exchange students wo options (2

EXCHANGE STUDENTS
HANDBOOK
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lss/erasmus-programme
WELCOME TO ALL EXCHANGE STUDENTS!
BIENVENUE! BIENVENIDO! HERZLICH WILLKOMMEN!
At Aston, we have a proud tradition of offering high quality, professionally oriented
courses, in a friendly, supportive environment. We take the needs of students from
abroad very seriously and provide a strong network of welfare and support throughout your stay.
The University has a truly international flavour; our multi-cultural community is enriched with students from over 80 countries around the world and many staff are
highly respected within the international academic community. We recognise the
important academic and cultural contribution international students make to the university and extend a warm welcome to you.
I hope this Handbook provides you with all the necessary information you need to
make the right choice. If having read the Handbook you have any questions unanswered, please do get in touch with the relevant School International Office.
I trust you will find what you are looking for at Aston and look forward to welcoming
you to the University.
Professor Julia King
Vice Chancellor
Aston University
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CONTENTS
The UK at a Glance
04
Aston School of Languages and Social Sciences
05
General Information
06
School of Languages & Social Sciences
07
Module Choices
08
Assessment and Credits
09
Study Facilities
10
Health and Insurance
12
Special Needs Students
13
Birmingham
14
Student City
15
Accommodation
18
Other Practical Information
20
3
THE UK AT A GLANCE
Capital City:
London
Official languages:
English
Recognised regional lan-
Welsh, Irish, Ulster Scots, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish
Area:
244,820 sq km
Time zone:
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with European daylight savings
time (British Summer Time)
Location:
Western Europe
Administrative divisions:
England: 34 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City
of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan counties, 46 unitary authorities
Northern Ireland: 26 district council areas
Scotland: 32 unitary authorities
Wales: 22 unitary authorities
Climate:
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the
North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Population:
60,943,912
Population density:
246 inhabitants per sq km
Ethnic groups:
white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%,
Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani
1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist)
71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or
none 23.1% (2001 census)
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (618 seats;
consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers,
and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005
elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve fiveyear terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
Political Parties:
Conservative; Democratic Unionist Party; Labour Party; Liberal
Democrats; Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru); Scottish National
Party or SNP; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) ; Social Democratic
and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland); Ulster Unionist
Party (Northern Ireland)
Currency:
British Pound (GBP)
Telephone Country Code:
+ 44
4
ASTON
UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF
LANGUAGES AND
SOCIAL SCIENCES
5
GENERAL INFORMATION
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966
Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. All of the University's academic, social and accommodation facilities are based on our attractive,
self contained green Campus, right in the centre of Birmingham, one of Europe’s
liveliest and welcoming cities. We are proud of our close-knit, safe and friendly campus atmosphere which provides the perfect environment for academic success and
a fantastic social life.
We are ranked 12th out of 113 UK universities
by the 2008 Good University Guide, confirming our place amongst the elite of UK
Universities. We also have an outstanding reputation for helping our graduates secure good jobs, with 84% finding employment within six months of graduation, compared to a national average of 71% (2006). Aston offers a range of undergraduate
and postgraduate degree programmes, and also works with the public and private
sector to develop tailored Continuing Professional Development and Foundation Degree programmes.
There are four Schools at Aston University
the School of Languages & Social Sciences (LSS), the School of Engineering and
Applied Science, the School of Life & Health Sciences (LHS) and the Aston Business School (ABS).
