Study visit to Westminster

Our politics, history and international relations students took part in an action-packed trip to Westminster.

Here's a breakdown of the visit...

Day one (Tuesday 7 May)

11:30	Students met at Birmingham Moor Street station in time to catch the 11:45 service to London Marylebone.
13:45	Arrived at London Marylebone and got the tube to Southwark, before checking into hotel at 15:00.
15:30	Met in hotel lobby and walked to the Imperial War Museum.
18:00	Left Imperial War Museum and enjoyed free time to explore London.

Day two (Wednesday 8 May)

08:50	Met in hotel lobby after breakfast and walked to Houses of Parliament.
09:30	Arrived at entrance to Portcullis House.
09:45	Talk by Anneliese Dodds MP, Chair of the Labour Party, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, MP for Oxford East

Anneliese Dodds MP talking to Aston University students

10:25	Talk by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on the role of the House of Lords.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath speaking to Aston University students in Parliament

11:05	Talks by recent Aston University graduates Alex Hutchinson and Max Benson on working in politics.

Aston University alumni Max Benson and Alex Hutchinson talking to current Aston students about careers in politics

11:45	Headed to Westminster Hall for a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament.
13:20	Finished tour and enjoyed free time to explore other parts of Westminster in operation (e.g., parliamentary committees).

Group photo of students in Houses of Parliament

14:45	Regrouped in Central Lobby of Parliament and escorted to Lords Question Time.
16:00	Left Lords Question Time and Parliament, and headed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
16:30	Talk by Nicholas Wareham, Chief Speechwriter to the Foreign Secretary.
18:00	Left Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and enjoyed free time and dinner, before returning to hotel.

Day three (Thursday 9 May)

10:00	Checked out of hotel after breakfast and headed by tube back to London Marylebone.
11:00	Arrived at London Marylebone in time to catch 11:02 train back to Birmingham Moor Street. Students also had the option to stay on in London and enjoy the extra time as they wished.

Leticia Oppong

MSc International Relations

As an individual enthused about international diplomacy and how governmental systems work, I was delighted when the trip to Westminster was mentioned.

On the trip we had the opportunity to interact with the chair of the Labour Party who highlighted her journey from an academic person to the political sphere. We also visited the House of Lords and the Lord's Question Time. Our last visit was to the foreign affairs ministry.

All these experiences gave me different perspectives on international diplomacy and how to carry oneself in a political sphere."

Dr Ed Turner

Reader in Politics and International Relations

It was great to offer our students a real ‘behind the scenes’ look at the way Westminster and Whitehall work, and I was so grateful to all those who took their time to meet with us.

Students told me this really got them thinking about career options in the future, as well as giving their studies a boost."

Dr Ying Miao

Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations

It was great to see students excited about the trip, and for them to have the opportunity to meet alumni who have now developed a career in politics and public policy.

The trip is a unique and excellent opportunity for Aston students to see what a career with a politics and IR degree could look like, and for them to ask questions to people in the know.