Aston University, Birmingham

Overview

Aston University is a campus uni well-located at the heart of England’s ‘second city’, Birmingham. It ranked among the top 50 UK universities in the Complete University Guide’s 2024 league tables and has its academic, social and accommodation facilities all on one campus.

The city of Birmingham is located in the Midlands and is the second largest city in the country, making it a great place to be a student. It’s a leading city for music, nightlife and culture, with a lively clubbing scene and plenty of bars, restaurants and music venues.

Professional sport is also a big deal in Birmingham. You’ll find three professional football clubs – Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion – as well as the famous cricket ground Edgbaston, and the Alexander Stadium athletics venue. There are also lots of parks and an impressive canal system for those who enjoy a more natural setting. Additionally, the Bullring shopping centre provides some of the best retail opportunities in the country.

The city is easily accessible by motorway and Birmingham New Street station offers frequent rail connections to all major cities. Travelling abroad is also convenient, as the uni is a short distance away from Birmingham Airport.

There are several undergraduate courses on offer at Aston University, across various schools and departments, including the schools of business, law, psychology and medicine. All undergraduate degrees are studied on a full-time basis.

Typically, undergraduate degrees at Aston take three years to study, but a number of courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take four years to complete. Medical courses usually take five years to study.

Most degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree topics you’re most interested in.

It's also possible to combine two or three subjects within an undergraduate degree in what’s called a combined honours degree. For example, it’s fairly common to study two humanities courses, like history and a subject like English literature or politics.

You can apply to Aston University using various qualifications, including A-levels, BTECs and the International Baccalaureate. Each course has its own specific entry requirements that need to be met to be offered a place at the uni, which could include having previously studied certain subjects. You can find the specific entry requirements online on the uni’s course search pages, but we’ve also given you an idea of what grades you’ll need to study different subjects below.

To get onto a course in business, accounting or finance you’ll likely be asked for A-levels ranging from ABB–BBC (or equivalent qualification), and for courses in the humanities you’ll need A-levels of ABB–BBC (or equivalent qualification).

To study an engineering degree, you’ll need A-levels ranging from BBB–CCC (or equivalent qualification) and for health & medicine degrees you’ll likely be asked for AAA–CCC (or equivalent qualification). To get onto a medical degree with the lower range of grades you’ll likely need to complete a foundation year before first year.

It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying.

All of Aston’s accommodation sits on campus, meaning you’re close to everything you need. On top of that, if you’re a new undergraduate student, you’ll be guaranteed a room in uni-run accommodation in your first year, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and apply before the deadline.

As a first-year student, you’ll have the choice between a room in either a five or seven-bed flat. All rooms are en suite and have high-speed WiFi and security services. Prices start from around £143 per week and all bills and basic contents insurance are included in your rent payments.

You’ll be able to move straight into a furnished room complete with either a single or three-quarter size double bed, as well as a study space. Laundry facilities are on-site and you’ll have access to a common room with a TV and pool table.

If you don’t want to live in uni accommodation, private off-campus residences are available in the city and can be organised through Aston Students’.

Aston University has a specialist Careers and Placements team that gives you career-related support during your studies and for three years after you graduate. They aim to help develop the skills and experience needed to improve your job prospects.

Aston Futures is a resource where you’ll find job opportunities, information about events, and more. You’ll also be able to book one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser to discuss anything from tweaking your CV to succeeding in assessment centres.  You’ll also be able to take advantage of the JobShop tool to find part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities.

Additionally, the careers team works closely with industry professionals and employers on a worldwide scale, giving you access to a wide range of placement and graduate job opportunities. Most degree programmes include the chance to do a placement year as part of the course, giving a great opportunity to get real-life work experience and to start growing a professional network.

Events, such as careers fairs, are held throughout the year and can help you improve your job prospects by connecting you with employers and helping you develop important employability skills.

Aston University offers additional funding to some students through multiple scholarships and bursaries. To receive this funding, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility criteria.

The criteria include factors like personal circumstances, the course you’re doing and academic and extra-curricular merit. Scholarships and bursaries don’t need to be repaid.

An example of this additional funding is the Aston Support Scholarship, which is worth £1,250 per academic year for UK students who’re classed as care leavers, refugees or children from a military background. Some scholarships and bursaries, such as this one, are automatically awarded and don’t need to be applied for.

Another available scholarship is the Aston Placement Scholarship. This awards £1,250 towards the living expenses of a student who’s doing a placement and comes from a household with an annual income of less than £42,875.

You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the uni’s online funding pages.