Student Report
Name of the University: Aston University – Aston Business School
Exchange semester: Fall, 2013
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Aston University is located in the centre of Birmingham, the second biggest city in England.
There are around 70,000 students in Birmingham. The university is divided into four different
divisions: Aston Business School, Engineering & Applied Science, Language & Social
Sciences, and Health & Social Sciences. Being an exchange student from BI in Oslo, you will
be a part of the Aston Business School. The faculties are all located at the Aston campus,
which also includes Aston’s library, different types of accommodations, a gym and other
sports facilities.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
I received an e-mail from Aston University with all the information needed regarding my
coming stay there. If I had any questions regarding the exchange, I could simply send them
the questions per e-mail and they would revert to me with answers and further explanations.
I felt relaxed and knew I was in good hands. It was after all my first trip abroad to stay and
live for a longer period.
Housing
I received an email from Aston University on accommodation opportunities almost
immediately after they sent the first mail about the general information. The fast e-mail
response contained both link to the application form and all the information I needed to know
about the various offers. I was also informed that all the exchange students were guaranteed a
room provided if they sent the application before the expiry date. The number of student
rooms had increased at the start of this semester because the school had constructed and just
opened a new residence building with lots of rooms for housing students. If one for any
reason did not choose to live at the campus, the accommodation office would send you a list
of alternatives to consider for additional housing outside the campus area.
Travel and visa
Since there are no direct flights from Norway to Birmingham, I had to choose an indirect
alternative, landing in Copenhagen, to reach Birmingham Airport. From there I could take a
train to Birmingham New Street, which is the closest located train station to Aston University.
From New Street there is a 10-15 minute walk through the town to get to the school. One
could also take a taxi directly to the campus. Taxis are not expensive in England. So if you are
not familiar with the area I would recommend using a taxi service the first time you are there.
Further, as a Norwegian exchange student to England, no visit visa was required.
Arrival and Introduction
For the first week after arrival we had what is called “International Welcome Week”.
This is a program for the exchange students. The program helps them to get to know each
other and attend different events together. Then during the second week, all the local, current
and new full-time students arrived. “Freshers week” started. It is much like the ”Fadderuken”
at BI. I will recommend you to attend both of the student welcome programs. It is much easier
to get to know people this way and it is really great to be a part of. Your English improves
from day one and is a good practise when moving forward in studies. You do not want to miss
that opportunity.
We also had an introduction tour, where they showed us around the university, such as the
library, classrooms, direction-systems, the information desk, the Student Union etc. They also
had introductions seminars where they taught us how to use map and blackboard, which
corresponded to @bi and itslearning. Everything is really well organized and you always get
the information you need to go to the next step.
International Office
Aston University does not have a special international office for the foreign students.
However, that was not an issue since you could get the help you needed either from the
receptionist at The Hub or in the Student Guild (helping desks) or even just send an email to
the international coordinator at Aston. They responded immediately.
Language, Culture and Travelling
At first it felt a bit difficult to speak English, because you are not used to speak the English
language that often when you are among your natives all the time. But after a while it became
easier and a lot of expressions and words seem to fall out your mouth automatically, without
thinking. When I first came to Birmingham I was travelling alone and did not have any choice
but to speak English. Actually the best opportunity to learn a language is when you are forced
to speak it. I had to ask a lot of people about directions and where to find different places.
I found out quickly that the British people are very kind and helpful and they are very correct.
Not to forget the good English humour. The humour allows you to loosen up and not to be
anxious when facing a person.
When it comes to the students, I did not find it difficult at all to communicate with them. At
the same floor where I lived in James Watt Residences, there lived almost exclusively
exchange students who were in the same situation as me, everything is new and many of them
also travelling alone. This made it easier to make friends and to communicate without feeling
completely stupid. When the local students started to arrive, you already had got to know
someone. The British students are really kind and nice people who love to get to know new
people and new cultures. We all came together with a good understanding.
Birmingham is a cosmopolitan city, with different cultures and religions. I particularly noticed
that Aston University paid special attention to this matter. They had separate rooms and
buildings where people with different and same culture / religion could meet without being
disturbed by others. They also took into account when they should be allocated rooms on
campus. In the city I could not find the typical British culture, but in some places you could
find small charming pubs and the town was always monitored by the British police with the
famous British police uniforms. Since I was here in the fall semester, I got to experience the
German market which turned up in the city from late November to late December, really
something to see.
If you want to experience the country and travel around in the UK, this is your chance. You
can take a train to almost every destination in the UK from Birmingham New Street Train
Station. I travelled to Oxford, London, Cambridge, Nottingham and Colchester during my
exchange in Birmingham. Many of the other exchange students also travelled to Ireland and
Scotland. I will really recommend travelling around and experiencing more of the English
culture and cities when you have the chance. Do not rest only in the city of Birmingham.
Social activities
There are no special activities or student organizations or gatherings meant especially for the
group of exchange students. However, there are many activities you can take part in during
your stay. They have an "open day" where there will be stands everywhere with people who
promote and provide information about many of the different Society's (associations /
activity). You can enrol or attend. I became a member of "The Tennis Society" and was
eventually asked to join the school team there. I said yes. There were exchange students,
undergraduate- and postgraduate students who were members. We also had socials, making
sure we got to know each other well so we could invent something together outside the tennis
hall. They also have a large fitness center right next to the school called Aston Sports. There
you have both gym, swimming pool and different hours of yoga and cardio etc.. It is also
possible to play badminton and squash there.
