Student Report
Name of the University: Aston University
Exchange semester: Spring 2013
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
Aston Business School has developed a very good support team that helps the incoming
exchange students. All of the information you need will be sent to you either by email or post.
You will receive the first information almost 4 months before your arrival, if you follow all
the time limits there will be no issues. You will get access to MAP and Blackboard before
your arrival, these platforms has the same function as @BI and ItsLearning.
The answer from the accommodation office came late. If you’re an incoming student to the
spring semester, accommodation at the school shouldn’t be a problem.
Applying for a visa
As a Norwegian citizen you don’t need to apply for a visa.
Travel
I had a connection flight in Stockholm and from Stockholm directly to Birmingham.
Housing
Personally I lived on campus. The campus is pretty huge and new, and basically contains
everything you need. The accommodation that is a part of Aston University is a little bit pricy
but the location is really good. A lot of the social activities are often located around the
campus so I would definitely recommend living close to the school.
Another accommodation, “The Heights”, is not connected to the school but is located close to
the school and “The Heights” is a reasonable place to live if the campus is fully occupied.
The University’s webpage contain information about how to apply for accommodation on
campus. You need your student number from Aston before you can apply for accommodation.
Costs
The rent where I lived was something between 5.000 – 6.000 NOK each month, which I
would consider as expensive. You can find cheaper places, but if you would like a certain
living standard that is the price you have to pay.
You don’t need to buy any books, because you can rent all the books from the library or they
are available online.
Food is cheaper compared to Norway, the only problem is that the really big supermarkets are
located outside the city centre and is difficult to reach without car. There are some good
medium large supermarkets within walking distance to the school.
Culture and language
In the beginning the language is different from what you are used to and you might feel a little
bit lost when you talk to certain people. Personally I got used to the language fast and didn’t
experience any big difficulties.
England has a lot of different cultures, but I didn’t mange to find “the English culture” in
Birmingham. Birmingham is a multicultural city and you will meet a lot of different
nationalities. If you like to go to nightclubs or pubs, Birmingham is a really good place to
stay. Birmingham is the second biggest city in UK, even tough the city as a whole is big; the
city centre feels pretty small.
You have a huge range of travel opportunities when you are located in Birmingham. You can
take train or bus to almost all around UK.
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
When you arrive at Aston you will meet a lot of students in the same situations as yourself.
This is great because then it is even easier to get to know each other. Students from all over
the world comes to Aston on exchange, this gives you the possibility to get to know different
cultures in a new way.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school is located close to the city centre, and the surroundings consist of all you need in
your daily life. Since you are coming from BI you will be a part of Aston Business School.
This is one of four faculties at Aston University. The school as a whole is huge, and there are
a lot of students. The library is separate from rest of the school buildings and is open 24/7.
Generally Aston University is regarded as a great university and the city consist of
approximately 70,000 students in total. You can always find something to do.
Course registration
You can send your course preferences before arrival, but you don’t get a definite answer
before your arrival. You will have a meeting with one of the advisors after arrival, which
complete your timetable. The advisors at Aston Business School are exceptionally helpful and
they will do their best to satisfy your preferences. You are able to change courses during the
first week of term.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
Arrival
11.01
14.01
30.04
04.05 – 07.06
The spring semester
includes a 3 week
Easter Holliday
You might have class
tests on Saturdays.
Everything was well prepared. I felt welcomed and met helpful people from the first day, you
will have an introduction meeting with all the exchange students one of the first day. The
introduction week is very much like the first week on BI.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
The teaching style is divided in lectures and tutorials/seminars, the lectures are pretty much
like what you are used to at BI. The tutorials are smaller and much more interactive.
Everything is taught in English. The workload depends a lot on the course you take, and there
is a big difference between 1st year courses and second year courses.
Course materials
The course material is very comprehensive in some of the courses, but when you reach the
exam period the teachers gives you tips of what you need to read. I would say that the level of
course material in the end is less comprehensive compared to BI.
Exams
The exams are based both on lectures and reading materials. Some of the courses have class
tests and assessments as well as final exams. Some of the courses do not have final exams at
all. You can find the course description on the University’s webpage, which tells you what
type of exams, presentations and assessments you will need to complete during the term.
Library and technology
The conditions are pretty much like BI, availability of books and articles are similar to what
you find at BI.
Description of courses
Course code & name
Effective
Teamwork
(BH2286)
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
Comments
- Assessment
30%
- Closed book 2
hour 70%.
- Class test 1
hour, 20%
- Closed book 2
hour, 80%.
None
Interesting
course and
a good
teacher.
Pretty easy
to get a
good mark.
This course
is the same
as
“Logistikk”
at BI.
Great
teacher.
Easy to get
a good
mark.
Interesting
and very up
to date.
Principles of
Operations
Management
(BN1135)
Bachelor
None
Information
Technology in
Business
(BN1160)
Bachelor
- Closed book 1
hour, 50%.
- Closed book 1
hour, 50%.
None
International
Business
Economics
(BS2223)
Bachelor
- Closed book 2
hour, 100%.
Introduction to
Microeconomic
s, and
BS1164
Introduction to
Macroeconomic
s
Business,
Government and
Society
(BS2246)
Bachelor
- Closed book 2
hour, 100%.
None
Government,
Globalisation and
Money
(LB2015)
Bachelor
- Closed book 2
hour, 100%.
None
Huge
amount of
reading
required to
get a good
mark.
Very up to
date and a
new
perspective
on certain
topics.
Require a
huge
amount of
reading to
get a good
mark.