Address:
Aston University
School of Languages and Social Sciences
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET
United Kingdom
Telephone:
+44 (0) 121 204 3000
Homepage:
www.aston.ac.uk
Erasmus Coordinators:
Placements Office Rooms NW910 and NW912
School of Languages and Social Sciences
Ms Valeska Hass (Placements Manager)
Miss Emma Mason (Placements Coordinator)
Telephone:
+44 (0) 121 204 3749 (Valeska Hass)
+44 (0) 121 204 3818 (Emma Mason)
Email:
[email protected]
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SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Undergraduate Degree Programmes
The School of Languages and Social Sciences offers the following first degree programmes:
BSc (Honours) in Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish)
BSc (Honours) in Translation Studies (French, German, Spanish)
BSc (Honours) in European Studies
BSc (Honours) in Politics and French/ German/ Spanish
BSc (Honours) in International Relations Minor and Half subjects
BSc in Sociology (Honours)
BSc (Honours) English Language
Modern Languages for non-language Specialists – University Wide Language Programme: http://www.aston.ac.uk/lss/academicgroups/uwlp/
ERASMUS and Certificate of Higher Education in
Languages & Social Sciences (CLSS)
The School has established ERASMUS partnerships with a number of universities in
France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Turkey and Finland: Angers, Ankara (Bilkent),
Granada, Frankfurt/Oder (Viadrina), Haute Ecole de Bruxelles (HEB), Leipzig, Lille
(IEP), Mainz (Germersheim), Orléans, Paderborn, Paris, Tampere, Tours and Valencia.
The LSS Erasmus programme provides a full or half year comprehensive programme of academic study, to promote awareness of Britain’s political and cultural
role within Europe and in the international context. The programme also aims to
consolidate the English language skills of non-native speakers in order to foster a
deeper understanding of British life and culture. Aside from an emphasis on English
studies, the programme also offers an opportunity to study French, German or
Spanish as a foreign language, as well as Sociology, International Relations, Politics
and European Studies. The programme follows an integrated approach, allowing
students to integrate development of language and translation skills with study of
one or more subject areas.
Exchange students must normally be nominated by their home institutions, subject
to an ERASMUS or other exchange agreement. Students should have completed a
minimum of two years study at their home university and passed the appropriate examinations. Except where a special arrangement with the home institution exists,
students must agree to study at Aston for the full three terms.
Exchange students are enrolled as full-time students and must agree to abide by the
University’s General and Special Regulations and Programme Requirements as laid
down by the Undergraduate Board of the School. Students must, on request, provide evidence of appropriate background knowledge in order to enrol for modules
where there are specific pre-requisites.
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MODULE CHOICES
Modules
Each student will study 6 modules per teaching period (12 modules per year).
Each module will be taught for 11-12 weeks followed by assessment. Some of our
existing modules are double modules and are taught for both teaching periods.
Modules are taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials amounting to about 1215 hours per week. Each module, however, requires considerable additional time to
be spent outside class in reading and preparing. This additional “personal research”
time amounts to approximately 4 hours per module per week.
Please bear in mind that the list of modules is subject to change before the start of
the academic year. Your final choice of modules will be discussed with you
during the “Freshers’ Week” and a final Learning Agreement will be completed.
Please consult our website for a description of the modules. We will try and make it
possible for you to study your choice of modules but as you may be choosing from
different years and different degree programmes, there may be timetable clashes.
Also, we might have to limit the number of students on certain modules.
Please also bear in mind that the university system in the UK may differ from the
one you know. British students at Aston are not allowed to “try out” lots of modules
in the first few weeks and then drop the ones they do not want. You will be expected
to conform to these regulations. Therefore, please make an informed choice before
you come to Aston. You will be given further advice when you arrive here but you
will not be allowed to change your module choices after the second week of
term. You will be required to sign your final learning agreement at this time.
Contact
Erasmus Coordinators:
Placements Office Rooms NW910 and NW912
School of Languages and Social Sciences
Ms Valeska Hass (Placements Manager)
Miss Emma Mason (Placements Coordinator)
Telephone:
+44 (0) 121 204 3749 (Valeska Hass)
+44 (0) 121 204 3818 (Emma Mason) Academic Erasmus Coordinator:
Dr Nathalie Mrgudovic
Telephone:
+44 (0) 121 204 3782
Email:
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ASSESSMENT AND CREDITS
ECTS
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) was developed in a pilot scheme established within the ERASMUS programme as a means of improving academic recognition for study abroad. This means that the study period abroad replaces a period of study at the home university though the content of the agreed study programme may differ.
