Aston University
A city-centre Birmingham university built around placements, business and the professions, with a young medical school.
- Students
- 15,710
- International
- 35%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 20.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £22,575
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1966
About Aston
Aston University grew from the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, opened by the city in 1895, and received its royal charter as a university in 1966. Its compact campus sits in Birmingham city centre, and it also teaches in London. Aston's stated mission is to be the UK's leading university for students aspiring to succeed in business and the professions, and students come from more than 120 countries.
Teaching is organised in Aston Business School, Aston Medical School, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the College of Health and Life Sciences and the School of Law and Social Sciences. Placement years are central to the model: they are optional and encouraged in Computer Science and compulsory in Accounting and Finance. Aston holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) and was 2nd in England on HEPI's Social Mobility Index 2025. Its medical school, approved by the GMC to award primary medical qualifications in 2023, takes 110 home and 30 international students a year.
Typical offers for 2027 are BBB for courses such as Computer Science, Psychology and Accounting and Finance, ABB for Pharmacy and A*AA with the UCAT for Medicine, with EPQ and contextual reductions. Aston suits career-minded students who want a placement year and a big-city campus.
Forward
University motto
Why students choose Aston
Aston graduates earn a median £40,300 five years after graduating (LEO 2026), 21st in the UK for graduate salaries.
Placement years are built into many degrees, and compulsory in Accounting and Finance.
Aston was named University of the Year for Student Success in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025 and holds TEF Gold (2023).
Campus accommodation is guaranteed for eligible first-year undergraduates, run with Unite Students from £172.20 a week.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Aston does not publish an overall offer rate. Most 2027 courses ask for BBB, with a one-grade reduction for a grade B EPQ and contextual offers; Medicine (A*AA plus UCAT) has 110 home and 30 international places.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | 2027 typical offers: BBB (Computer Science, any subjects, or BBC with a STEM subject; Psychology; Accounting and Finance); BBC including Mathematics (Chemical Engineering); ABB including Chemistry and another science (Pharmacy); A*AA including Chemistry and Biology (Medicine, contextual AAB). Many courses offer one grade lower with an EPQ at B, and lower contextual offers. |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 29 points (Chemical Engineering), 31 points with 5,5,5 at HL (Psychology, Accounting and Finance), 32 points with 6,5,5 at HL including Chemistry (Pharmacy) |
| English language | IELTS 6 Undergraduate IELTS minimums vary by school: 6.0 (5.5 in each band) for Engineering and Physical Sciences and for Law and Social Sciences; 6.5 for Aston Business School and for Psychology and Biomedicine; 7.0 for Pharmacy, Biomedical Science, Nursing and Optometry; 7.0 in every band for Medicine. TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine MBChB) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
UCAT required in 2026; 110 home and 30 international places.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. The first term for new students in 2026 began on 14 September.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement and reference. Medicine applicants must sit the UCAT in 2026 and apply by the 15 October 2026 deadline, and offers depend on occupational health and enhanced DBS checks.
What admissions looks for
- Grades at the typical offer, with credit for an EPQ at grade B on many courses.
- Required subjects, such as Chemistry and another science for Pharmacy and Chemistry and Biology for Medicine.
- For Medicine, six GCSEs at grade 6/B including English, Mathematics and sciences, a UCAT score and satisfactory health and DBS checks.
- For contextual applicants, potential shown through Aston's widening participation schemes such as Aston Ready.
Tips for applying to Aston
- 1 Take an EPQ if you can: many Aston courses drop by one grade for a B in the EPQ.
- 2 Medicine applicants must sit the UCAT in summer or early autumn 2026 before the 15 October deadline.
- 3 International applicants can apply for the competitive International Community Scholarship (£9,000 across the degree in the 2026 scheme) once they hold an offer.
- 4 Plan for a placement year: it is compulsory on Accounting and Finance and strongly encouraged on Computer Science.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Aston's International Community Scholarship gave eligible undergraduates starting in September 2026 a £9,000 tuition discount across the degree (£5,000 in year one, £2,000 in years two and three), awarded competitively after an offer. Placement years cost less: the course pages list reduced fees for the placement year. Scholarships for 2027 entry are announced on key dates through the year.
