Aston University, Birmingham

About Aston University

Aston University is redefining what a university is, breaking free from tradition to deliver a transformative experience. It prepares ambitious students to thrive in their careers by combining world-class education with real-world experience in business, industry, and healthcare.

For over a century, Aston has been dedicated to making the world a better place through education, research, and innovation. Its goal is to empower students to succeed in their careers and lives. Applied research underpins all teaching activities, while professional development opportunities provide industry-relevant experience to help students stand out in a competitive job market.

Undergraduate students can develop Aston Power Skills to gain the skills employers around the globe are looking for. Master’s students benefit from the Guaranteed Internship scheme, enabling them to graduate with more than just a degree.

Birmingham is the UK’s second-largest city and is home to major global companies such as Cadbury, Jaguar Land Rover, Lloyds Bank, and Rolls Royce. It also hosts thriving businesses like Gymshark, providing extensive career opportunities for graduates.

Birmingham was voted the sixth-best student city in the UK (QS, 2024). It offers a lower cost of living than London (livingcost.org) while maintaining the advantages of a large, international city, including excellent transport links across the UK and internationally.

Achievements

• Awarded Triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023)
• Top 5 percent globally evaluated institution (QS World University Rankings 2027)
• University of the Year for student success (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025)
• Ranked 52nd in the UK (Complete University Guide 2027)
• Ranked 48th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2026)
• Ranked in the top 300 in the world in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings
• Top 20 in the UK for graduate salaries (LEO, 2025)

Graduate outcomes

The median salary for Aston graduates three years after graduation is GBP 33,600 (2025 LEO), making it a UK top 20 for graduate salaries.

All students are encouraged to complete work placements, which dramatically improves their graduate prospects. The university’s renowned placement year opportunities are transformative, with more than 73 percent of undergraduate students opting to gain professional experience in the third year of their four-year degrees.

Undergraduate degrees include work-focused modules, integrated placement opportunities or a placement year, and postgraduate students can work on business projects with local companies.

Guaranteed Internships with every master’s degree

Aston’s Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme means students get more than a degree. Full-time taught master’s students will graduate with an industry internship, along with the experience and skills employers around the world are looking for. Aston University has a network of global employers with exciting opportunities available for Aston students starting in September 2025 and beyond.

Career support

Aston University’s careers and placements team has been named best university placement service in the UK (National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2022). It provides career guidance and support across a range of areas, including:

• Work placements for many courses
• International student career workshops
• Scholarship-funded virtual internships
• Enterprise placement years

My Aston Story

”One of the great things about studying at Aston is its connections with business and, like every student, I was placed with a US-based financial services company. The placement period really built my understanding of knowledge and finance. It can be quite overwhelming for students when they first go into a professional setting, but Aston University prepares you for this. You learn about how to network with a team, how you can network at events, as well as actual accounting and finance topics.” ~ Kruthika Kumart, BSc Accounting & Finance (2025), India

What’s new

PRME Champions Aston Business School

Aston Business School has been recognised as a United Nations PRME Champion for global impact in responsible educations. As a result, the Business School is one of ten UK institutions selected as a United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Champion.
The school joins a cohort of only 51 higher education institutions around the globe that have been accepted into the 2026–2027 cycle.

Executive MBA ranked 1st in the UK by CEO Magazine

Aston University's Executive MBA programme has been ranked first in the UK (12th globally). Aston University has once again maintained its status as a Tier One Global MBA institution, recognising its position as among the best in the world.

Aston Business School positioned amongst global elite in the 2026 QS rankings by subject

Aston University has once again been recognised globally for the strength and influence of its research. Business, management and marketing disciplines placed in the world top 15 for research impact.

Discover Birmingham

Discover Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, which is vibrant, diverse and full of opportunity. It offers everything from a thriving cultural scene and award-winning food to excellent transport connections across the UK and beyond. With a centrally located campus and a welcoming international community, Aston students enjoy the perfect place to live, learn and build their future.