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). Only 1% of business schools worldwide have achieved this.
Our prestigious ‘triple crown’ status is the highest international benchmark of excellence in education for business schools and provides a reliable indication of quality in business and management education.
AACSB International
AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. It is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five percent of the world's business schools. AACSB Accreditation is known, worldwide, as the longest standing, most recognized form of specialised/professional accreditation an institution and its business programs can earn.
AMBA (Association of MBAs)
AMBA is the international impartial authority on postgraduate business education and is the global standard for all MBA programmes. Their accreditation service is the global standard for all MBA programmes; being an accredited business school means that students and alumni have access to a range of services and benefits, including world-class events, unparalleled networking opportunities and access to a global database of knowledge and talent.
EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System)
EQUIS is the leading international business school accreditation system with a global community of accredited business schools. Graduates who choose to study at an EQUIS accredited school can be assured they are attending an institution with high international standards of quality and that they will receive international recognition for their qualification which is extremely important in today's global environment.
Aston Business School is highly recognised for the quality of its academic programmes. A significant amount of our provision has accreditation from professional bodies.
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD)
- Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
- Chartered Financial Analyst Society UK (CFA UK)
- Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA)
- Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
- Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
- Institute of Analytics (IoA)
- Digital Management Institute (DMI)
- Our History
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1895 – where it all started
Our origins can be traced back to Aston University’s beginnings in the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, established in 1895.
In 1947, the Technical School created a Department of Industrial Administration – the second to be founded in the United Kingdom. When the Department was created, few would have anticipated that it would one day grow to be one of the largest and best business schools in the UK, or indeed that would gain international recognition for its world-class research and teaching. David Bramley was the first Head of Department.
1961 – Research and ‘Aston Studies’
Research at Aston Business School has its roots back in 1961, when the Industrial Administration Research Unit (IARU) was set up and, within it, the ‘Aston Studies’ on organisations. The research was groundbreaking, with the study of groups of workers and individuals being carried out in their workplace and organisation setting.
In response to the growth in postgraduate education, a joint venture with the University of Birmingham formed the Graduate Centre of Management Studies in 1964. The same year, a BSc in Behavioural Science and an MSc in Industrial Administration was introduced.
1979 – The Aston MBA
In 1979 our first MBAs were awarded.
1987 – Aston Business School
In 1987 the Management Centre was renamed Aston Business School.
The 90s – MSc aplenty
The mid 1990s saw the development of a range of integrated one-year MSc programmes and the undergraduate programmes expanded. Between 1980–1997 we launched an MSc in Public Services Management, the Work Organisation Research Centre (WORC), the Innovation Design and Operations Management Centre (IDOM), a distance learning MBA, an MSc in International Business and opened a dedicated suite for postgraduate students.
1999 – EQUIS accreditation
We’ve always been committed to maintaining the quality of our courses. In 1999, we formed the ABS Advisory Board and Undergraduate Advisory Panel to ensure that they were rated excellent. The first of our triple accreditations– EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System) – was also achieved in the same year.
2003 – AACSB accreditation
In 2003, wen gained AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation.
2006 – Aston Business School Building
In 2006 we saw a £20m extension to the Nelson Building which is now called the Aston Business School Building which includes a dedicated MBA suite.
2008 – 60 years at Aston
In 2008 we celebrated our 60th birthday and named two of our lecture theatres after Adrian Cadbury and Susan Cadbury, in recognition of their long association.
2015 – AMBA and Triple Accreditation
Our AMBA accreditation (The Association of MBAs) was awarded in 2015. The Aston MBA is one of the longest-established MBA programmes in the UK, and one of the first to achieve AMBA accreditation. In 2018, the programme celebrated 40 successful years. Aston Business School is part of an elite group of global business schools who hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation.
2017 – Aston Law School
Our department of Law became Aston Law School, sitting alongside Aston Business School as part of the College of Business and Social Sciences.