scaled-e1775809972987-768x792.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Cedrick-scaled-e1775809972987.jpg 1318w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Cedric, Business Management with Foundation BA<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96b5381 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"96b5381\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ed0fd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ed0fd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been taking Mandarin lessons through the Polylang programme. I like that Westminster offers so many extra learning options, and studying a new language is helping me build valuable international business skills!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4330e46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4330e46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Marisa-Stefanes-e1775810211281-300x300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-7108\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Marisa-Stefanes-e1775810211281-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Marisa-Stefanes-e1775810211281-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Marisa-Stefanes-e1775810211281-768x771.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Marisa-Stefanes-e1775810211281.jpeg 1010w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Marisa, Business Management BA<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50a0dd0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"50a0dd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f0d81e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f0d81e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u201c<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">I\u2019ve<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u00a0mostly attended student societies\u2019 trips and parties, which have been a fantastic way to unwind and make new friends. These activities have also allowed me to experience and appreciate\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">different cultural<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u00a0values, making my time at university even more enriching. The societies do\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">a great job<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">organising<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u00a0events that give students a much-needed break from studies, helping us relax and recharge while still fostering\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">a strong sense<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u00a0of community and connection.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW45264687 BCX0\">\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW45264687 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9834a56 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9834a56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Hassam-Ulhassan-1-e1775810285508-300x288.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-7107\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Hassam-Ulhassan-1-e1775810285508-300x288.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/04\/Hassam-Ulhassan-1-e1775810285508.jpeg 406w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Hassam, Biological Sciences BSc graduate<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>University life is about more than just lectures and exams \u2014 it\u2019s about personal growth, trying new things and building lasting connections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":914,"featured_media":7113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[296,11],"tags":[298,24,27],"class_list":["post-7104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hello-westminster","category-undergraduate","tag-hello-westminster","tag-student-life","tag-undergraduate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/914"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7104"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7112,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7104\/revisions\/7112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}