Overview

Aston University is a long-running higher education institution that traces its history back to 1895. With a global reputation for quality teaching, it offers a range of courses which focus on building practical experience and entrepreneurship skills for unbeatable employability. Students benefit from the university's career-enhancing education opportunities and the many links to local and global businesses in the UK's second largest city.

　　Aston is located in the heart of Birmingham, offering a welcoming student lifestyle within a friendly and diverse academic community. It's home to more than 3,000 international students, representing more than 120 countries.

　　The university's achievements include:

　　22nd in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2023) 2nd in the UK for health professions courses (Guardian University Guide, 2023) 6th in the UK for international relations (Guardian University Guide, 2023) Among 1 percent of business schools in the world to have triple accreditation Top 20 in the UK for Career Prospects (WhatUni Rankings, 2023) ‘Best University Placement Service' in the UK (National Undergraduate Awards 2022)

Student life and local area

Birmingham is a large, vibrant and exciting place to live and study. It has a lower cost of living than London, but still provides all the major benefits of a large international city.

　　Birmingham is a major hub for business and industry, attracting companies such as Amazon, Arup, ASOS, Balfour Beatty, BBC, Deutsche Bank, PwC, HSBC and Goldman Sachs. There are also more business startups in Birmingham than in any other UK city outside of London (Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE), 2020).

　　Birmingham is a great student city and there's plenty to do when not studying, such as visiting museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants and much more. The city is located in the centre of England with easy transport routes across the UK. Birmingham airport has flights to countries all over Europe and with many long-distance links.

　　

What's new

Global leader in business and management studies

Students who choose to study business and management at Aston study at a global elite university, consistently ranked in the top 100 in the world by QS for business and management studies.

　　QS recognises outstanding institutions for academic and employer reputation and research impact. Aston Business School holds accreditation from AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS – only 1 percent of the world's business schools hold this triple accreditation. The school's programmes provide students with multiple opportunities to gain invaluable work experiences with industry employers.

　　

3rd in UK – Strategy and International Business MSc

Aston's MSc programme in Strategy and International Business was placed third in the UK in the recent Eduniversal rankings. The ranking considers more than 1,000 universities in 154 countries and takes into account programme reputation, student satisfaction and graduate starting salaries.

　　The MSc in Strategy and International Business lasts 12 months and is perfect for developing analytic and strategic skills. Other areas that also performed highly in the rankings include MSc programmes in business analytics, international accounting and finance, and the Full Time MBA.

　　

Teaching quality

Some of Aston University's many achievements and awards include:

　　83 percent of students found their course intellectually stimulating, National Student Survey 2022 Biochemistry: 100 percent overall satisfaction, National Student Survey 2022 Human Resource Management: 100 percent overall satisfaction, National Student Survey 2022 Chemistry: 100 percent overall satisfaction, National Student Survey 2022 Law with Management: 94 percent overall satisfaction, National Student Survey 2022 Politics with International Relations: 94 percent overall satisfaction, National Student Survey 2022 ‘World leading' and ‘internationally excellent' accreditations for 79 percent of research submitted in the Research Excellence Framework 2021Teaching staff are passionate about their subjects and have plenty of real-world experience. They are also well known for their research. The textbooks they have written are used worldwide.

　　

Degrees with built-in professional experience

Aston was one of the pioneers of work placement in the UK, directly linking the benefits of a university experience with real-life work experience. This ethos continues today with employability built into all courses and students given the opportunity to engage with business whilst they are studying.

　　

Department structure

Over 200 programmes are available to study at Aston's many innovative schools:

　　Aston Business School Aston Law School Aston Medical School Aston Pharmacy School School of Biosciences School of Engineering and Technology School of Computer Science and Digital Engineering School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering School of Optometry School of Psychology School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Graduate school

A postgraduate degree is a great way to improve career prospects. As well as opening doors, an Aston Masters will help students to build their professional experience, develop their practical skills, and gain a competitive edge in the job market.

　　

International pathways

International students can pursue a pathway programme to gain the necessary qualifications and qualities needed for academic study. This includes foundation, international year one and pre-masters programmes in disciplines such as law, business, finance, engineering and health. Pathway partners include ONCAMPUS Aston, based on Aston's Birmingham campus, and NCUK located around the world.

　　

Entry requirements

As instruction is in English, all non-native speakers must have a good level of English language ability. The English language requirements vary depending on the programme and level of study. Aston accepts several English language test scores, such as:

　　IELTS Academic IELTS Indicator TOEFL TOEFL iBT Home Edition PTE Academic Duolingo English TestSome students may not have to provide proof of English language proficiency if they:

　　Have studied for a recognised qualification in English, such as IB or GCSE English Have already studied at a UK university for a minimum of a year and achieved a grade of 2:2 or higher Are from a majority English-speaking country Have a degree from a majority English-speaking country

International pathway programmes

Those who wish to study in the UK but can't quite meet the entry requirements can pursue a pathway programme. Through foundation, international year one and pre-masters programmes, they gain the qualifications they need for higher-level study. Areas include business, engineering and finance.International students can check the English language requirements for their chosen programmes online.

　　

Facilities

Students enjoy a welcoming and green campus in the middle of a lively city. All the facilities they need are within the campus grounds, including:

　　A library that's open every day and 24/7 during exam periods Health and wellbeing services such as an optician and counselling service The Martin Luther King multi-faith centre Sports centre with a large gym, swimming pool and sauna IT facilities available 24/7 and free wifi access Shops, supermarkets and cashpoints State-of-the-art students' union building with a bar, cafe, restaurant, games area, exhibition space, social areas, rehearsal space and media roomStudents have access to over 130 clubs and societies ranging from debating society to water polo.

　　

Accommodation

Aston offers award-winning campus accommodation, all on the central University campus in Birmingham. International students can choose from a range of modern, safe, and secure accommodation, just a minute's walk from campus buildings. Most first-year international students live in on-campus housing where all facilities are within easy reach. Rooms are recently refurbished and come with ensuite bathrooms, high-speed internet, study spaces, laundry facilities and more. All utility bills are included.

　　Accommodation is guaranteed for new international students who pay the deposit before the accommodation deadline. Most new international students live on campus.

　　

Scholarships & funding

Aston University has a large scholarship scheme open to highly talented and motivated students wishing to enhance their career prospects at Aston.

　　

Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship

Awards are available for students who can show exceptional academic achievement. This scholarship is on offer to undergraduate and postgraduate students – learners will need to provide evidence of their commitment through voluntary, professional or extracurricular experiences and activities.

　　

Global Ambassador Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who can represent the university and tell future students from all around the world what Aston is like. Students receiving this scholarship are also considered for paid roles in the marketing and recruitment team at Aston.

　　

Aston Enterprise Scholarship

The Aston Enterprise Scholarship awards one full (100 percent) and two partial (40 percent) scholarships for students looking to start their own business when they graduate.

　　

Women in Engineering Scholarship

The Women in Engineering Scholarship is designed to attract the brightest and best female students to study at Aston University. The award provides a discount to tuition fees in addition to a programme of dedicated mentoring throughout their studies. It also offers additional industry and business networking opportunities.

　　

MBA Scholarships

We offer a range of MBA scholarships which recognise students' academic, professional and personal experience.