“With over 4000 universities in a wide range of academic, research, sport, and campus experiences to choose from, our pupils are increasingly choosing to apply to institutions that give students the freedom to explore various majors and even develop their own course of study one-to-two years into their university life. Undergraduate research, state-of-the-art facilities, academic flexibility, alumni networks and nice weather are some of the reasons why our students are attracted to the US.

Every year we offer the chance to Sixth Formers to visit these US universities during October half term. In 2024, we visited nine universities, stayed in four different cities and soaked up the American culture: a Broadway show, shopping, national museums in Washington DC, and various culinary delights. One of the most insightful and inspirational parts of the trip was to visit Westminster alumni currently studying at these universities. Honest and relatable, they were able to answer questions and show us parts of campus life absent from any website and admissions tour.

Upper School pupils wanting to apply to the US benefit from SAT/ACT test preparation courses, admissions officer presentations, essay workshops, Common App registration workshops, one-to-one advice on the application and connections to Old Westminsters who have recently gone through the same application process.

Each year, our pupils reap the benefits of prestigious awards such as the James and Hilda Warwick Scholarship, the Robertson Scholarship, and the Jefferson Scholarship, along with various leadership and merit scholarships at top universities in the US and Canada.”

– Mrs Lydia Timpson, Head of US and International Universities