Aston University

Aston University - Birmingham, England

• University Profile
• Program Descriptions
• Full Course List
• Order a Prospectus

Overview

Aston University, founded in 1895 and a university since 1966, is situated on a central, compact campus in Birmingham city centre. Aston University’s student population of just over 9,200 comes from more than 110 countries. Aston University is consistently highly ranked in various league/rankings tables each year and is particularly strong in business and management; biological sciences; French; German; optometry; pharmacy; mechanical engineering and psychology.

The five main areas of study at Aston University are the Aston Business School; the School of Engineering and Applied Science; the School of Languages and Social Sciences; the School of Life and Health Sciences; and Interdisciplinary Studies (for undergraduate studies).

All bachelor’s degrees (with the exception of Pharmacy and Optometry) offer you the chance to study on sandwich courses, which include a paid work placement or a year of study at one of our partner institutions around the world. This gives students the opportunity to put theory into practice whilst gaining valuable professional experience to enhance your employment prospects.

A team of qualified doctors and nurses offer a full range of medical advice. There is also a dental surgery and optician’s dispensing clinic on-campus.

With a variety of entertainment and social facilities, the Students’ Guild has more than 80 clubs and societies to join – an excellent way to meet people from your own and other cultures, have some fun or find a new hobby.

Undergraduate Ranking

Aston University is ranked 13^th out of 113 UK higher education institutions in the 2010 Complete University Guide, 19^th out of 117 UK higher education institutions in the Guardian University Guide 2010 and 25th out of 114 higher education institutions in The Times 2010 Good University Guide. Aston University has featured in the top 20 of the Guardian online University Guide for 4 out of the last 5 years. The Guardian tables focus on variables such as teaching quality, spending on student facilities, entry grades, staff-student ratios and graduate success/job prospects.

Furthermore, Aston University is ranked 8th in the UK for employability of its graduates with 83% entering “graduate level” employment or further study within 6 months of graduation, against a UK average of 81%. This makes Aston University the highest-ranking university outside the South of England/London on this factor. Aston University was also rated No 1 for Student Life, and one of the UK's Friendliest Universities.

Postgraduate Ranking

Aston University is ranked by the Financial Times 2008 as 3rd in the UK and 18^th in the World for its Masters in Management programmes.  Aston was also ranked 1^st in the World for “careers”, 2^nd in the UK for “value for money” and for “international course experience” in the same rankings.  Aston University is one of the top 50 European Business School according to the Financial Times.

The Economist ranks the Aston University MBA programme as 13^th in the UK and 61st in the World with a 1^st in the World for Student Diversity.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) all Aston research areas are ranked in the UK top 12 and 45% of submitted research was evaluated as excellent or world-leading with 5* ratings in Business & Management Studies, General Engineering and Allied Health Professions and Studies.

Aston University is one among 1% of schools worldwide that hold triple accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS AND AACSB.

Further details of all current rankings can be found on our website at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/rankings/

Services for International Students

The International Orientation Programme (Aston Welcome Week) is organised at the beginning of each new academic year to help new students settle in and make friends, and to provide information and guidance. Student volunteers or “Aston Aunties” help to meet-and-greet students arriving at Birmingham International Airport.

Extensive welfare services include a team of dedicated International Student Advisers and Welfare staff who specialises in visas and immigration advice. You are allocated a personal tutor to guide you through academic issues upon commencement of your studies at Aston University.

Further details of all the services we offer can be found on our website at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/international-students/

Accommodation

Aston University offers international non-EU students guaranteed University campus accommodation for the duration of their studies. We guarantee EU students University campus accommodation for the first year of their studies but students can apply for subsequent years as well.

All accommodation is on the campus and all accommodation is self-catering. The single study bedrooms come as standard or en-suite. Apartments house 3 - 12 students. Facilities include launderettes, satellite television lounges and 24 hour security. Residence tutors and wardens will support students if they ever need help. Heating, electricity and cleaning charges are included in the rent. Wifi Broadband Internet access is available via an external Internet service provider.

Further details on the range of on-campus accommodation on offer can be found on our website at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/study/accommodation/

Campus

The Campus is like a small town, with plenty of amenities available: sports centres, swimming pool, cafés, restaurants and pubs, supermarket, travel centre, hairdresser, doctors, dentist, places of worship, opticians, ATM machines and plenty of green spaces.

All facilities (including ATMs, supermarket and eating places) are located on the campus, providing a safe and friendly environment to live in.

There are more than 40 sports clubs and facilities which include a swimming pool, floodlit pitch, climbing wall, multigym, squash courts, weights and fitness rooms.

The Aston University Library is on four floors and also provides online access to over 40 electronic databases and more than 3,400 electronic journals in subject areas such as Business, Management, Finance, Languages and Politics, Computing, Law, Social Sciences, Medicine, Life Sciences, Engineering and Sciences. You can access many of these from any computer on campus and also from home or other locations off campus.

Aston University has plenty of sports facilities available on campus, including a swimming pool, 2 sports halls, gyms, weights and fitness rooms and over 40 sports clubs to get involved in.

Health centre

Aston University’s team of qualified doctors and nurses offer a full range of medical advisory services. There is also a dental surgery and optician’s dispensing clinic on-campus with the nearest pharmacy a short walk from the campus.

Welfare support

This includes a team of international student advisers who provide friendly and confidential advice on a range of issues including visas and immigration issues, employment, cultural, financial and personal matters. Trained counsellors are also available for students who need to talk through any personal issues confidentially.

Location

Situated in the heart of England, Birmingham is Britain’s second city and is internationally recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, business, shopping, industry and sport. It has a population of approximately 1.2 million people.  It is a lively and multicultural city. Birmingham International Airport is 20 minutes away while London is only a 90 minute journey by rail and two hours' drive.

Birmingham has many attractive squares, modern shopping arcades, diverse pubs, clubs and restaurants as well as fine museums, art galleries and the largest collection of theatres outside of London. There is an extensive range of cuisine available throughout the city including a vibrant “China Town” area which caters to the needs of students from South-East Asia with a wide range of restaurants and supermarkets.

To visit Aston University or to find out more about us, please click on http://www1.aston.ac.uk/international-students/

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