Student Report
Name of the University: Aston University
Exchange semester: Fall, 2013
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
After I received the nomination from BI to go to Aston University, it took several weeks
before I heard anything from Aston University directly. This made me concerned, but as it
turned out, the registration and courses at Aston University just started later than at other
universities, which is why the information came rather late.
I then received a complete handbook with all relevant information concerning various aspects,
such as choosing courses, coming to Birmingham, accommodation, activities in and around
Birmingham and general information about England.
Since I am a European citizen, I did not need any Visa for staying in Birmingham, which is
why I did not have to organise much in advance concerning travelling. I just had to book the
flight.
It is fairly simple to get to Birmingham from Norway or Germany, which I came from. For
once, there is Birmingham International airport, which is located about a 10-minute train ride
from the city centre. Furthermore, there are several other airports close-by, such as
Manchester or London Stansted. Because Birmingham is located in the centre of England, it
does not take long to get there; independent from the airport you have chosen.
I flew from Frankfurt directly to Birmingham International and took a train to the city centre,
which costs around 2 pound. Also, taking a taxi is not that expensive, it costs around 20
pound from the airport to the city centre, but the price should be agreed on before getting into
the taxi.
Housing
Housing is generally provided by Aston University. You have to apply for a room on campus
and I have not heard from anyone who has been rejected. Advantages of living on campus are
the proximity to the faculty, gym and city centre. Disadvantages are the extremely high costs
for quite small rooms and the fact that you do not see much outside of the university.
This is why I chose to live in another area in Birmingham called Selly Oak (close to the
University of Birmingham). Here it is normal to find a house to live in yourself. In my case, I
“met” my fellow housemates on Facebook and we decided to rent a house via the company
“Purple Frog”, which is free of charge for students.
Thus, we have found a house in Selly Oak for four persons and paid 350 Pounds a months, all
bills included. The area is characterised by only students living there, many student pubs and
groceries stores, like Aldi.
Costs
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
3500 NOK
- NOK
2500 NOK
410 NOK
1000 NOK
Culture and language
British English is fairly easy to understand and even though the British people recognise very
fast that you are not a native English speaker they are very friendly and helpful with
everything. I did not experience any problems with the language. Because there are many
international students and some do not speak as good English before arrival, there might be
some small misunderstandings, but generally not.
If you want to experience English culture and language you need to organise that mainly on
your own. There are many cinemas in the city centre, the biggest public library in Europe and
many interesting cities to discover nearby, which allows everyone to experience as much as
wanted.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Aston University is one of the smallest state universities in England, with around 4000
students studying there. One faculty of the university is the Aston Business School, which is
relevant for us.
All faculties are located on one campus, but most lectures take place in the main building of
the university. There are several other buildings, such as the Business School (only for MBA
students) and the library. On campus are furthermore a big gym, several cafés and restaurants
and a supermarket. Also, a big football pitch is situated on campus.
Course registration
The International Office sent me an overview with all courses offered in Term 1 and I had to
choose four of them in a given period. These were not final, though, because only some weeks
before arrival I got a new list of courses offered, which I then adapted to my learning
agreement. I am not sure how long the add/drop period was for changing courses because I
sticked to my chosen one, but I assume at least the first week of lectures.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
23.09.2013
06.10.2013
06.12.2013
09.12.-13.12.2013
-
Arrival
Aston University offered two weeks of introduction, which you were asked to attend. I would
highly recommend that as well since this is the time where you will meet most of your
friends. It started off with an international introduction week, offering general information
about England, Aston University and Birmingham. Furthermore, there were some planned
social gatherings to get to know each other better.
The second week was the Fresher’s Week for all new students at Aston University. Because
as an exchange student you start at the same time as the full-time Master students, you do not
only get to know the other exchange, but all Master students beginning that term, which is
great. During that week there are several parties to choose from each night and activities, such
as presentation workshops during the day.
Everyone was assigned to one so-called “Syndicate group” and had to prepare a business idea
and presentation to present in front of all other groups. Exchange student were assigned to
groups with other exchange students, which was a great opportunity to get to know the group
members even better.
Thus, attend those first two weeks and there is really no problem at all in finding new friends.
The International Office
The International Office at Aston University is extremely helpful and friendly. Whenever
there was an issue I needed to solve or questions I needed answers to they answered me
quickly via mail or in person in the international office.