Cost
For a room with private bathroom (toilet + shower) for my entire semester, which lasted four
months, I spent probably about 5000-6000 NOK a month for rent, including electricity and
water. In my opinion, this corresponds roughly the level of Norwegian rents of ok standard,
which is relatively expensive considering that you are in England. I would nevertheless
recommend staying on campus as you are being there for a short period only. It is located near
schools, downtown and the social activities. Everything you need in everyday life is within a
5-10 minute walk. You do not need to spend money on transport such as buses and other
costly facilities.
In England, food and drink is a bit cheaper compared to Norway, I spent approximately 1.500
NOK a month. They have a decent selection of food, vegetables and beverages in most stores
like Texco and Sainsbury's. But if you really want a good food selection, you will have to go a
little further into the city itself. I would recommend taking a look at the food market they have
next to Chinatown, approx. 15 minutes walk from campus.
There is no need to buy the books. You can borrow them at the library located right next to
the main building at the school. It is open 24/7. In some cases for various subjects one can
borrow the books online. All of the additional curriculum journals, articles and formulas are
available on the Internet on Blackboard under e-library or actual folder for this subject.
Course registration
When I was registering the various subjects I was given an international module registration
form by mail from Aston. This was already in the start of the summer holidays. I filled them
out and sent them back to Aston. You can still regret and make some changes during the first
week of the semester.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
23rd of September
First day of the semester:
7th of October
Last day of classes:
17th of December
Examination period:
15th – 21st of January
Any special events/holidays:
2 weeks Christmas
break.
Other:
You might have exams
and deadlines for
assignments on
Saturdays.
THE ACADEMICALS
In the classroom and Lectures
At Aston University, they have both small and large auditoriums and classrooms similar to
that of BI. Instruction is in English and is divided into both lectures and tutorials / seminars.
In the lectures the teacher taught the whole class and went through the syllabus very
theoretical. In late tutorial / seminars the teacher or the tutor taught small groups of students.
You had a chance to understand the subject better compared to working in a major and bigger
group. During several seminars there were guest lecturers or guests from outside the
University who taught. This gave more depth and wider understanding of the learning process.
All teaching classes were recorded. If you were unlucky to lose a lecture, one could catch this
by listening to it later. When you are an exchange student from BI you have already acquired
a sufficient and good study technique making it possible to be well prepared for the workload
required in most subjects at Aston. But because everything must be read and learned in the
English language, it becomes more demanding to catch up that fast. Therefore it is important
to set aside more time for tasks as submissions and work with deadlines. More time
consuming.
Exams
England has a slight different school system compared to the system in Norway. The fall
semester starts the first week in October and finishes at the end of January. Some of the
exams are taken before Christmas and some after Christmas. It concerns essays, assignments
and project hand-ins, presentations, group work or final exams like close book or open book.
It varies, but some of the subjects may be a combination of two of these forms or more. I had
a presentation and two essays before Christmas and will have three close books exams now
after Christmas.
Description of courses
Course code & name
Master/
Exam form
Prerequisites
Comments
100% written
None
Quite fun and easy to
Bachelor
BN2285 Doing E-
Bachelor
Business
BH2296 Strategy for
home essay.
Bachelor
Future Leaders
BS2209 International
Bachelor
get a good mark.
100% written
Organisational
Quite fun, but requires
home essay.
Behaviour.
a lot of reading.
2-hour close
None
Really interesting
Business Environment
book written
course and a good
2
exam (100%).
teacher.
BF2244 Strategic
Finance
Bachelor
2-hour close
book multiple-
None
A lot of math and use
of formals. Pretty
choice exam
much the same
(100%).
as ”Finans og
økonomistyring 1&2”
at BI Oslo.
BM2275 Business to
Bachelor
Courswork
Introduction
Heavy course.
Business Marketing
(30%) and 3-
to Marketing
Requires a lot of
and Relationship
hour close book
reading to get a good
Management
written exam
mark, but still
(70%).
interesting.
QUICK SUMMARY ABOUT THE EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE
Fulfilling a student exchange semester in a foreign country provides valuable knowledge for a
young student with respect to language, culture, methods, learning processes etc. Learning the
subjects in a country like England, where all literature is written in English and all teachers
communicate in well spoken and advanced technical English, allows you to continue your
studies with a better understanding for the subjects. It is a major improvement from the time
leaving high school in Norway with limited English language skills. After having obtained my
Bachelor Degree next summer at BI Oslo, I have considered to achieve a Master Degree,
either abroad or in Norway. Doing so, the English language that I have learned here at Aston
will help me to have a better understanding when I am going to read all literature in English
for my Master.
The fact that I chose Birmingham that is a multicultural city gave me the opportunity to get to
know a lot of interesting people. I have met numerous young people from all over Europe and
even from America and Asia. I learned a lot about their culture and manners to do things.
Some of the students have become my good friends. We all agreed to keep in touch in the
future. We even planned for a reunion next summer. Start of a new tradition perhaps?
I will for sure recommend everyone to take a student exchange semester abroad like I have
done.