Postgraduate Prospectus 2017 Prospectus 2017 a University Since 1966 50 Years 2017 Prospectus Postgraduate
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ASTON UNIVERSITY BIRMINGHAM, UK UNIVERSITY BIRMINGHAM, ASTON Postgraduate Prospectus 2017 POSTGRADUATE PROSPECTUS 2017 PROSPECTUS POSTGRADUATE 2017 Postgraduate Prospectus 50 years A University since 1966 CHECK ONLINE For all the latest course information www.aston.ac.uk Aston University Printed by Birmingham an ISO 14001 B4 7ET, UK printer using WWW.ASTON.AC.UK vegetable based +44 (0)121 204 3000 inks on FSC® www.aston.ac.uk certified stock. If you require this document in alternative formats, please contact us. Welcome to Aston University /astonuniversity @astonuniversity #astonunilife www.aston.ac.uk 03 Founded in Internationally ranked Top rd 1895and a University since 1966 in33 the World 30University and th in the UK in every major UK league table (Times10 Higher Education Most International Universities Rankings 2016) 04 Contents 06 Postgraduate study Masters and Research Degrees 08 Welcome to Birmingham 14 Excellence in teaching 15 Why take a Masters degree at Aston? 16 Studying for a research degree 20 Employability 22 Welcoming international students 26 Enhancing your student experience 28 Comfortable, spacious campus accommodation 30 Helping and supporting you 32 A great place for sport 34 Library and IT facilities 35 Masters & Postgraduate programmes 36 Aston Business School 62 School of Engineering & Applied Science 86 School of Languages & Social Sciences 102 School of Life & Health Sciences 117 Where is Aston University? 118 A-Z Index of programmes Aston students get the best of both worlds - a nd green, well-equipped 30 42in the World campus located centrally and 7 th in the UK in a vibrant city.” (QS 50 Under 50 Ranking 2016) To find out more, visit: www.aston.ac.uk www.aston.ac.uk 05 Postgraduate study Masters & Research Degrees As a postgraduate student at Aston University you will be part of a multicultural, international campus community where you can benefit from high quality teaching, work with researchers who are making a real impact on society and developing a truly global perspective. Aston has been a leading Types of postgraduate study University for graduate Taught degrees have different names employability since its foundation depending on their subject and the type of study involved. Masters programmes typically in 1966 last one year full-time or two-years part-time. Research degrees involve the in-depth Students from over 120 countries study of a particular aspect of your specialist provide a truly international subject and typically last three years full-time or six years part-time, though this can vary. experience Aston also offers an MPhil which can be completed in two years. Birmingham, one of Europe’s liveliest cities, is home to 70,000 students What is postgraduate study like? Whatever the reasons behind your decision to Our secure, self-contained choose postgraduate study, you will need to be committed, hardworking and enthusiastic campus provides instant access about your subject. Obtaining a postgraduate to academic resources, study qualification isn’t easy - it isn’t meant to be - but the sense of achievement and pride when spaces, the Library, sports you receive your degree makes it all facilities and places to relax and worthwhile. Fortunately, along with the socialise perspiration comes inspiration. Aston fosters a culture of academic quality Student accommodation on and rigorous research principles which make it a stimulating yet enjoyable place to study. campus provides over 3,000 new rooms built to the highest standard Postgraduate Masters students enjoy a superb work/life balance living on campus 06 Working with Aston’s internationally renowned academics will nurture your talent and bring out the best in you. www.aston.ac.uk 07 Welcome to Birmingham #astonunilife #astonlovesbirmingham #astonbestbits #astonuni 08 The city of Birmingham is internationally recognised as a place to go for leisure, entertainment, shopping and sport, and an international centre for business, commerce and industry. Birmingham attracts 25 million visitors each year. Nightlife With over 70,000 students, Birmingham is one of Europe’s liveliest cities. Europe’s shopping capital With the Bullring Shopping Centre in the city centre, you are a short walk from shops and restaurants, including the iconic Selfridges store and John Lewis. Entertainment, sport and leisure Birmingham has one of the highest concentrations of live theatre outside of London’s West End. A number of fine art collections can be found at the City Museum and Art Gallery, and the Ikon Gallery. The Genting Arena (NEC), the Barclaycard Arena and the Birmingham O2 Academy host music to suit all tastes. Birmingham is at the heart of sporting action. Football clubs, including Aston Villa and Birmingham City, have their home grounds within the city. Warwickshire County Ground at Edgbaston provides International Test and County cricket games. Athletics events are held in the city at the Alexander Stadium and at the Barclaycard Arena. Easily accessible Whether by road, rail or air, travelling