Social activities
Because, as mentioned earlier, British, as well as exchange students started their Birmingham
experience at the same time, the relationship among the groups was really good. In fact, I had
at least as many “native students” friends than exchange student friends.
Aston offers a big variety of societies and clubs, which everyone can join. At the beginning of
each semester, there is a fair introducing all activities offered at Aston University.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
The teaching style depends on the course you have chosen. While, for example, Strategic and
International Human Resource Management provided a heavier focus on theory, Learning and
Talent Development was a more practical and applied course. However, all courses provided
a combination of theory and practice, which I found more useful concerning future careers
than the more theoretic courses offered at BI.
Usually, a course was divided into lectures by different academic staff and relevant experts in
the specific field. Additionally, as the lectures normally lasted for three hours, a case study
discussion was part of it. As at BI, it is normal to call the lecturers by their first names and the
relationship is rather informal.
Level and workload of the courses is comparable to the ones at BI, although higher levels of
English are demanded at Aston University.
Course materials
In each of the courses, lectures and essay were based on all, books, online articles and
PowerPoint presentation. As the library offered enough relevant books, it was necessary to
buy any. The course materials were posted in advance of the lecture, in addation to the
reading list for the next lecture, and records of the lecture were posted online after it had taken
place.
Exams
The exams were based on both, course materials and on lectures. Usually, lectures were
recorded, so in case you have missed one lecture, you were still able to get all relevant
information.
Each course was evaluated differently.
Employee Relations and Counselling was evaluated through a final 2-hour written exam, as
well as as 3000 word essay, which was due on the same day, as the exam took place. The
exam and the essay focussed on different topics, so that all in all, all topics of the lectures
were covered. The written exam consisted of six questions, of which you had to answer two.
Attendance did not count as an evaluation criterion, but because the course was quite small, it
was obvious for the professor to see, if one has missed one or more lecture.
Strategic and International HRM was evaluated through three different ways. First of all, a
1500-word essay related to the first topics of the course. Secondly, everyone had to attend an
8-hour workshop, in which we had to present our opinion as a group in front of the class.
Afterwards, within the same assigned groups, we were asked to write a short portfolio about
what we have learned during the workshop. The presentation and portifolio counted for 10
percent of the overall grade. The third part of evaluation, the 2,5-hour written exam consisted
of two questions, which both had to be answered. The written exam counted for 70 percent of
the overall grade.
Learning and Talent Development was evaluated in terms of a 3500 word report, in which we
had to come up with our own training on any topic we wanted. The report included a specific
schedule of the training intervention, as well as discussion of the theories underlying the
porposed training methods (e.g. role play) and a defence of the use of a formal training
intervention instead of an informal one.
Work Design and Health, the fourth course I attended was evaluated by a 3000-word essay, in
which we were asked to design a new office workplace and a 2-hour written exam, which
consisted of five question, of which we had to answer two.
Library and technology
The new three-storey library has just opened in September, just as the new semester started.
Thus, the library is very modern and well equipped (I did not have to buy one single book),
not only in terms of relevant literature, but also in terms of well-provided individual and
group study spaces. Whereas the ground floor mainly focuses on group study spaces, the first,
second and especially third floor offer a lot of single study spaces.
On all floors there are additional computer study spaces, but because the computers are a bit
older, I would recommend to bring or lend your own laptop (which is free of charge).
All in all Aston University provides a comfortable and motivating learning environment.
Description of courses
Course code & name
BHM348 Employee
Relations and
Counselling
BHM354 Strategic
and International
HRM
BHM351 Learning
and Talent
Development
BHM356 Work
Design and Health
Master/
Bachelor
Master
Master
Master
Master
Exam form
Prerequisites
Comments
None
Approved
as
Elective
2-hour written
exam and 3000
word essay
1500 word
essay, workshop
attendance and
portfolio and
2,5h-hour
written exam
3500 word
Report
None
Elective
Very useful
None
Elective
Very
practical
Written exam
and 3000 word
essay
None
Elective
More for
“fun”
High
workload
To sum it up, the exchange period was one of the best times in my life, despite it being
very short. I made many new friends from all around the world, got to know the English
culture, language and several cities better and attended extremely interesting academic
courses.
Overall, I can only recommend going on exchange in general, and to Aston University in
particular, to everyone who has got the chance!