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ASIGNIFICANT PROPORTION of Middlesex University London students combine study with paid work, helping finance their living costs and learning self-reliance and time management in the process. Lea Selig, a Middlesex law student, works as a nanny and in a bakery and is about to embark on a second year as president of the university Jewish Society. She finds holding down a job and being involved in the university community hugely rewarding. “I love it, I don’t like sitting around,” she says. “I love waking up early, being out all day, knowing I’ve done something with my day.”
Selig is a self-paying student, who grew up in the Orthodox community in Basel, Switzerland, as one of ten siblings. She was determined to study in the UK, although her parents for the most part were not able to support her. “If you make a decision you have to stick with it. It’s taught me a lot,” she says.
As well as being fully supportive of students who work part- or full-time alongside studying, the university offers work opportunities through its innovative Employability Service. The Unitemps scheme has connected students to jobs on campus amounting to more than 100,000 hours of paid work over the past 18 months, while the MDXcel scheme helps secure work experience. Middlesex’s degree courses strongly feature learning through practical experience, with opportunities for real-world commissions.
Selig’s academic work has not been compromised by her other commitments — she passed every module in her first and second year. She warns new students they must bring a suitable level of maturity to their studies. “Lectures are very big, you have to ask for help. You’re adult and you have to be responsible for what you’re doing.”
Selig lives in Golders Green, just a 20-minute walk away from Middlesex and loves London. She is a theatre fan, likes walking and “loves any kind of shopping”. So far as Jewish Society president, she has more than doubled the number of events, including bringing in outside speakers and organising a Chanukah store at the university’s Christmas market.
On Holocaust Memorial Day she arranged the holding of a oneminute silence in MDX House, home of the students’ union. Also under her tenure, the Chief Rabbi paid a visit to the university and received his first UK honorary university doctorate from Middlesex.
Middlesex is the university of choice for Jewish students from many branches of Judaism and around the world, including students of Jewish education at partner institutions Leo Baeck College and the London School of Jewish Studies. There were 122 Middlesex students identifying as Jewish in the 2017/8 academic year.
Professor Tim Blackman, the university’s vice-chancellor, says: “Diversity is one of our strengths at Middlesex University. This includes our valued and growing partnerships with the Jewish community and our roots in Barnet and London. Lea’s story reflects that of many of our students. Supporting students to thrive, no matter what their background and how they need to manage their lives, is a priority here. We help achieve this with our commitment to flexible study including free eTextbooks and 24/7 library access.”
We offer 24/7 library access and free eTextbooks’