- £9,000 over the degree
- International Community Scholarship (Sept 2026)
- £40,300
- Median graduate salary after five years (LEO 2026)
- From £172.20 per week
- Campus rooms (Unite Students)
Academics
Academic calendar: Three terms (September to June)
Medicine (MBChB)
A five-year course at Aston Medical School, GMC-approved in 2023; A*AA plus UCAT, with 30 places for international students.
Pharmacy (MPharm)
ABB with Chemistry, backed by a £3.3m investment in the pharmacy teaching laboratory.
Optometry (MOptom)
A long-standing Aston speciality; Geoffrey Vernon Ball became the first full-time professor of ophthalmics in 1948.
Computer Science (BSc)
BBB with no subject requirement and an optional placement year at firms such as IBM and 3M.
Accounting and Finance (BSc)
Aston Business School degree with a compulsory placement year; BBB typical offer.
Chemical Engineering (BEng)
BBC including Mathematics, taught in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
Research
- 79% of Aston's research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
- Aston is part of a £17.9m local health research collaboration launched in 2026.
- Aston holds an Athena SWAN Gold award for gender equality.
Schools & faculties
- Aston Business School
- Aston Medical School
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- College of Health and Life Sciences
- School of Law and Social Sciences
Aston graduates' median salary five years after graduation is £40,300 (LEO 2026), 21st in the UK; Aston is 23rd in the UK for career prospects in the Guardian University Guide 2026.
Student life
Aston's campus is a compact green space in the middle of Birmingham, with a lake, the Main Building and the student village along James Watt Queensway. First-years live on campus in ensuite rooms in five- or seven-person flats run with Unite Students. The Aston Students' Union building won a Guardian University Award in 2020, and subject societies such as the Aston Computer Science Society sit alongside sports clubs. Students rated Aston 16th in the UK for student experience in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
- Aston Students' Union building (Guardian University Awards 2020).
- Aston Heritage and Art Trail across the campus.
- Campus lake and student village in the city centre.
- 16th in the UK for student experience (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025).
Housing. Aston guarantees campus accommodation for eligible new undergraduates who accept an unconditional offer; rooms are ensuite in 5- or 7-person flats from £172.20 a week, run with Unite Students.
Location
Birmingham is one of the UK's most diverse cities, and Aston highlights its cultural heritage, top sporting events, music, performing arts and food from around the world. Aston's campus is in the city centre, so shops, nightlife and rail links are close by, and Aston also has a London teaching location.
Nearest airport: Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Notable alumni
- TH Tony HaywardFormer chief executive of BP
- BF Ben FrancisFounder of the fitness brand Gymshark
- PD Paul DraysonVaccine entrepreneur and former UK Minister for Science
- VR Viswas RaghavanInvestment banker; head of banking at Citigroup since 2024, formerly global co-head of investment banking at J.P. Morgan
- KW Kevin WarwickCybernetics researcher
- SY Salma YaqoobPolitician, former leader of Respect
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Aston University?
Most 2027 courses ask for BBB (one grade lower with a B in the EPQ), Pharmacy asks for ABB with Chemistry, and Medicine asks for A*AA with Chemistry and Biology plus the UCAT.
How much are Aston's fees for international students?
For September 2027 entry, international fees are £22,575 a year for courses such as Computer Science and Psychology, £23,500 for Accounting and Finance and £47,000 for Medicine.
Can international students study Medicine at Aston?
Yes. Aston Medical School has 30 places for international students (and 110 for home students), and all applicants must take the UCAT and apply by 15 October 2026.
Does Aston guarantee accommodation?
Yes, for eligible new undergraduates who hold an accepted unconditional offer; rooms are on campus and run with Unite Students.
Is a placement year compulsory at Aston?
It depends on the course: it is compulsory for Accounting and Finance and optional but encouraged for Computer Science.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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