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Student Profiles from Europe

Alberto Cuomo
Alberto Cuomo

Alberto Cuomo, BSc International Business and Management, Italy 

I chose to study in England and I considered a range of business schools. I was impressed by Aston University's reputation and rankings.  Read more about my experience of Aston Below.

A degree from Aston University is going to be recognised globally. Aston is able to offer placements where you can work anywhere in the world. I live on campus which is very comfortable and all campus facilities like the laundry, the library and the gym are close by. It’s definitely best to live on campus especially in your first year.
I’m currently in my first year of the IBAM programme (BSc International Business and Management).  We take a common first year and this gives me the flexibility to change to another business programme if I want to at the end of the first year.
Birmingham is a very modern city. There are lots of activities and things to do and everything is within 10 minutes walking distance.
Fabio Carraro - Italy
Fabio Carraro

Fabio Carraro, MSc Marketing Management, Italy

I wanted to come to the UK to study and the MSc Marketing Management course offered by Aston University really impressed me. I did my own research and I was impressed by Aston University’s reputation.

When I compare studying in Italy and in the UK, I find the environment in the UK much more competitive. Read more about my experience at Aston below.

I have been happy with everything at Aston, especially with the lecturers.It is a competitive environment but with a manageable workload that encourages me to be at my best everyday.

I also love everything about the campus and everyone is very helpful. The location is the best thing as it is so close to the city centre and of course the atmosphere on campus is great.

On my programme, the MSc Marketing Management, there are people from over 20 different countries studying with me. This diverse student group teaches you that there are many different approaches to any one problem.

If you are considering studying in the UK, it is a really worthwhile experience.  You will find here world class teaching staff and amazing student diversity.  It is also a very friendly and welcoming environment whilst being very competitive, which is great in terms of skill building.
Anastasia Kyriacou
Anastasia Kyriacou

Anastasia Kyriacou, BSc Optometry, Cyprus

I have really enjoyed studying at Aston, and I completed a foundation year here before entering my Bachelors degree in Optometry. I chose Aston because of the rankings for the Optometry department and also because the campus is in the city centre and I could live on campus.

International Student Profile
Suvi Ellilä

Suvi Ellilä, BSc Product Design & Management, Finland, Graduated 12th July 2010

Whilst at Aston I have had the opportunity to get involved with research, working with a PhD student in the summer before my second year. This was my first experience of working on a research project prior to my dissertation in my final year.

Now that I have graduated I will be going to Cambridge University to complete an MPhil in Micro and Nanotechnology Enterprise. This programme will allow me to remain right at the cutting edge of modern research in this field.

Eddie Castex
Eddie Castex

Eddie Castex, MSc Marketing Management, France

Read about my experience at Aston University by clicking on the tabs below.

Aston has good rankings and my lecturers are internationally respected researchers. We do a lot of group work which enhances my team working skills.  I have really learnt to listen to people and their points of view. There is also a large choice of societies to get involved in. I’m part of the Salsa Society which is run by lots of enthusiastic people.
Birmingham is a very good city to live in, its active and dynamic, there are lots of shops and places to go out with friends, some really good restaurants and clubs. I have found it easy to adapt to life in Birmingham even if the food is slightly different. I now have close friends from countries as varied as Italy and India which I like.

When I graduate I would like to work in advertising or marketing. I would like to work outside of France maybe in the UK.  Aston has a good reputation amongst employers both in the UK and abroad. The careers centre have helped me to focus and this will help in future applications.

Pamela Haering Das
Pamela Haering Das

Pamela Haering-Das, MSc Work Psychology and Business. Germany

The diverse mix of students at Aston broadens your horizons and not just academically. It gives you the chance to look at things differently, it's interesting to see how people perceive your culture, you get the chance to explain your culture to people who may not understand it. Read more about my experience of Aston below.

I am really impressed by the research focus, the lecturers have very applicable practically based knowledge. What they teach is not just out of a text book, they give real world examples of how to use the knowledge that they share.

My course is very interesting, there are lots of people from different cultures and lots of different backgrounds which is both challenging and interesting. The course covers a range of areas including human resources and counselling. My favourite topic is work psychology, in this we consider areas such as the well being of the individual, ergonomics, counselling and employee relations. I enjoy this so much because there is so much to consider, this is where I get to put strategies in place to help people achieve their potential.
Thomas Schaster
Thomas Schaster

Thomas Schaster, MSc Business and Management, Germany

Read about my experience at Aston by clicking the tabs below.

Aston is a very international environment. This is important as studying is not just about the result but also about the journey to get you there. I received an Aston Business School scholarship which helped me pay my tuition fees.  The University runs an annual scholarship reception which is great.   It was nice that the Vice-Chancellor came down to meet us. I only knew a few friends that were there so it was helpful to meet with some of the other scholars.

