Aston University

Overview

Aston University is a campus-based institution located in the heart of Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city. Established in 1895, Aston received its Royal Charter in 1966 from Queen Elizabeth II, officially becoming a university. Today, Aston is known for its focus on employability and research, consistently maintaining a strong presence in both national and international rankings.

The University’s campus is home to five schools: Aston Business School, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the College of Health and Life Sciences, the College of Business and Social Sciences, and the Aston Medical School. It offers a wide range of programmes, including foundation courses, undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and research degrees. Aston has a diverse student community, with over 11,000 undergraduates and more than 2,000 postgraduate students from over 120 countries.

The University offers over 30 Joint Honours degrees, allowing students to study two subjects at Honours level, integrating both academic areas seamlessly. In addition to its degree programmes, Aston provides opportunities for students to learn a new language or improve existing language skills. Options include French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic, available either as part of a degree programme or as an extracurricular activity. The University’s emphasis on providing real-world experience is highlighted by its pioneering placement year programme, which offers students invaluable industry experience before graduation.

Aston's campus is ideally situated just a 10-minute walk from Birmingham’s main shopping and entertainment centres, providing students with easy access to the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Birmingham was ranked highest for quality of life outside London in the Mercer Quality of Living Report 2015, and Aston has also been recognised as one of the friendliest universities in the UK, enhancing its appeal as a student-friendly destination.

Services for International Students

An International Orientation Programme runs at the beginning of each year to provide information and support to new international students. Student volunteers or ‘Aston Aunties’ help to meet and greet students as they arrive at Birmingham Airport at specified times in the beginning of each academic year and help them adapt to the new culture and experiences awaiting them.

A team of International Student Advisers and Welfare staff who specialise in visas and immigration are available throughout the year, while students are also allocated a personal tutor to guide them through any academic issues during their studies.

Ranking

• 35th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 21st in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 423rd in the QS World University Rankings 2025

2024 QS Subject Rankings for key courses include:

• Top 100 for Business & Management Studies
• Top 200 for Accounting & Finance
• Top 250 for Linguistics and Accounting & Finance

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 has rated 79% of Aston University research as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. In addition, 74% of the impact of the University’s research has been rated “very considerable” or “outstanding” for reach and significance.

Aston Business School

Aston Business School is amongst the top 1% of Business Schools in the world to hold the "triple crown" accreditation from the most sought-after international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) and the school ranks consistently highly in both the Financial Times and the Economist’s rankings.

The Aston Global Advantage is an integrated module which runs throughout all MSc programmes at Aston Business School and focuses on professional development and employability. This module gives students the opportunity to identify, develop and apply the key skills you will gain throughout the year. Students have the choice of four different streams in the final semester - Integrated Study Abroad, Work-based experience, Business Simulations on campus or working as a part of a team to develop a business idea and create a business plan to demonstrate their venture’s commercial potential.

Accommodation

Aston University guarantees university campus accommodation for students in their first year of study, as long as they accept their offer and book accommodation by the deadline on the website.

Aston’s campus is in the centre of Birmingham and contains 3,000 en-suite rooms. They are all five minutes’ walk from the main university buildings and the centre of Birmingham. Apartments are self-catering and house between 5 and 7 students. On-campus facilities include launderettes, satellite television lounges, 24-hour library and numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants. Residence tutors and wardens are available to support students.

Location

Aston University campus is located in the centre of Birmingham, ‘Britain’s Second City’. Birmingham is a lively and multicultural city, with a population of approximately 1.2 million people. It currently hosts the largest number of theatres outside London and has a vibrant art, music and literary scene. Birmingham also has a strong nightlife and many festivals from the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade outside Dublin to the UK’s biggest indoor Christmas Market.

Alumni

Politics

• Keith Bradley, Baron Bradley (Labour politician and life peer)
• Robert Walter (Conservative MP)
• Simon D’Ujanga (State Minister for Energy, Uganda)
• Anthony Cheung (Secretary for Transport and Housing, Hong Kong)

Business

• Phil Popham (Global Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover)
• Angela Beesley Starling (Co-founder of Wikia)
• Mark Wright (Executive Director, Jaguar Land Rover)
• Ravi Kant (Vice Chairman of TATA Motors India)

Media

• Laura Jones (BBC Journalist)
• Ivan Noble (BBC Journalist)
• Kate Walsh (Television Presenter)