Career and Professional Development

At Westminster, we have always believed that your University experience should be designed to enhance your professional life. In the Department of Politics and International Relations we place as much emphasis on gaining skills relevant to the workplace as on learning the academic discipline.

Our courses in Politics and International Relations encourage you to develop attributes that will be sought after by future employers, such as communication, presentation and problem-solving, alongside the more traditional attributes of academic knowledge and theoretical understanding.
Employers work with us in a variety of ways in the Department of Politics and International Relations.  Not only do they offer placements or internships, they also collaborate with us in a number of our applied modules in politics and international relations.

Obtaining a placement, part-time or vacation job while you study will provide you with extra cash and help you demonstrate that you have the skills employers are looking for. In London, there is a plentiful supply of part-time work - most students at the University of Westminster work part-time (or full-time during vacations) to help support their studies.

Politics and International Relations Internship

A unique element of the undergraduate programmes offered by the Department of Politics and International Relations is our internship module. Students who are undertaking studies in Politics and International Relations are eligible to take a 15-credit political internship in their second year of study. The internship helps you build a work profile in the field long before you complete your degree, giving your studies a work-ready focus.

In taking an internship you will have the opportunity to gain experience of work in applied areas associated with study in politics and international relations. The majority of internships have involved working for a Member of Parliament, a political organisation, non-governmental organisations or interest groups. 

The key aspect of a good internship experience is to find a work placement that provides clear opportunities to apply your learning from your studies in politics and international relations. An internship allows you to demonstrate to a future employer the work relevance of your studies in politics and international relations.

Enhancing your career profile through an internship is considered an important part of your studies in politics and international relations at the University of Westminster.
Past students have taken up work placements with a number of organisations, including: the Greek Ombudsman (Athens), the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Latvia), the Bulgarian Embassy (London), the Jesuit Refugee Service (London), Justice Africa (London), Green Party (London) and MP's from across the political spectrum.

Career Development Centre

Our Career Development Centre will help you find employment if you need it. The Career Development Centre can help you whether you are looking for your first graduate job, a work placement, part-time/casual work or going on to further study. It's never too early to make a start and Westminster students can use our services free of charge for up to 3 years after graduating.

The Career Development Centre can support your employability by providing you with:

• Individual career guidance sessions
• Part-time and full-time vacancies and placements
• Information about voluntary work
• CVs and applications advice
• Mock interviews
• Career information and resources
• Job seeking workshops
• Postgraduate study advice
• Enterprise Club