An image of the outside of campus from st Marys road, there are green trees lining the street and the UWL logo is on the side of the building.
An image of the outside of campus from st Marys road, there are green trees lining the street and the UWL logo is on the side of the building.

Week one - future you: welcome to UWL

Intro

Congratulations on securing your place at UWL! You’re about to become a student at the no. 1 University in the UK for Student Satisfaction*, and we can’t wait to welcome you.

You’re also joining a community of thousands of people who chased their dreams at the University of West London. Previous students include Brit Award-winning rapper Little Simz, Grammy Award winner Matt Dunkley, bestselling author Jung Chang, and of course the iconic Freddie Mercury of Queen. We have famous chefs like Dipna Anand, titans of industry like former-CEO of Hilton Hotels Ian Carter and even Cabinet Minister James Cleverley. 

Just like you, all these people started out with a degree at the University of West London. To show where your education could take you, we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Nikolla who studied with us in 2016! 

*National Student Survey, 2022.

Future You

Your studies at UWL are coming to an end, and it’s time to start thinking about the future. If you’re a Level 6 student, then here you’ll find everything you need to start thinking about graduation, jobs, and further study.

Three graduates posing with their arms out in front of green seats at Twickenham Stadium with the pitch behind them.

Main body

Daniel is wearing a grey suit with a black turtleneck underneath. He is stood in front of a large screen and is looking to the left. He has a microphone attached to his lapel and is giving a speech.

Daniel, from Albania, studied Film Production at the University of West London after two years at a Higher Education college. He was drawn to UWL by the friendliness of the SU and just the general vibe of Ealing and the St Mary’s Road Campus.

Daniel arrived with a career in mind and knew what he wanted from his time at UWL.  

I knew I was going to work in Marketing and film is such a big thing in the industry, so I wanted those skills."  

Three students walking and smiling outside of the UWL campus.

Arriving for his first day, he was inspired by the wall of famous alumni at the entrance, including Freddie Mercury, Jung Chang and Pete Townshend:

Walking onto the University of West London campus felt a little bit like a mix between entering ‘The Apprentice’ because of the spacey reception and the sofas and marketing literature and walking in the ‘Hall of Fame’ because of the fantastic alumni displayed on the walls of the main hall that takes you to the registration area.

I’m sure different people experience it differently, but in my eyes, it almost felt like big responsibility. Furthermore, it made me understand that I was going to make some good friends for life, some of whom might end up as Oscar winners!" 

Main body

Two students socialising in the memorial garden whilst sat on a bench.

Daniel quickly set about making friends, many of which he is still in touch with today. He remains part of an active Facebook group, but it’s not just reminiscing about the old days!  

I made some good friends. One friend is in the same industry, she’s also gone down the marketing route. So she helps me with stuff, I help her with stuff."

Close up of professional handshake

Towards the end of his time at UWL, Daniel found his first internship in the city. Following this, he managed to find a job at Hardy Signs in the Midlands which works on signage for large-scale events, digital screens, and billboards.

Quickly, Daniel found himself appointed Marketing Manager at Hardy Signs, and is continuing to grow his successful career. He’s transitioned the company into the online space, won several awards including Young Professional of the Year for Derbyshire in 2020. In 2022, he earned recognition here at UWL when he was nominated for our Recent Graduate Award!

Find out more

So there you have it! A great education, new friendships, opportunities and a successful career are all awaiting you at the University of West London.  

Whoever you want the future you to be, it all begins here. We’ll be here every step of the way to help you on your journey through university and beyond. Keep an eye out for 'future you' content coming to your inbox and get ready for all the great experiences coming your way!

Related news