Term1 at Aston

My first term at Aston is finally winding down; classes are over and exams have just finished. After one full term, I’m pleased to say that thus far my experience at Aston has been a pleasant one. There are two things that have stood out the most during the term – the diversity and Aston’s student centric focus.

When I thought about studying in the United Kingdom I knew that I would be crossing paths with people from all over the world but I was so amazed when I arrived at Aston to find out that this aspect exceeded my expectations. In my first week alone I met persons from Egypt, Nigeria, Greece, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Russia, Hong Kong, Canada, India, Estonia, France – just think of a country and chances are you’ll find a national at Aston. This really provides the opportunity for international networking. I have met a lot of wonderful people from very diverse backgrounds and we’ve not only shared classes together but also worked together as teams and developed friendships. Aston also supports this multicultural environment through courses such as Intercultural Communications which challenges you to think about the way you communicate with others and helps everyone to be cognizant of the cultural differences and barriers this could potentially cause. As a result, we are motivated to explore other cultures and discuss our differences in a rather constructive way.

Outside of the classroom, particularly if you live on campus like I do, you have to interact with many culturally diverse persons. I have found that since being at Aston I have improved my intercultural awareness. It’s one thing to be aware that every country communicates differently, but it’s a totally different thing to actually experience it. Through interacting with persons from other cultures I have not only increased my knowledge of other countries, their politics and culture, but also improved the way I communicate with others.

I have also observed something which I appreciate about Aston, that is, all its initiatives are focused on developing its students. Lecturers take a genuine interest in ensuring that students are on track and understand what is being taught. I like the fact that lecturers know their students by name and class participation is always encouraged as this enhances the learning experience. Further, there are a number of support systems in place for students such as the Hub (a student advice centre) as well as student support offices for each department and an active student’s guild. Undoubtedly, these factors contributed to a productive learning environment.

Overall, the first term was an enjoyable and engaging experience. I’m definitely looking forward to what the next term has in store.

The Journey to Aston

I feel honoured being a recipient of the International Office’s Postgraduate Taught Masters International Scholarship which enabled me to pursue my masters at Aston Business School; one of the top ranked institutions for graduate employability in the United Kingdom. When I applied for the scholarship I didn’t know what to expect as these processes are highly competitive. To my surprise, after a couple weeks of submitting my application, I received an email from the International Office with the scholarship offer.

I was very excited as I have always wanted to study in the UK but funding was posing a challenge. As an International Student tuition fees are comparatively higher, therefore it really helps when you can obtain a scholarship.

I would encourage anyone interested in studying at Aston to visit the International Office website and check out the scholarship offerings; the URL is http://www1.aston.ac.uk/international-students/finance/internal-scholarships/io-postgraduate-scholarship/.

There are also additional scholarships available at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/programmes/postgraduate/fees-scholarships/#Scholarships.

These web pages outline just how simple the scholarship application process is for Aston.

The Pre-Arrival Process

In retrospect, the visa application process made me the most anxious. My anxiety was greatly due to the fact that I didn’t have much time before the start of the academic term and I feared some delay with starting the MSc programme. The visa processing time for each country varies and for Jamaica it’s approximately two (2) weeks. After completing the Tier 4 online application and submitting the supporting documents and Self-Assessment (Appendix 8) form to the British High Commission, I then had to be patient…very patient….and wait to know the outcome. Luckily, the High Commission was true to its word and provided my visa within the two week period.

One of the things I found most useful during the pre-arrival process was the Pre-Arrival Guide for 2011-12 posted on the Aston website. It provided pertinent information about obtaining the Tier 4 visa for International Students, getting ready for university and living in the UK. It also helped in planning transportation arrangements to the campus as it outlined the different options, such as coach, train or cab, upon arrival in the UK. This made my trip to the UK much easier as it made me aware of what to expect upon arrival.

Looking forward to life at Aston

Hi everyone,

My name is Donna-Kay and starting September 2011 I will be a student at Aston Business School. I am very enthusiastic to be joining Aston’s Masters programme in Business and Marketing Analytics. I believe that Aston will offer great opportunities for not only academic advancement but also making lifelong networks. 

I like the fact that Aston has a diverse mix of international students as this increases its appeal as a place to study and network. I am looking forward to the cross cultural interactions with students from various countries across the world, which will undoubtedly provide a beneficial opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other.

Thus far the Postgraduate Admissions Team and International Office have been most helpful with providing guidance and answering queries. I am definitely looking forward to life at Aston. For those of you who are already familiar with Aston, do you mind sharing some tips and advice for us newcomers?

Looking forward to the responses!

--Donna