The MBA has allowed me to see things differently and to start my own business. It has given me a lot of insight. I call it a journey to knowledge, the Aston experience is inspiring. I have learnt about new ideas, innovation, corporate and social responsability and a whole host of other concepts.

The MBA team that support us have been helpful and very friendly and Birmingham is a wonderfully diverse city.

Before speaking to the university’s representative in Nigeria I had never heard of Aston University. After learning some more one of the major reasons I chose Aston was because it offers African students scholarships to study the MBA. I receive a 50% fee reduction and was also able to secure a further £5000 through the Ferguson Trust scholarship. I also chose Aston University because it is outside of London, where I think there can be too many distractions from studying.

I hope to start my own business within 5 years and I know that the MBA has equipped me with the tools and confidence to be able to achieve this successfully. The course has touched on every aspect of management and with a distinction in an ABS MBA the sky really is the limit for my future.

My first degree is in architecture so it was difficult to get people’s interest when I wanted to discuss IT matters with them. I believe the Aston MBA will bring me to the attention of the right people and open up new avenues for me. Because of the IGS (International Graduate Scheme) I intend to stay on for a year after I graduate and gain some valuable work experience.

If possible I would like to stay on in Birmingham after that. Eventually, my ambition is to set up my own IT Consultancy firm. I love Birmingham! I was hesitant about coming to Birmingham in the first place as I thought it was a small place in the middle of nowhere but now I totally love it. I actually prefer Birmingham much more than London and I appreciate the lower cost of living and added space that you get here. Eventually I would love to live and work here.

I chose the Aston MBA mainly because of the duration of the programme, being 1 year long. I have a family so I didn’t want too much time away from them. I selected the Aston MBA after researching the TOP MBA website. Also, I was impressed by how quickly the MBA team responded to my email and telephone enquiries. They were always polite and prompt. So far, all my expectations have been met.

I describe Aston as being like a mini-world. You get to meet so many different people from other cultures as there is such a good, diverse mix of nationalities but you also get to meet lots of British students too. It is easy to fit in and feel part of the student body. The orientation programme helped as well. Finally, I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship for which I am very grateful. My time at Aston has been amazing! I came to Aston as a raw material and I am leaving as a finished product. Studying here has really broadened my outlook on life. It has helped me so much and makes me consider everything differently and not to accept only one answer. In particular, I have found studying business ethics most enlightening. I would like to stay on under the new IGS scheme which allows me to stay for one year after graduation to gain some work experience. I hope to work in a sales & marketing role and ultimately run my own business.

I am doing an MA in Translation Studies, funded by the Commonwealth Commission and Aston University. And from my experience over the past eight months that I have been on this programme, I must confess that coming to Aston University for studies is one of the best things that have happened to me as a student, an academic and a professional translator. The professors go out of their way to keep us informed of current trends in the practice of and research in translation and interpreting. One very outstanding part of our programme is that, in addition to the theories, we are made to have a feel of what it means to be a professional translator or interpreter by forming and running (simulated) translation companies, which entail searching for clients and doing actual translation jobs.

We also have a lot of seminars and workshops by professionals in the field, at times in conjunction with the leading professional associations like ITI, who give us some first-hand idea of what the field really looks like and ways of making it into and staying on top of the market, as well as seminars by scholars who share their on-going researches with us. And guess what, it is fun!! Believe me. Indeed, if you want a degree in Translation Studies or Languages in general, then Aston University is your best bet as you’ll be empowered to face the world with much confidence.