Reputation
Nowadays there are so many institutions offering various degrees that it can be mind-boggling deciding where to study. When I decided that I wanted to pursue my postgraduate degree and was looking into potential institutions, one of my academic advisors cautioned that “it is immensely important to ensure that the place at which you are studying is reputable”. The reputation of the institution is indeed important because the degrees obtained are aligned with the institution. In other words, if the institution has a poor reputation then the degree obtained from them may be questionable.
That being said, Aston has consistently ranked within the top universities in the UK. According to the 2013 Guardian University Guide, Aston was rated within the top 30 UK institutions with some subjects being among the top 10 (Source: http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2012/may/top-30-university/). In light of the above, the fact that Aston has a track record of high-level performance is quite reassuring to know.
Learning Environment
Depending on the programme being studied, the size of the lecture sessions may differ. My lectures were relatively small, partly due to the newness of the programme. During lectures, students are engaged in discussions and critical thinking is encouraged. It is truly an interactive learning experience.
The lecturers are from diverse backgrounds, which enhance the learning experience as you are able to learn from global perspectives. I was pleasantly surprised by how approachable the lecturers are as well as the fact that most are genuinely interested in the development of students.
Resources & Facilities
The MSc. Postgraduate Suite and Business School foster comfortable and professional setting for students in and out of classes. I like the fact that the MSc. Suite offers 24hour access as this provides a comfortable working and studying environment outside of regular library hours. There are also numerous computer labs available to students.
Overall, the facilities at Aston are modern with some areas being newly refurbished, such as the library. The printing facilities, which operate on a ‘FollowMe’ system, are also easily accessible and documents can be sent to the print network and picked up at a later time from any printer on campus – this is quite convenient.
Students are also provided with access to software needed for their course. For the programme I am studying, we were able to install any software being used on our personal computers and were therefore able to practice using this software outside of class time. Aston also provides access to various databases for research purposes.
Scholarships & Other Funding
A number of scholarships are provided each year by Aston, which can be a tremendous help to international students in particular. Persons interested in scholarship options can find this information on the Aston website.
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