1. Welcome to Aston University Open Days and Visits 2011-12 James Seymour, Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk

2. Welcome to Aston University  c7,200 Undergraduates, c1,800 postgraduates: c9,000 students  Friendly, safe, campus atmosphere – on a human scale  50% Male/50% Female Students from all over the UK, Europe and beyond – c120 countries

3. Welcome to Aston University A University since 1966, founded in 1895 – “old” University World class research and teaching reputation

4. League Tables, Guides and Rankings Aston University (out of 115 UK Universities): The Complete University Guide (CUG): 25 th, 2012, 17 th 2011 (The Telegraph). Consistently top 20-30 in CUG, Times and Guardian in last 8 years 14 of our subject areas ranked in UK’s top 15 in these guides: 2007-12 Rankings are quite important but not the only factor

5. Excellent Graduate Employment www.aston.ac.uk/careers Graduates into “Graduate Level” Employment: Aston University88% UK Average70% Consistently at and near the top of the graduate employment league for over 15 years. Source: Annual DHLE survey 2008-11, Sunday Times Sept 08-11. Targeted by over 200 companies and organisations, extensive employer liaison and visits programme via our Careers Centre.

6. “Graduate Level” Jobs: 2010 Graduates 1. Imperial College, London 95.7% 2. London School of Economics (LSE) 95.6% 3. Kings College London 88.8% 4. University College London (UCL)87.8% 5. Aston University87.7% 6. Cambridge University 86.6% 7. Bath University 85.4% 8. Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen)84.9% 9. Warwick University84.4% 10. City University (London) 84% 11. Bristol University83.3% UK average c70%. Aston above 16 of the 20 Russell Group Universities Source: HESA, Sunday Times University Guide – September 2011. Employed Graduates in “Graduate Level” employment

7. Excellent Reputation www.aston.ac.uk/careers Aston University is also: amongst top 20 UK Universities most targeted by the major graduate employers (annual High Fliers Survey, January 2011) In the top 100 Universities in The World for Employer Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2012). 51st = place in 2011-12. UNESCO recognises c9,000 Universities globally

8. Aston Students: Graduate Employability and Success “Not even Oxbridge can boast a higher proportion of students gaining graduate level jobs on departure. Aston’s 87.7% is bettered by just four institutions and shows a clean pair of heels to the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Durham” “you will struggle to find a university in Britain more keenly attuned to the needs of business and industry” “research-led teaching and learning is at the heart of its modus operandi…and students are the principal beneficiaries of this spirit” Sunday Times 11 th September 2011.

9. Sandwich and Year Abroad Programmes The Aston Advantage  c70% on Sandwich Placement Years or Year Abroad degrees - Aston one of only four UK Universities with 50%+  Valuable experience, key factor in National Student Survey  Paid placements (average £15,000). Fee will be £1,000 for Aston placement year with further scholarships for many  Frequent graduate job offers from placement employers  Over 50 years’ experience and extensive support: 30+ staff  Properly integrated into degrees – accept no imitations!  800+ companies/organisations, extensive Year Abroad options including strong ERASMUS exchanges

10. The benefits of an Aston Placement Year or Year Abroad. High Fliers Survey 2011 “Nearly two-thirds of UK recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process” “a third of this year’s UK entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations – either through industrial placements, vacation work or sponsorships..” www.highflyers.co.uk 50 years of experience at Aston

11. Birmingham: Fantastic Student City www.aston.ac.uk/birmingham  c65,000 students, c40m visitors each year  “Student Friendly”, high quality of life  Massive choice of shopping, clubs, cinemas, music, theatres, sport, bars and restaurants  Lowest crime of major UK cities  5-10 mins walk 5-10 mins walk  Pick up a Lonely Planet Guide today

12. Green City Centre Campus  Unique location  All academic facilities, library, accommodation, IT rooms, student support, sports centres, pool, shops, cafes and pubs, Students’ Guild on campus  Lots of green space  “Astonbury” festival – June

13. Student Life at Aston  Aston Students’ Guild offers 80 clubs, groups and societies, events, shops, bars  All Birmingham has to offer: across the road  High ratings for Social Life – Push/Student Book alternative guidesSocial Life  FriendsReunited.co.uk “Friendliest Uni”

