Westminster University has allowed me to flourish both personally and as a fashion designer. The course encourages individual ways of working while also setting clear boundaries to work within. This balance has supported my practice greatly over the past four years, including a placement year, and has helped me build a confident and considered design identity. The course emphasises independent thinking without leaving students completely on their own. It prepares us for the realities of the industry while prioritising a strong, well structured portfolio. Rather than focusing purely on visually appealing outcomes, which while important are not always realistic, the course values process, skills, and critical thinking, which feel far more aligned with professional practice. Technical skill development is a major strength of the course and something many fashion programmes overlook despite its importance to employability. This grounding has been invaluable and has given me confidence both creatively and practically. Employability is embedded throughout the course through skills development and a strongly encouraged placement year. Having completed industry placements, I entered final year feeling far more confident and secure, allowing me to create freely without the added pressure that often comes from uncertainty about what happens after graduation. At a time when many universities are cutting back, Westminster allocates its resources in a thoughtful way. In final year, every student is given an individual workspace and their own sewing machine, which is almost unheard of in fashion education. The space and facilities remove many barriers to creativity and allow students to fully realise their ideas. The care shown by the tutors has been a defining part of my experience. They often go above with an example of this being sourced and organised donated fabrics for final year students, making a real difference both financially and creatively. Tutors also actively work to remove practical boundaries that limit potential, including securing extended access to studios and equipment. All appliances remain available until 7pm and studios stay open until 10pm, a level of access that strongly supports independent working and experimentation. I entered the course with damaged confidence from a previous experience and have seen that confidence grow significantly at Westminster. Tutors provide feedback tailored to individual strengths and challenges rather than a one size fits all approach. While tutorial availability could sometimes be improved, this is understandable within wider financial pressures across universities, and the care and commitment from staff remains clear. The technicians are also a major strength of the course. There is consistent access to support for garment construction as well as print, with facilities offering techniques such as digital print, sublimation, and silk screen printing. This level of access allows students to experiment while still developing strong technical control. The course also has access to an extensive menswear archive containing thousands of unique garments that can be closely examined. This resource supports a deeper understanding of construction, proportion, and detail and is something that becomes more appreciated over time. While the university location may not be the most lively, the trade off is the amount of space and quality of facilities available. Initially, Westminster did not feel as bold as some other fashion courses, but its quieter and authentic edge becomes clearer as you progress. Entering final year after interning at highly regarded fashion houses, an opportunity supported through a dedicated placement year tutor, I feel confident, secure, and mature in my work. The only sadness is knowing my time here is finite as I complete my final BA collection this June

The internship year was a pivotal point in my development. While my earlier years at Westminster fostered creativity and exploration, the placement year taught me how to operate within real professional constraints such as budgets, timelines, sponsors, and team structures without compromising the core idea. It showed me how creative work exists in dialogue with reality rather than in isolation. Throughout the year, my growth was significant. The experience was introspective, challenging, and transformative, forcing me to reflect not only on my technical ability but on how I work, communicate, and manage myself within a professional environment. I developed a much clearer understanding of the balance between creativity and viability, and how personal working methods directly affect outcomes. Returning to university, I am more intentional about what I bring forward into final year. This includes stronger punctuality, more structured workflow habits, improved technical confidence, and a healthier approach to work life balance. The consistency I developed during the internship year is something I aim to maintain throughout my final year, alongside a continued commitment to personal growth that has fundamentally changed how I approach both my studies and my practice.

I like the look of the campus and how close it is to everything. I also like the support provided to all students and how much they can help you as a student on any aspect of your career

I like how hepful all of my teachers are, they all have helped me achieve all of my targeted grades