About Aston University
Aston University is a business-focused, research-led university in Birmingham city centre. Known for its strong industry connections, excellent graduate employability, and triple-accredited Business School, Aston offers integrated placements across most programmes and specialises in business, engineering, languages, and health sciences.
Key Information
Student Statistics
- • 16,500 total students
- • 5,500 international students
- • 80 student societies
Location
- • Located in Birmingham
- • Public university
- • Established 1895
Subject Rankings
Engineering - Chemical (2024)
251Academics & Faculties
Degrees Offered
Bachelor, Master, PhD, MBA, Foundation
Popular Subjects
Business ManagementPharmacyComputer ScienceEngineeringOptometryPsychologyInternational BusinessLanguages
Student-Staff Ratio
18 : 1
Faculties & Departments
Aston Business School
Accounting, Economics and Finance, Marketing, Operations and Information Management, Strategy and International Business, Work and Organisational Psychology
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics
College of Health and Life Sciences
Aston Medical School, Aston Pharmacy School, Biosciences, Optometry, Psychology
College of Business and Social Sciences
Languages and Translation Studies, Law, Politics, Sociology
Entry Requirements
Undergraduate
Academic: AAB - BCC depending on programme
Alternatives: IB: 28-34 points depending on programme, BTEC: DDD-DMM depending on programme, Access to HE: Pass with appropriate credits
IELTS: 6.5
R 5.5 / W 5.5 / L 5.5 / S 5.5
TOEFL iBT: 88
Interview for Pharmacy and Medicine • DBS check for health programmes • Placement interview for sandwich courses
Postgraduate
Minimum Qualification: UK Honours degree (2:1 or 2:2 depending on programme)
GPA: 2.7
IELTS: 6.5
R 6 / W 6 / L 6 / S 6
TOEFL iBT: 93
Two references • Research proposal for PhD • GMAT for MBA (preferred)
Fees & Funding
Tuition (International)
- Undergraduate: £16,000
- Postgraduate: £18,000
- Foundation: £15,500
Living Costs (Annual)
- Accommodation: £5,500
- Food: £2,400
- Transport: £600
- Entertainment: £1,100
- Other: £800
- Total: £10,400
Scholarships
Aston Excellence Scholarship
MeritMerit-based scholarship for exceptional international undergraduates.
Value: £5,000 (Partial)
International students • Outstanding academic achievement
Business School Scholarship
MeritScholarship for high-achieving business students.
Value: £3,000 (Partial)
Business School applicants • Strong academic record
Aston Bursary
Need-basedFinancial support for UK students from lower-income backgrounds.
Value: £1,000 (Partial)
UK students • Household income below £25,000
Campus & Facilities
Aston Street, Birmingham B4 7ET
Compact 60-acre campus in Birmingham city centre, surrounded by business and industry. Recently transformed with £150m investment in modern facilities, accommodation, and public realm improvements.
Size: 60 acres
Facilities
Academic
Aston Business School Building, Engineering and Applied Science Building, School of Languages Building, Aston Medical School, Optometry Centre
Research
European Bioenergy Research Institute, Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, Advanced Services Group, Drug Delivery Research Group
Student Life
Aston Students' Union, The Gosta Green (student bar), Aston Student Village shops, Campus food court
Libraries
Library and Information Services
Modern library with 24/7 study spaces, extensive digital resources, and specialist collections.
24/7
Sports Facilities
Aston Gym
On-campus fitness centre with gym equipment, fitness studios, and classes.
Sports Pitches
Football, rugby, and tennis facilities on and near campus.
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
Sports complex with halls and outdoor facilities nearby.
Student Services
Hub
One-stop shop for student support, finance, and administration.
hub@aston.ac.uk
Counselling and Wellbeing
Free confidential counselling and mental health support.
counselling@aston.ac.uk
Careers+Placements
Career guidance, placement support, and employer connections.
careers@aston.ac.uk
Accommodation
James Watt Halls
On-campusModern en-suite accommodation in the heart of the Student Village.
Cost: £140 - £175 (per week)
En-suite rooms • Shared kitchens • Common rooms • 24/7 security
Distance: On campus
Contract: 40-51 weeks
Lakeside Residences
On-campusPremium accommodation overlooking campus lake.
Cost: £155 - £190 (per week)
En-suite rooms • Lake views • Modern kitchens • Study areas
Distance: On campus
Contract: 40-51 weeks
Mary Sturge Halls
On-campusBudget-friendly accommodation with standard rooms.
Cost: £110 - £140 (per week)
Standard rooms • Shared bathrooms • Kitchens • Social spaces
Distance: On campus
Contract: 40 weeks
First-year undergraduates guaranteed accommodation if applying by deadline. Apply through Aston accommodation portal after receiving offer.
International welcome programme, airport pickup service, peer mentoring.
Student Life & Support
Clubs & Sports
Clubs: 80
Teams: 35
Cultural Activities
- Aston Awards — Annually
- International Food Festival — Annually
- Aston Business Games — Throughout the year
International Support
- Visa support: Yes
- Language support: Yes
- Orientation: Yes
- Buddy program: Yes
- Contact: international@aston.ac.uk
Health & Wellbeing
- Medical centre: Yes
- Counselling: Yes
- Disability support: Yes
- Emergency: +44 (0)121 204 3000
Careers & Outcomes
Employability Rank
75
Graduate Outcomes
Employed: 87%
Further study: 8%
Unemployed: 3%
Average Salary
£28,500
per year (graduate)
Top Employers
PwCEYDeloitteKPMGIBMJaguar Land RoverNHSBootsAccentureCivil Service
Career Services
- Careers+Placements: Comprehensive support for placements, graduate jobs, and career development.
- Professional Placement Year: Most programmes include optional or compulsory placement year.
- Employer Hub: Strong links with 1,000+ employers for placements and recruitment.
Location & Transportation
Nearest Airport
Birmingham Airport
13 km • 25 minutes by train
Public Transport
- Train: Aston station adjacent to campus; Birmingham New Street 10 minutes by train. • £2.50 to New Street
- Bus: Multiple bus routes pass campus connecting to all parts of Birmingham. • £2.00 single
- Metro: West Midlands Metro accessible from city centre. • £2.60 single
Local Area
Birmingham is the UK's second largest city, offering diverse culture, excellent shopping, vibrant nightlife, and strong business connections as the commercial heart of the Midlands.
Cost of Living: Medium
Attractions: Birmingham Bullring, Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Museum, Cadbury World, Canal network
Shopping: Bullring & Grand Central, The Mailbox, Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth markets
Entertainment: Broad Street nightlife, Birmingham Rep, Arena Birmingham, Digbeth cultural quarter, Chinese Quarter
Additional Information
Accreditation
Royal Charter, AACSB (Business School), EQUIS (Business School), AMBA (MBA - triple crown), General Optical Council (Optometry), General Pharmaceutical Council (Pharmacy), General Medical Council (Medicine)
Partnerships
- Industry: Jaguar Land Rover — Engineering partnerships and graduate recruitment.
- NHS: University Hospitals Birmingham — Clinical training partnerships for medical and pharmacy students.
- Business: Big Four accounting firms — Strong recruitment partnerships with PwC, EY, Deloitte, KPMG.
Research Highlights
- Photonics Research — World-leading research in optical fibres and photonic technologies. (2024)
- Bioenergy Research — European Bioenergy Research Institute developing sustainable fuel technologies. (2024)
- Drug Delivery — Innovative research in pharmaceutical drug delivery systems. (2024)
Notable Alumni
- Sir John Peace — Former Chairman of Standard Chartered and Burberry (1971)
- Surinder Arora — Founder of Arora Hotels (1981)
- Eamonn Holmes — Television presenter (1980)
Metadata
Source: Aston University official website, QS Rankings 2025, HESA data 2023/24
Last Updated: 2025-12-03T00:00:00Z
Verified: Yes
Contact Email: profiles@ukuni.io