Aston University is a renowned institution situated in Birmingham, England. Aston has a rich history, starting as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895 and later becoming the UK’s first college of advanced technology in 1956. Aston University was granted its royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 April 1966.
Aston has been a leader in the integrated placement year concept for over 50 years, with an impressive 73% of Aston students choosing to take advantage of this opportunity. This is the highest percentage among all universities in the UK. The institution’s annual income for 2021–22 amounted to £197.7 million, with a notable £19.3 million coming from research grants and contracts. However, this was overshadowed by an expenditure of £219.4 million.
In 2020, Aston University received the prestigious “University of the Year” title from The Guardian, while Aston Students’ Union was honoured with the esteemed “Buildings That Inspire” award by the newspaper. In 2020, Aston University was recognised by The Times Higher Education Awards for its exceptional entrepreneurial spirit.
In September 2021, Aston was nominated as a finalist for University of the Year in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2021.
Founded in 1895, the university is located on a 60-acre campus in the heart of Birmingham, England. The Aston University campus offers a wide range of amenities to cater to the needs of its 3,000+ students. These include sports centres, a swimming pool, a well-equipped gym, a library, various dining options, shopping facilities, a travel centre, hairdresser, health centre, dentist, places of worship, opticians, a bank, ATMs, and ample outdoor space.
The Aston University Library boasts an impressive collection of over 250,000 books, 800 current printed periodicals, and provides ample seating with over 700 reader places. It offers convenient online access to a wide range of electronic databases and an extensive collection of electronic journals. The library is available for Aston students and staff for extended hours during exam time, and for a significant portion of the day during term time.
There are also a variety of open-access IT suites available around the campus, providing computer and internet access 24/7. They provide a wide selection of software packages, database systems, and computer-aided learning materials.
Aston University has achieved an impressive position among the top 25 UK institutions in the 2022 Guardian University Guide.
Aston University has achieved the highest rating of Gold in the UK Government’s 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, demonstrating its commitment to exceptional teaching and learning. The framework assesses universities based on various criteria, such as teaching quality, learning environment, and student outcomes. It considers factors like student satisfaction, retention rates, and employment to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
Aston University takes great pride in its consistent strong performances in the metrics related to student outcome successes, which are crucial in determining the overall League Table rankings. As an astute professional in the field, it’s worth noting that Aston University has achieved an impressive 11th ranking in the UK for ‘Continuation’ in the 2021 Guardian University Guide. This metric gauges the percentage of students who remain enrolled after their first year, highlighting Aston’s commitment to student success. The 2021 Guardian Guide also places Aston University at joint 24th in the UK for ‘Value Added’, a measure that assesses the difference between students’ actual grades and their expected grades based on their entry qualifications.
Moreover, Aston University has been recognised by the 2021 Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide for its impressive track record. It ranks 31st in the UK for the proportion of students achieving a 1st or 2:1 degree classification. Additionally, Aston University holds the 30th position in the UK for ‘Graduate Prospects’, which is based on the proportion of graduates in professional level jobs or pursuing further study within 15 months of graduation.
Furthermore, Aston’s students and graduates have achieved impressive results, with evidence of significant long-term advantages of Aston degrees. A recent study, the 2020 Longitudinal Education Outcomes, revealed that Aston graduates ranked 15th in terms of median salary among all UK institutions, five years after graduation.