14. University Sports Facilities – Sport Aston  two campus sports centres inc 25m pool.  120-station fitness suite and gym  35+ sports clubs, BUCS and local competitive leagues  Open 7 days a week  45 acre Aston University Sports Grounds off-campus  Accessible, great value, “Sport for All” ethos – not elitist

15. Library and Computing Facilities University Library – 7 days, 24/6 hours c250,000 volumes, over 14,000 periodicals and electronic journals Major extension and refurbishment Phase 1 opened October 2010 Learning Development Centre IT – over 1,200 campus PCs, 24/7 access, Blackboard 9.1 VLE Fixed/Wi-Fi internet access in all bedrooms & in cafes, teaching/ common rooms on campus

16. Student Support, Health and Personal Development  Personal and Residence Tutors  Advice Centre, JobShop, The Hub  NHS University Health Centre  Dentist, optical clinic, 24 hour security and CCTV, Chaplains etc  Financial, learning and disability, placement and careers support  Praised in Government surveys

17. Research Led: Integrated into Teaching 86% of research expertise at Aston is of “International Significance” (RAE 2008) 45% “World Leading” or “Internationally Excellent” All subject areas submitted classed as Grade 5* or 5 Exploitable Research – it makes a difference

18. Successful, well supported students “Small but perfectly formed is how Aston sees itself and how students and employers feel towards it. A low dropout rate coupled with the highest graduate employment rate of any UK University speaks volumes” Sunday Times 66-70% Aston Graduates gain First Class or 2.1 degrees (UK average c60%) Low drop-out rate: 3.9% (HESA PI March 2011), UK average 7.9%. 86% Student Satisfaction (UK average 82%) High levels of “spend per student” on facilities and support

19. Student Accommodation 2012 entry www.aston.ac.uk/accommodation  2,300 places, ALL on campus  First Year Guarantee Scheme  Many Final Year students also  All single rooms, all self catering. Catered meal plan options  Choice of mixed or single sex flats  39 week contracts  Internet in all rooms – 10MB speed  Friendly, safe, convenient, excellent value

20. Student Residence Fees 2011-12 39 week contracts (inc cleaning and bills, all on campus)  Stafford Tower – on campus £72 p.w. (£2,808 per year) c350 rooms with shared bathrooms (washbasin in room)  En-suite Residences – on campus Lakeside: £110p.w. (£4.290 per year) 647 rooms New Residences (Opened Sept 2010): 1306 rooms 7 bedroom flats: £115 per week (£4,485) 5 bedroom premium flats: £125 per week (£4,875)

21. Accommodation beyond the first year in Birmingham  Plentiful, affordable off campus housing for second-final years with extensive support via the Students’ Guild: www.studentpad.com/aston www.studentpad.com/aston  Wide range of accommodation types, areas and prices  £60-£130 per week in private sector  Increasing number of campus room places reserved for final year students

22. Investing in your Campus Massive developments in recent years 2010-14 Student Residences Project Library Extension and Refurbishment Woodcock Sports Centre and Pool – now open, pool due 3 rd Jan 2012 Major new Teaching Laboratories and Research Institutes 2012: Engineering Academy (close to campus) for 14-19 year old learners

23. Student Residences project on campus Phase 1: (1,300 new ensuite rooms) opened 2010. 85% of rooms now ensuite along with some shared bathroom accommodation. Fully digitally networked (10MB speed), IPTV, high tech green features, lounges and kitchens, high levels of soundproofing, “secure by design” standards. Phase 2: 1,000 new ensuite rooms to open in 2013 – 3,000 rooms in total by 2013 plus green space, landscaping, shops and new student support service offices by 2014 X2 floodlit 3G sports pitches opened on campus in 2010, new Martin Luther King Chaplaincy Centre

24. “….rigorous academic standards and graduates who are among the most sought-after in the UK….” Sunday Times “Aston is a small university with a big reputation. It was only when I started looking for a graduate job that I realised how true this is – every company I spoke to had hired Aston graduates in the past….” Joe, Aston Graduate, now working in New York. Thanks for listening and best of luck with your applications and exams. j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk