Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. Professor Dame Julia King became Vice-Chancellor of the University in 2006.

Aston has been a leading university for graduate employment success for over 25 years. The University is currently ranked 8th overall for graduate employment putting even the likes of Oxford in the shade (2013 Sunday Times University Guide). The University is consistently ranked in the UK's top 40 universities confirming our place amongst the elite. 

Aston's four Schools offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, and also work with the public and private sectors to develop tailored Foundation Degree programmes.

Aston University is based in the centre of Birmingham, home to over 65,000 students and one of Europe’s liveliest and most welcoming cities.

Our friendly and safe 40 acre campus houses all the University's academic, social and accommodation facilities for our 9,500 students.

• Aston Business School

  Aston Business School has as its primary mission enhancing the effectiveness of the management of both for-profit and social enterprises.

  The School undertakes research to understand and to advance techniques of management and disseminates this understanding by:

  • Educating undergraduate and postgraduate students

  • Educating and advising the management of currently operating and start-up businesses and social enterprises

  • Seeking to have impact on public policy concerning the environment for and management of enterprises.

  
  The School understands that success in its primary mission in today’s environment requires extending its knowledge creation and working outside the traditional commercial disciplines.

• School of Engineering & Applied Science

  The School of Engineering & Applied Science, with its tradition of quality and reputation for cutting edge research, offers students excellent opportunities to join in the process of discovery and creativity, and prepare for an increasingly diverse and technological world.
  
  In today's modern technological society, scientists and engineers must work together with a variety of other professionals in their quest to find solutions to complex problems. Revolutionary advances in applied science and technology have broadened the horizons of engineering whilst simultaneously creating a multitude of challenging multidisciplinary problems in virtually every aspect of modern life.

  Our focus is on the inter-disciplinary nature of engineering and applied sciences, the key technologies and their interactions.

• School of Life & Health Sciences

  The School of Life & Health Sciences at Aston is acknowledged as UK-leading, with an outstanding reputation for teaching and research. The School prides itself on its excellence in research which is integrated into lectures, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, giving students the distinct advantage of access to the latest trends, thinking, issues and research in their particular field. Further to this, we have invested significantly in well-equipped laboratories providing excellent facilities for teaching and research.
  
  The School prepares its graduates for professional roles as scientists and practitioners who make a real difference to the communities in which they work and live.
  
  Most of our programmes have an integrated placement opportunity, providing laboratory, hospital or clinical experience. The nature of the programmes within the Academic School means that relevant professional experts regularly review course content and courses are developed to fulfill the needs of the Life and Health Science industries.

• School of Languages & Social Sciences

  The School of Languages and Social Sciences at Aston University is one of only a handful of academic units in the UK to span both the Humanities and Social Sciences. In doing so, it draws on a particularly rich and distinguished tradition of teaching, scholarship and research. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Department of Modern Languages (French, German, Linguistics), as it was then known, was one of the UK’s pioneers of the study of language in contemporary society. In 1995, reflecting the growing interest in and awareness of Europe, it became the School of Languages and European Studies. In 2004, we adopted our current title.

  Since then, the School has grown rapidly in student numbers and in its academic coverage and now comprises four academic subject groups: English Language, Languages and Translation Studies, Politics and International Relations as well as Sociology and Policy. The School also hosts the Centre for English Language and Communication at Aston (CELCA). 

The origins of Aston University are a School of Metallurgy formed in the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1875. The Birmingham Municipal Technical School separated from the Institute in 1895, teaching chemistry, physics, metallurgy and electrical engineering. In 1911, commercial classes were introduced and grew into an independent School of Commerce by 1916. The school changed its name in 1927 to the Birmingham Central Technical College, to reflect its changing approach to teaching technology.

It officially became the University of Aston in Birmingham on receipt of its Royal Charter on 22 April 1966 and the first Chancellor of the University, Lord Nelson of Stafford, was installed on 10 May. The Charter of the University outlines objectives appropriate to a technological university: "to advance, disseminate and apply learning and knowledge by teaching and research, for the benefit of industry and commerce and of the community generally: and to enable students to obtain the advantage of a university education, and such teaching and research may include periods outside the University in industry or commerce or wherever the University considers proper for the best advancement of its objects."

Aston Students' Union (formerly Guild) is a non-profit organisation set up with the aim of involving and representing the student body of Aston. The Union provides sports clubs, societies and Welfare Services, partially funded by the money accrued from the Union's commercial services.The Union is run by a team of permanent staff and by an elected team called the Executive who follow the rules set out in the Guild Constitution. The Union Building consists of 5 floors and is located in the centre of the Aston University Campus.

The Aston's sports facilities include a 25m swimming pool, sauna and steam room, two sports halls, 120 station Gym, weights and fitness rooms, two storey dance studio and 35 sports clubs. The campus also has two 3G floodlit sports pitches. Clubs train and compete, many in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Leagues. Off campus the University manages a 40 acre sports ground with floodlit pitches, pavilion for all outdoor sports.

Why Aston University?

Founded over a hundred years ago, Aston is an established, University known for world class Teaching Quality and Research and a Graduate Employment record that is consistently one of the best in the UK, with strong links with industry, government and commerce.

All of the University's academic, social and accommodation facilities are based on our attractive, self contained green Campus, right in the centre of Birmingham, one of Europe’s liveliest and welcoming cities. We are proud of our close-knit, safe and friendly campus atmosphere which provides the perfect environment for academic success and a fantastic social life.

Aston University offers over 300 courses at Undergraduate (first degree) and Postgraduate level (Masters and PhD Research programmes) coupled with a thriving research culture across a wide range of disciplines.

Why Birmingham?

The Aston University Campus is in the centre of the exciting and vibrant city of Birmingham, home to over 50,000 students.  Birmingham, Britain’s second city, is flourishing and is internationally recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, business, shopping, industry and sport. The city centre is a fusion of attractive squares, modern shopping arcades, diverse pubs, clubs and restaurants and fine museums, theatres and art galleries – truly a World City.

• home to over 50,000 students – a fantastic student city
• the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s liveliest and friendliest cities
• “Europe’s new Shopping Capital” with the new £500 million Bullring mall in the city centre, complete with the stunning Selfridges building
• massive choice of cultural, nightlife and sporting attractions – our students are never bored!
• all just a short walk from the Aston University Campus
• beautiful countryside only a short journey away and more parkland than any other UK city

“Nightlife in Birmingham is thriving, and the club scene is recognised as one of Britain’s best...” (The Rough Guide to Britain)