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Academic excellence

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High league table rankings

Aston has strong league table positions across a range of different criteria. 

  • 13th out of 113 UK universities - The Independent Complete University Guide 2010

  • 19th out of 117 UK universities - The Guardian University Guide 2010

  • 28th out of 113 UK universities  The Times Good University Guide 2009 

  • 12 of our 16 broad subject areas ranked in the UK's top 15 in 2006 - 2009 subject rankings  (Times, Complete and/or Guardian University Guides)   

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8th in England for student satisfaction 

Overall student satisfaction levels are 89% (2008 National Student Survey, featured in the Sunday Times). This is the highest score of any West Midlands University, and ranks us 11th out of all 115 UK Universities.

Over 70% of our students are on degrees with teaching quality ratings of 22/24 or higher.

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Top 10 for graduate employment

We're a top 10 UK University for graduate employment in the Times, Sunday Times, Guardian and Complete University Guides 2009. We've consistently been in the top 10 for the last 15 years

83% of Aston graduates entered graduate level employment in 2007-8, compared to a national average of just 70%. This places Aston 8th in the UK for graduate employment. (Sunday Times , Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey).

Our Careers Service was voted in the top 10 of all UK Universities by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (2008)

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World class research

The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is a national exercise which assesses the quality of research across all UK higher education institutions.

The 2008 RAE results confirmed the quality and depth of Aston’s research:

  • All research areas submitted ranked in the top 12 in the UK
  • 45% of the research submitted evaluated as excellent or world-leading
  • Overall quality has increased since the last RAE in 2001
Read more about research at Aston or take a look at our RAE results in full.
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Low drop-out rates

Aston's drop-out rate is one of the lowest in the country at just 4% (2008 Higher Education Statistics Agency), confirming our reputation for successful students who benefit from our excellent support services.

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Other criteria 

In 2008 league tables, Aston ranked particularly high on specific criteria including:

  • strong staff-student ratios

  • a high proportion of first and upper second class degrees

  • a high level of spending on student facilities (student support, accommodation, sport and teaching facilities)

  • a high level of spending on library and computing facilities

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