To be honest, I was surprised at how nice a city Birmingham is. It is really easy to get around and there are some great shops. The airport is really close which makes travelling home very convenient.. Birmingham is a very student friendly city.  Everything is so cost effective when you compare it with London.

Students on the MSc Business and Management programme have a diverse range of backgrounds, with people from engineering and science based backgrounds as well as those with a more traditional business background.  For example, my syndicate group includes a doctor from India!  This makes working together challenging but it really helps to develop your intercultural awareness. Our programme covers a broad range of topics which gives you an ideal grounding to go into consulting work, which is my career goal after graduation.

Jimmy Naraine
Jimmy Naraine

Jimmy Naraine, International Business and Management, Polish

Aston is one of only 27 business schools in the world to have achieved triple accreditation and gives me the opportunity to complete an overseas industrial placement year. Read more about my Aston experience by clicking the tabs below.

In Poland we are required to learn vast amounts of material but very often we do not know how to put it into practise. At Aston, stronger emphasis is put on teaching us how to implement knowledge into everyday business life.

There are no limits to the number of clubs that you can join!  Apart from the huge range of sporting societies, students raise money with the RAG society, develop business skills with business societies, you can build schools in Uganda, or go for AIESEC exchange to Hong Kong or Dubai! Its important to get involved!

Aston’s green campus is situated in the city centre and has students from very diverse backgrounds. I have a great social life here and in ten minutes on campus I can see at least twenty people that I know.
Jo
Joanna Pokorska

Joanna Pokorska, MSc Marketing Management, Poland 
I was impressed with Aston’s reputation as it has a really good position in the league tables.

Read more about my experience of Aston Unviersity below.

I had studied at Aston beforehand as an exchange student so I already knew a lot about the University. I also know that Birmingham is well located with excellent transport connections. It is a really multicultural environment to be in.  The university isn’t huge so you do get to know the staff and the lecturers well and they are really approachable. The standard of teaching here is very high and there are great student facilities on campus such as the access to databases and IT facilities. The majority of students are international and they are not as competitive as students on courses I have previously studied with, which creates a positive atmosphere among students, since everyone is willing to help others and share opinions and knowledge.

I also became a member of recently established Polish Society. I think it is great idea to be able to stay in touch with your own culture, even if you are abroad. 

I have  been awarded an Aston Business School scholarship. To be awarded this,  I had to write an essay on my strengths and weakness and how the MSc programme would help me to address them. This scholarship has made a great difference to me and has allowed me to complete the course without having to take out a loan.
Bruno Rebelo
Bruno Rebelo
Bruno Rebelo, BSc Business Computing and IT, Portugal

Aston University is a great place to study, the on-campus accommodation in my first year was a brilliant experience, I made friends from lots of different cultures and there is a lot of support available, during your study programme. I am currently on a placement year, working on a project within the University, building an e-learning website for the Department of Combined Honours. I’m using skills I’ve learnt plus developing time management and organisational skills. Eventually, I would like to look for a consultancy job which also gives me the opportunity to travel the world
Ines
Ines Branco

Ines Branco Illodo, MSc Marketing Management, Spain

When I was at university in Spain, I was planning to go abroad to study for a year but I found a good job and worked for five years. I decided to go back to university and chose Aston.  I looked on the internet and Aston’s MSc Marketing Management degree had the right content for me.

I have received an Aston Business School scholarship towards my tuition fees which has helped me pay to be here. I also attended the International Scholarship reception where we were presented with our awards. Read more about my Aston experience below.

The teaching quality is really good at Aston.  The lecturers are very friendly and approachable. You can e-mail them with questions and they are really helpful. There is a lot of group work which I don’t like but I am learning a lot from this.  It is the first time I have to do academic work in a group environment. It’s very demanding but it does help you with your language. When I first came here I couldn’t understand anyone!  I had studied English but when I went to buy a train ticket I asked someone where to go and couldn’t understand him! He was really helpful and friendly though and did help me to get a ticket.

I’m learning a lot. I need to feel motivated otherwise I get bored and this is a very motivational environment. I’m not just here to get an education. This is a massive investment in myself. I am getting to know people from a variety of different nationalities which is opening my mind to new things.

I want to find a job and would like to work in Spain but there is a 20% rate of unemployment. I wouldn’t mind working for a multinational company with offices in Spain. I could possibly work here or in any other country as a short/medium term arrangement.

In the Aston Business School, there is a specific MSc Careers Advisor who has been very helpful. He helps us to work through application forms and informs us about deadlines for applications or competitions organised by companies. The work that he does really helps as it saves me a lot of research. There is also a meeting about the careers service every week

I would recommend Aston for Business and the facilities are great.  Applicants should also consider other factors such as research rankings and look at student profiles.  Prior to coming here I looked at a range of information and visited before applying.