to and from Birmingham is easy. The campus is at the centre of extensive network of motorways and railways. To find out more, visit: www.aston.ac.uk/birmingham www.aston.ac.uk 09 Birmingham Aston loves Aston loves Birmingham, and here are a few reasons why… Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe, with under 25s accounting for nearly 40% of its population. (Source: ONS population midyear estimates). Birmingham is the most entrepreneurial UK city outside London with more than 18,000 new businesses registered last year. (Source: StartUp Britain). Over 90% of the UK market – consumer and business – is within a four hour travel time. Birmingham Airport serves more than 140 direct scheduled and charter routes, including to New York, Beijing and Delhi. (Source: Birmingham Airport). The influential travel publication Rough Guides has named Birmingham among the top 10 most exciting destinations to visit. 10 www.aston.ac.uk 11 12 of Birmingham centre the in Study Aston University Selfridges Bullring Shopping Centre Over 160 shops – 2000 brands Birmingham New Street Train station John Lewis Biggest John Lewis outside London The location of the campus and pedestrianised city centre means walking is easy Bull Ring Shopping Centre 10 minutes Grand Central (New Street) 10 minutes Arts and culture 20 minutes Library of Birmingham and Brindley Place 20 minutes Broad Street for clubs and entertainment 25 minutes Barclaycard Arena Barclaycard entertainment sporting venue and Indoor Broad Street Nightlife Library Of Birmingham Birmingham Library Of Over 1 million books ICC Birmingham Birmingham ICC centre conference International To find out more, visit: www.aston.ac.uk/birmingham www.aston.ac.uk 13 Excellence in teaching Aston Ranked 21st in the UK for Teaching Quality (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016) Dr Max Little of Mathematics Associate Professor Aston promotes and supports academic As a postgraduate Masters or excellence in everything that we do. You will research student you will be self- be taught by academic staff with international motivated, enthusiastic and driven. reputations in their fields. You will benefit from their Tutorials and seminar discussion groups insight, expertise and skills. Access to quality expand on the lecture and cover theories, new Library resources, learning resources and ideas and connections between subjects. Seminars give you an opportunity to discuss information technology is an essential part of any topics linked to your subject. university experience and at Aston this is given a Supervisions are small-group teaching high priority. Our learning and teaching facilities sessions where you can explore and discuss are modern, easy to access and user-friendly. aspects of the course. Laboratory classes help you develop subject-specific skills and generic skills. Research Informed Teaching IT facilities can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 Our active researchers will inspire you to become active days a week. IT facilities are free to students and enquirers, and encourage you to challenge and push the our Local Area Network, provides high speed boundaries of learning and knowledge. Through ‘Research access to other networks worldwide. Informed Teaching’ we recognise that students actively Blackboard where all course information, make sense of what they are taught rather than simply including course content, assignments and accumulating knowledge. discussion topics, are stored and accessible We understand the importance of the shared relationship from one place. between teaching and research, and how this can enhance MAP – My Aston Portal is a web based system your student experience. We encourage links between serving as a single point of contact where you research and teaching activities, and give our students the can access your personalised teaching chance to participate in research projects at the University. timetables, module lists, finance and This will not only enhance your degree experience but will accommodation information. make you an integral part of our global impact. Aston Replay allows staff to record teaching sessions meaning you can view material in your own time. 14 Why take a Masters degree at Aston? At Aston, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally renowned academics who will nurture your talent and help to bring out the best in you. Aston fosters a culture of academic quality and rigorous research principles which make it a stimulating yet enjoyable place to study. There are lots of reasons to study a Masters degree at Aston University. Further your career Types of study Studies show the majority of Taught programmes have postgraduates earn more than different names depending on undergraduates over their their subject and the type of study careers. involved: Master of Arts (MA) Change career direction Master of Science (MSc) Many programmes can act as conversion courses if you want to Master of Engineering (MEng) enter a different sector. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Pursue a passion for a Master of Research (MRes) particular subject Explore your interests in greater Professional internships depth.