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Student profiles from Latin America

International Student Profile Picture
Hans Alarcon

Hans Alarcon, BSc Management and Strategy, Peru

Placement Year Company: Boston Market, USA                                                    Position: Shift Supervisor

Campuses create a small community of fellow students away from parents which helps a lot to experience certain kind of independence. I liked being in a community with other young students who were interesting and good to meet.

I was also part of the live music society and so was able to perform in different venues in Birmingham which was an interesting life experience.

On my placement I am a supervisor at a restaurant chain. My main duties are to take care of the accounting of everyday sales and be responsible for the crew working at the restaurant. Being responsible for the running of a store I also gained confidence in my abilities to assume a leadership role. And because my placement was abroad I also learned how to adapt to a complete different environment and having to meet people that will support in the absence of my family and childhood friends.

Ava-Gail Lewis
Ava-Gail Lewis
 Ava-Gail Lewis, MSc Engineering Management, Panama

I was surprised at how international Aston University is, there is a lot of cultural diversity here, which made me feel really comfortable and not out of place when I first arrived. Student life here is really social; there are lots of activities going on and lots to do. The library and computer facilities are great, my course is practical/industry focused so it keeps me enthusiastic. I feel my Masters will help me when I go back to Panama to work in a project management role. International degrees are valued and graduates from the UK are sought after.
Ninoska Reyes Ruiz
Ninoska Reyes Ruiz
Ninoska Reyes Ruiz, BSc Accounting for Management, Venezuela

I am going to take a placement year as part of my Bachelors degree at Aston University. This way, I will already have some experience when I go back to Venezuela in competing for a good job. The student visa covers the placement year, so you are able to work for a year and get paid as part of the four year degree programme. I chose Aston because I can gain accreditation towards becoming a Chartered Accountant, and the tuition fees are fixed for the duration of my studies. The on-campus accommodation here is great and it is guaranteed each year of my degree programme. The teaching is excellent here and the lecturers are really approachable. The campus is in the city centre so you can get to everything really quickly and the lecture theatres are right near my accommodation.