Address: Aston Street, Birmingham, B4 7ET, England, United Kingdom
Business, Engineering, Health Sciences
Aston University is based in central Birmingham. The institution traces its origin to the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, which dates from 1895, and it gained university status in 1966 by royal charter. The campus lies in the city centre.
Teaching is organised in named schools, among them Aston Business School, Aston Medical School, Aston Pharmacy School, the School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies and the School of Law and Social Sciences. The university also supports an engineering academy for students aged 14 to 19.
Many courses are offered with an integrated placement year. Aston holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023) and the Athena Swan Gold award. Details of fees, entry grades and placements are published course by course on the university’s own website, so applicants can compare placement options before choosing a programme.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Optics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong links with industry and commerce, particularly in the Midlands. Extensive placement year programs. International partnerships for student exchange and research.
Research:
Research focused on health and life sciences (Aston Medical School), engineering and applied science (photonics, bioenergy), and business and management. Emphasis on translational research.
Famous Alumnis:
Ben Francis, Laura Jones, Rob Perrins, Salma Yaqoob, Ravi Kant
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1900
Current students***:
16000
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
110000
Pros
Excellent industry links and placement opportunities, strong focus on employability, located in a major city, diverse student body.
Cons
Campus is compact, some specialized subjects may have less breadth than larger universities, highly competitive for popular courses.
Best For
Students focused on careers in business, engineering, or health, valuing strong industry connections, placement years, and an urban campus.
Specialties at West Nottinghamshire College include Engineering, Health and Social Care, Business.
Birmingham Metropolitan College offers a profile built on Engineering, Health and Social Care, Business.
King's College London lists Humanities, Law, Health Sciences in its directory profile, with public status.
Lincoln College focuses on Engineering, Construction, Health and Social Care.
North East Surrey College of Technology is a public institution that lists Construction and Engineering, Animal Studies, Health and Social Care among its specialties.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
In France, Université de Strasbourg is a public institution with Chemistry, Life Sciences & Health, Physics & Engineering in its profile.
Aix-Marseille Université (France) covers Sciences (Physics; Materials; Environmental), Engineering (Mechanical; Chemical; IT), Health Sciences (with tech applications) according to its directory profile.
Technische Universität München in Germany has a profile built on Engineering (Mechanical; Electrical; Informatics), Natural Sciences (Physics; Chemistry), Life Sciences & Health.
British Columbia Institute of Technology, found in Canada, concentrates on Trades and Apprenticeships, Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences.
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Canada lists Skilled Trades, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences among its specialties.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What was the origin of the university in Birmingham?
It started in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, set up by the city to train people for local industry. It later developed into the institution known today as Aston University.
When did it gain university status?
It gained university status in 1966 by royal charter, which turned the college into Aston University.
Which schools does the university list?
Aston Business School, Aston Medical School, Aston Pharmacy School, the School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies and the School of Law and Social Sciences are among the schools named by the university. Other schools are listed on the official pages.
Does it offer placement years?
Yes, its course listings include integrated placement years. Applicants should check each course page to see whether the placement is built in or optional.
What recognition has Aston received for teaching?
It displays a Gold rating from the Teaching Excellence Framework in 2023 on its official pages. It also shows the Athena Swan Gold badge for gender equality work.
Where is the campus?
The campus is in Birmingham city centre. Study options and locations are listed on each course page.
How can applicants compare courses and fees?
Each course page on the university website gives entry requirements, tuition fees and study options. International applicants should read the visa and English-language information alongside it.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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