Student profiles from South Asia

Aston University is known for its rankings in the U.K. It has a high reputation as a research institution and for graduate employability (subsequently its industrial links). This was the main reason for me to choose Aston University over many U.K. institutions. It is also a small university which helps students develop better with personal tutoring and greater access to university resources. Its location is also a virtue as it has links to all the major city hotspots which appeal to students. Over and above, the campus is very friendly and conducive for excelling in academics.

Birmingham is home to a number of ethnic groups. Aston University, being centrally located, helps students experience Birmingham to the fullest. Churches, temples, mausoleums, pizza parlours, salons, bars, shopping malls and eat out joints attract students the most. The weather may not the best factor to consider while talking about my experience in Birmingham, but that hasn't stopped me from going places and discovering the various hotspots in the city. Living off-campus has also helped me acquaint myself with some of the more remote parts in Birmingham. The people are very friendly. There are many small firms and industries operating here, hence is home to good entrepreneurial activities.

I am studying Software Engineering at Aston and am in my final year. My modules are very diverse, including Software Project Management, Computer Animation, Geographic Information Systems and Enterprise Computing Strategies, to name a few. The courses are well organised and their materials cover a variety of topics. There are course works in some modules which help students apply their practical skills. Our professors are very well qualified in their fields of study. They are always happy to help students with the most trivial problems. Students are allocated personal tutors who help them with any academic and non-academic issues. Aston University is known for its international base and the same is reflected in all the modules I take.

I hope to imbibe maximum skills while at university, which can be transferred onto a graduate job I wish to take up in Birmingham. I wish to continue pursuing I.T. and I.T. consulting and Aston Careers has been very helpful in helping me look through some good companies for applying. There may be a placement year post my graduation so I am eagerly looking forward to that as well!

Aston is an excellent university, with a compact, small, one place located and easily assessable campus in the heart of United Kingdom’s second largest city Birmingham. The reason I chose Aston was due to its Business School rankings in UK and the employability rate being higher than Oxford. Like every student I would like to have a great job once I finish my university and Aston provides the right platform. So therefore if you need a place to make some amazing contacts, meet people from different cultures and secure a fantastic job, all this at a reasonable price, then ASTON UNIVERSITY is your place.

I am pursuing Bachelors of Sciences in Marketing here at Aston and I am currently completing my second year. In first year all the students no matter which course had the same modules, including Management, Organisational management, Accountancy and Quantitative Methods. In the second year every student then studies modules according to their own courses and subjects where you may get an option to choose your own modules.

The staff here at Aston is very friendly and helpful. We all have been assigned Personal Tutors which helps a lot to boost the confidence. My personal tutor is just amazing and has helped me with almost everything. Examinations here are similar to any examination held anywhere in the world. It’s just if you remain active and study regularly, you will be good during exam times.

The programmes no matter which have students from all over the world and with different backgrounds and study styles, which makes you know more about different cultures.

Birmingham is the second largest city in United Kingdom, which makes it well developed and reasonable. Aston University being situated in the heart of Birmingham is just a 5 minutes walk from the city centre, where you can find everything you need for day to day life. The nearest train station is New Street station where you can find trains connecting Birmingham to anyplace in UK, at any time of the day. Also Birmingham has many exciting places to visit like the Birmingham National Museum, The Central Library, Alton Towers, NEC and many more; therefore you can never get bored in such a place. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN BHAM.
In terms of safety and security, Aston is located next to West Midlands Police station and Birmingham Children Hospital, and Birmingham is also considered to be the safest city in UK.

After my graduation, which is still 2 more years to go, I plan to go for a Marketing position in a good firm in United Kingdom itself and possibly in Birmingham. Maybe after that I would again come to Aston University to pursue my MBA.

1. A summer placement with BBC Research and Development, working as a Network Engineer. This placement goes to the student with the best grades in the first year of my course. I learnt to work in an organised way and improved my skills in testing systems.

2. A year long placement with BMW, working as a Quality Analyst. I learnt to communicate with dealerships all over the world and so improved my communication skills.

3. An in-house placement, working with the Aston Photonic Research Group. I learnt research skills.

 After all my placements I was more organised, less stressed and my time management improved. I think Aston is a great University. I believe that because of the placement option, finding a graduate job after studying at Aston is easier. The careers office really helps students to get placements and graduate jobs. Already, I have been offered a graduate job with a UK company as a C Sharp Programmer. If I choose not to accept this I will go into the family business back home in India.

One of the main reasons why l chose Aston was because of the compact and friendly campus. Getting around is easy and you soon get to know people’s faces.  There a lot of clubs and societies you can join too. I’m currently working as a Guild International Student Officer.

When l was applying to Aston l used an agent in New Delhi. One day, when visiting my agent, l also met one of the University reps. We had a chat about the course and the University which found really helpful.

I have chosen the Marketing and Operations streams which involves a lot of group work with people from around the world. This is a great experience as I want to work for a multinational company when l graduate.

I just want to study, I even want to do my PhD here I am passionate about research studies. I came to Aston is its highly ranked and because my course is versatile here my modules fit me well. Aston is really good, the course is very intense, I find it very interesting and challenging for me.

Extra Curricula activities at Aston are amazing, I just used the career services. These are the aspects which really help in grooming yourself.

Also it’s in Birmingham the second biggest city in the UK which is good for other things apart from study; no one can study all the time. Birmingham is full of lively people, mainly it’s a student city so you get your mates quickly, and it feels like home.