Aston University - League Table Rankings 2005-8
University league tables are not the only way to choose a University, but do give an indication of quality and reputation, both overall and in subject areas.
Aston University is distinctive in that we have strong league table positions across a range of different criteria. Allied to this, our degrees are distinctive from many other Universities in that they offer relevant, and usually paid sandwich placement year/year abroad opportunities and strong links with industry, business and the professions.
Our campus is a lively, supportive and friendly place, offering a self contained environment right in the centre of Birmingham, a fantastic student city, giving our students the best of both worlds. These factors, of vital importance to our students, are not covered in University league tables.
The Good University Guide 2008 (published in the Daily Telegraph and Sponsored by PriceWaterhouse Coopers)
The Times Good University Guide
The Good University Guide 2008
Aston is ranked 12th overall out of 113 UK Universities, confirming our place amongst the elite of UK Universities.
Our position in this new Guide ranks Aston above universities such as Nottingham, Lancaster, Leeds, Birmingham, Exeter, Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester, Newcastle, Leicester and Southampton Universities on the 1,000 point scale.
This table is based on criteria such as research quality, teaching quality, entry grades, graduate level employment, degree success, student satisfaction and spending on teaching/student facilities.
The Guide ranked Aston as 12th best in the UK (out of all 113 Universities) for the employability of its graduates with 77% entering “graduate level” employment or further study within 6 months of graduation, against a UK average of less than 65%.
In the 2008 tables, Aston also ranked highly on criteria such as low drop-out rates, strong staff-student ratios, a high proportion of First and Upper second class degrees and a high level of spending on student facilities. The Guide was published on 30th July 2007.
http://www.thegooduniversityguide.org.uk/league.php
The Times Good University Guide 2007-8
Aston is ranked 15th overall out of all 113 UK Universities in this guide, another confirmation of our quality and reputation.
This Guide uses very similar criteria to the Good University Guide and was compiled by the same team who have compiled the new Good University Guide above. Aston also featured in the UK’s top 15 in the 2007 Times rankings.
The Guardian University Guide 2007
In the Guardian Guide, Aston was ranked an outstanding 19th overall out of 122 Universities and Colleges.
Aston has featured in the top 20 of the Guardian Guide three years running. The Guardian tables focus on variables such as teaching quality, spending on student facilities, entry grades, staff-student ratios and graduate success/job prospects.
Aston’s success is primarily due to consistently high teaching quality ratings, the success of our graduates in finding “graduate track” employment or further study, high entry grades, a high proportion of students gaining top-class degree marks and significant investment in student facilities.
www.guardian.co.uk
Subject Rankings: 2005-8 Guardian/Times/Good University Guide Tables
14 of Aston University’s 16 broad subject areas have featured in the top 15 of the Times, Good University Guide and/or Guardian Subject rankings 2005-8, confirming our overall strength*
Anatomy and Physiology: 5th 2007, 6th 2008 - The Guardian (includes subjects such as Optometry, Audiology and Human Biology). Aston is in the top two Optometry programmes in the UK for two years running.
Biological Sciences: 2nd 2005, 6th - 2008: The Guardian
Business, Management and related subjects: 6th - The Times 2008, 7th in The Good University Guide 2008. Business at Aston was also top 5 in the Times 2003-2005, Only one other University in the UK (London School of Economics) alongside Aston featured in the top 5 for Business thee years running.
Chemical Engineering: 4th in 2007 – The Guardian. Aston has featured in the UK’s top 5 for three years running in the Guardian 2005-2007
Chemistry: 10th - The Guardian 2006
Electronic Engineering: 15th - The Guardian 2008
Languages (German): 13th: The Times 2006
Mechanical Engineering: 7th - The Guardian 2007, 14th The Good University Guide 2008
Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish): 12th: The Guardian 2007
Pharmacy and Pharmacology - 2nd in 2006, 3rd in 2005 and 2007 – The Guardian. Aston was the UK’s highest ranked Pharmacy programme in the Guardian 2007. Aston is also ranked 10th for Pharmacy and Pharmacology in The Good University Guide 2008
Politics: 10th - The Guardian 2007
Psychology: 10th – The Guardian 2005
Sociology: 4th – The Guardian 2006
Subjects Allied to Medicine: (Optometry and Audiology): 6th - The Times 2007, 5th - The Good University Guide 2008
*methodologies in the Times/Guardian/Good University Guide rankings often change each year so it is not always relevant to compare ranking positions year on year. Giving an indication of ranking position over 2-3 years also gives an accurate indication of quality.
Other Rankings
National Student Survey – Aston University has performed consistently well in the National Student Survey (NSS) – find out more here
Aston University Careers Service - In a major 2006 survey of its members by the AGR (Association of Graduate Recruiters), representing the major UK companies who recruit graduates, Aston’s Careers Service was voted in the UK’s top 10 of all UK Universities for the services it provides. This confirms our excellent reputation with graduate employers across the UK and beyond and that Aston students gain an advantage for their future careers and success. www.aston.ac.uk/careers
Aston University rated No 1 for Student Life, and one of the UK’s Friendliest Universities.
rokstudent.com (formerly VirginStudent.com) recently had a major poll rating Universities on various aspects of student life. Aston was ranked number one in the UK for student nightlife - which is a reflection of both the quality of the student experience on our campus and 5 minutes walk away in the centre of Birmingham.
In June 2005, a massive survey by the website Friendsreunited.co.uk of graduates over the last 50 years rated Aston University amongst the top 10 friendliest Universities in the UK (6th out of over 120 Institutions).