Aston Business School
It's official: We're amongst the best in the world for business
We've been ranked 66th in the world for business and management studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
We’re part of an elite group of global business schools that hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
We are one of the UK’s leading business schools for support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and helped to launch the national Help to Grow: Management programme.
Our staff pioneer innovative teaching methods to make your learning experience more rewarding, with many responsible for writing the key textbooks in their field.
Our students experience real-life business through projects, placements and in-house business clinics. The Aston Global Advantage postgraduate professional development programme focuses on more elusive social and personal aspects of business as well as offering opportunities to work or study abroad.
We hold the Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for our staff and students.
Our departments and research centres work together to further our understanding of key business disciplines and issues, with a focus on innovation and impact. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, 77% of our research outputs were rated world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
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We were shortlisted for Business School of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2023.
The shortlist recognised the achievements of the Centre for Growth in supporting the development of the regional economy by working intensively with high-potential entrepreneurs and SMEs – strengthening leadership and management skills and boosting productivity.
Find out more about Aston Business School by downloading our brochure
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- Vision and Purpose
Our Vision
Our Vision is to be a global leader for digital, practice-led teaching and impactful, innovative research aimed at benefiting and transforming students, professions, enterprises and communities. We are committed to achieving this in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Our Purpose
Our Purpose is to enhance enterprise and enterprises. To equip and develop individuals to perform with a digital and entrepreneurial mindset within enterprises and the professions to create successful new ventures. We support business leaders in innovation, enhancing their organisations' performance and growth. We advise policy-makers on ways to improve society and the economy. Our innovative impactful research creates new knowledge and skills that further these aspirations. We increasingly leverage our regional and national excellence globally.- Our History
From our early days as part of Birmingham Municipal Technical School in the 1890s, to our first MBAs being awarded in the 1970s, MScs in the 1990s, our iconic new building in 2006, and triple-accreditation in 2015, we’ve certainly made our mark on the business education landscape.
- Accreditations
Aston Business School is globally recognised by top accrediting bodies and independent rankings.
We are part of an elite group of global business schools who hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), AMBA (Association of MBAs) and EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System).
- Rankings
It's official: We're amongst the best in the world for business
We've been ranked 66th in the world for business and management studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
Top 30% of Global Institutions
Aston University is ranked 446th in the 2024 QS World University Ranking, placing the University in the top 30% of global institutions and 46th place nationally.
Athena Swan Bronze Award
We have been awarded the Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for our staff and students.
MBA rankings
Globally recognised:
Aston University is a Tier One Global MBA institution (the highest tier), and is ranked 40th in the World for Ex MBA (up 6 places since 2023), and 35th in the World for the Online MBA in the CEO Magazine MBA Rankings 2024.
Aston University’s Online MBA has been ranked 49th in the world for employability and 18th in Europe in the 2024 QS Online MBA Rankings.
Aston University’s Online MBA has been ranked 65th in the world, and 24th in Europe, in the 2024 QS Online MBA Rankings.
Aston University’s Online MBA has been placed 1st in the UK and 24th in the world in the Eduniversal 2024, Part-Time MBA rankings.
Aston University’s full-time MBA was ranked 4th in the UK and top 20 position in Europe (19th) in the Eduniversal Rankings 2024.
Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023
Aston University has been ranked 35th in the world for Business Administration subjects.Postgraduate rankings
We are ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide for 'Masters in Marketing' (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
We are ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for 'Masters in Management' (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
We are ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for 'Masters in Business Analytics' (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
Undergraduate rankings
Ranked 10th in the UK
Our BSc Accounting and Finance degree is ranked 10th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – On-Track Complete University Guide, 2024.
Ranked 2nd in the UK
Our BSc Marketing degree is ranked 2nd in the UK for Graduate Prospects – On-Track Complete University Guide, 2024.
Ranked 10th in the UK
Our BSc Marketing degree is ranked 10th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – Outcomes (Complete University Guide, 2024).
Ranked 10th in the UK
Economics at Aston University is in top 10 in the UK for ‘spend per student’ (Guardian, 2024).
Ranked 8th in the UK
Economics at Aston University is ranked 8th in the UK for ‘value added’ (Guardian, 2024).Previous accolades
Previous accolades include:
FT Top 100 European Business School
Awarded in recognition of Aston’s 'strategic' and 'inclusive' cross-institutional approach to supporting businesses, the West Midlands region and student entrepreneurship.Times Higher Education THE Awards 2020: Outstanding Entrepreneurial University
Aston University awarded Outstanding Entrepreneurial University (awarded Nov 2020).The Guardian: University of the Year 2020
Aston University awarded: University of the Year by The Guardian (awarded Nov 2020).
View the full list.- Awards
Shortlisted Business School of the Year
Aston Business School has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2023.
Aston University has been awarded Triple Gold – the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.
Shortlisted for the Innovation in Business Education Award at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023.
Aston University’s professional development programme The Aston Global Advantage, which embeds employability at the heart of academic programmes has been shortlisted for the Innovation in Business Education Award at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023.
Times Higher Education THE Awards 2020: Outstanding Entrepreneurial University
Aston University awarded Outstanding Entrepreneurial University.
The Guardian: University of the Year 2020
Aston University awarded: University of the Year by The Guardian
Runner Up for Graduate Employment
Aston University is the University of the Year Runner Up for Graduate Employment in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024.
The university is ranked at 18 for graduate prospects and at 22 for continuation rate.
AMBA and BGA Awards 2022
Monique Farquharson was named MBA Student of the Year.
Onaseye Onabolu was shortlisted for MBA Entrepreneur of the Year.
AMBA and BGA Awards 2023
MBA graduate Ravi Ranjan shortlisted for MBA Start-Up of the Year for Voilo.
Small Business Charter Excellence Awards 2023
Our Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) won the Outstanding Stakeholder Engagement category as well as being shortlisted in two other categories.
Athena Swan Bronze Award
We have been awarded the Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for our staff and students.
Santander X UK Awards for 2022
Businesses shortlisted in each of the categories each founded by full time MBA graduates:- KRED24, a data-driven cross-border fintech
- Voilo, a real-time payment and auto reward platform for micro-SMEs and charities.
The PIEoneer Awards 2023
Aston Business School and Virtual Internships, UK - Work GLOBAL, Stay LOCAL were finalists in the Employability international impact award.
Future Faces Awards 2022
Gurdeep Chima, Manager for the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CRÈME) was named Future Face of Education and Public Sector.Three graduates were shortlisted:
- Davies Okeowo, Novel Innovations Ltd, for the Future Face of Start-ups & Enterprise
- Ravi Ranjan, Voilo, for the Future Face of Technology & Innovation
- Vishal Mishra, Hummingbird Fintech, for the Future Face of Finance.
CIMA Awards 2022
Aston University has been shortlisted for the CIMA Global Excellence and CGMA Campus of the Year categories at the CIMA Excellence Awards 2022.
CIMA Awards 2021
Aston University won a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Excellence Award.Richard Kenyon also won a personal award, the Regional CIMA Teaching Excellence award for the UK for 2021, being recognised as the best management accounting teacher in the country for this year.
- Strategy
We follow the University’s approach to strategy, which is measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve. Over the next seven years, we will focus on four strategic areas of distinctiveness which will inform our decision-making and drive our key activities.
- Providing a life transforming student experience through innovative practice-led teaching and learning developing employability skills and knowledge
- Impactful research that is motivated by the opportunities and challenges of enterprises and policy-makers
- Direct engagement with enterprises, governments and regulators in support of policy initiatives in our areas of expertise
- Enhancing our national and international reputation in order to recruit the best students and staff.
