Pathway to Business

Explore our Pathway to Business Programme

What is the Pathway to Business Programme?

Our Pathway to Business has been designed to expand knowledge, develop skills, and give an insight into what university life is really like to those students with ambitions to study business and entrepreneurship at university, and work within the business sector post-graduation. Through interactive taster sessions delivered by Aston University staff from our world leading Business School, and key business professionals from across the region, students will develop the skills needed to succeed in the industry and a greater understanding about the variety of career paths they can choose from.

Learners will be expected to attend all compulsory Year 12 events to successfully progress onto the second year of the programme in Year 13 and be eligible for a Pathway Contextual Offer if they apply to Aston University.

Key dates

Students must have support from their teachers or careers advisers to apply, including approval for time off school/college where necessary to attend events. Learners will be expected to attend all compulsory Year 12 events on their stream to successfully progress on to the second year of the programme in Year 13.

Year 12

WhenActivityLocation
OctoberStudent and Parent Launch (half term)Aston University
NovemberIntroduction to Pathway to Business Taster DayAston University
ContinuousUnibuddy Peer to Peer PlatformOnline
FebruaryIndustry Insight Day & Employer Engagement Visit with PwCEmployers office in Birmingham
AprilUCAS Application DayOnline
MayWork Experience Preparation DayOnline
July/AugustSummer School ResidentialAston University

Year 13

WhenActivityLocation
ContinuousUnibuddy Peer to Peer PlatformOnline
OctoberInterview Preparation DayAston University
FebruaryStudy Skills & Revision Techniques ModuleOnline
JunePathway GraduationAston University
Who is eligible for the Pathway to Business?

The Pathway to Business is open to students entering Year 12 in September who have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in Business or Entrepreneurship. Students must have support from their schools to apply, including approval for time off where necessary to attend events. Students who are interested in applying to the Pathway to Business programme must meet the following criteria:

  • Entering Year 12 in September at a school/college in the West Midlands
  • Meet the GCSE and A level/BTEC requirements for their business subject(s) of interest as listed on our website.
  • Have achieved at least five GCSEs at Level 9–4. This must include Maths grade C/Level 4 and GCSE English Language OR GCSE English Literature grade C/Level 4. Please note, for courses like Accounting and Finance, Finance, Business Analytics and Economics, we require a minimum grade B/5 in the Maths.

Students must also meet at least one of the following widening participation criteria to apply for the Pathway to Healthcare programme.

  • Live in a POLAR 4, Quintile 1 or 2 area (check if your home postcode is eligible)
  • Attend a school or college in a POLAR 4, Quintile 1 or 2 area (check if your school/college postcode is eligible)
  • Come from a home where neither parent has attended a university in the UK or abroad
  • Have a disability or are in receipt of a personal independence payment
  • Is a care leaver or has experience of being looked after by a local authority
  • Have been in receipt of free school meals at any point over the last three years
  • Belong to any of the following groups: Gypsy, Roma, Traveller communities, refugees, children of military families

Please note, places on the programme are limited. If the programme is oversubscribed, then places will be offered by random allocation to all eligible applicants until the programme is full. Students who enter the Pathway to Business programme are not guaranteed a place on our degree programmes. On successful completion of the Pathway Programme, students who wish to apply to Aston University, who fulfil all our admissions and other entry criteria and are successful with their application, will be eligible for a Pathway Contextual Offer.

Why choose Aston's Pathway to Business?
  • Tailored events and workshops delivered by Aston University staff and business professionals to help students develop important skills needed to study and work within the business sector
  • Access to a wide range of experts to help you decide on your future career path and enhance your UCAS application.
  • Help with making an informed decision about your future career choices.
  • A single point of contact at Aston University who will support you throughout the university application process and your time at school or college.
  • Eligible for a Pathway Contextual offer if your application to Aston University is successful

“The Pathway to Business helped me gain more information about the courses I should apply to. It challenged me to use my innovative skills and creativity and the mentors were really helpful with giving me advice on student life and how the business course works at university”.

Former Pathway to Business student

How to apply

Students must have support from their teachers and careers advisers to apply, including approval for time off school/college where necessary to attend events. Learners will be expected to attend all compulsory Year 12 events on their stream to successfully progress on to the second year of the programme in Year 13 and be eligible for a Pathway Contextual Offer and the chance to apply for an Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship worth £5,000 if applying to Aston University.

Applications for our next cohort on the Pathways to the Professions programme close at 5pm on Friday 6th October 2023. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on the above date. Any applications made after the above time and date will not be considered.

Apply now


Please note, students who enter the Pathways to the Professions programmes are not guaranteed a place on Aston University degree programmes, or an Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship. On successful completion of the programme, students who fulfil our admissions entry criteria, apply to Aston University, and are successful with their application, will be eligible for a Pathway Contextual Offer and the chance to apply for an Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship

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Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about the Outreach events and activities which we run at Aston University, please visit our central Student Recruitment and Outreach webpages, or contact us directly on email.