ECTS credits describe the student workload required to complete course units. They
reflect the quantity of work each course unit requires in relation to the total quantity
of work necessary to complete a full academic year and therefore, they are a relative rather than an absolute measure.
60 ECTS credits represent the workload of an academic year of study, that is 30
credits per Teaching Period.
Credits and Assessment
Modules are worth 10 Aston credits which equals 5 ECTS credits.
Exchange students, like their British counterparts at Aston university, study modules
to the equivalent of 60 ECTS credits, which equate to 120 Aston credits, per year.
Double modules carry 10 ECTS credits, but you will only be able to obtain the full
amount of credits for these modules if you stay for the whole year.
Assessment is based on coursework done during the year and examinations which
take place in mid-January and in the third term. As an exchange student you are expected to remain in Aston until after the exams period.
No credits will be awarded for a module where no assessment has been completed.
No credits will be awarded for a module where only part of the assessment requirements have been completed unless this has been formally agreed. Forms to agree
alternative assessment are available from the placements office.
Transcript of records
Once the results have been considered by the Final Examination Board, your transcript will be sent directly to you. This can only be sent after this Board which usually takes place in the first half of July. We can issue preliminary transcripts for students who leave after the first teaching period, however, the official transcript will
only be sent to you after the Final Examination Board. It is therefore very important that Aston University has an up to date address for you when you leave to go
back to your own country!
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STUDY FACILITIES
Library and Information Systems
The Library & Information Services (LIS) will play an integral role in your studies at
Aston, providing books, journals, electronic sources of information and many computing facilities. In addition to the resources in the Library building, LIS has various
open access computer laboratories across the campus, with workstations also providing access to LIS facilities. The rooms have free dot matrix printing and laser
printing is available at low cost. When you enrol you will be given a user name and
password for the computing facilities as well as an e-mail account, and an instruction sheet to help you get started. Visit the website: www.aston.ac.uk/lis
Aston Students’ Guild
The Guild exists "to enhance the student experience by identifying, anticipating and
satisfying the needs of its membership through student democracy, representation
and involvement." As a student at Aston University, you are automatically a member
of the Students' Guild. Run by students for students, the Students' Guild is the centre for student social life providing activities and entertainment throughout the week
such as club nights, live band nights, Karaoke evenings etc. The Students' Guild actively encourages involvement from every section of their membership (including international students). It is up to you how involved you become with the Students'
Guild but any skills or ideas you may have are always welcome. The Students' Guild
provides a variety of facilities and services for students at Aston University. As the
facilities cater specifically for our students, they are subsidised or offer lower prices
and are therefore excellent value for money. These include catering outlets and
bars, a travel agent, banks, cashpoints or ATM (automatic teller machines), a copy
shop, photo-booth, convenience store, hair salon, launderette, the Students' Advice Centre and Helios (student magazine). Visit the Guild's fully interactive website: www.astonguild.org.uk
The Students' Guild has an elected International Students' Officer who represents
all the international students at Aston University, organises special events and answers many of your queries. Contact via email: [email protected]
Students' Advice Centre (SAC) and JobShop
These are located on the first floor of the Students' Guild building and offer information and advice to all students. The range of advice given by the SAC includes immigration, education difficulties and course changes, employment law, housing, legal
matters, financial matters, health issues, housing, landlord & tenant problems, University regulations and disciplinary problems. The SAC currently opens for telephone advice between 9.45 am and 4.15 pm and for visits between 11 am and 4 pm
every weekday during term-time. Opening hours are usually the same during the
vacation period. Each weekday a member of the advice team is on "drop-in" duty to
help anyone who visits the SAC. However, if you need advice on immigration matters, for example, visas, employment, etc. you will need to arrange an appointment
with a designated member of staff in the SAC. Visit www.astonguild.org.uk and follow links to Welfare and Advice or to JobShop
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Catering Services
There are a variety of student restaurants and snack bars on campus where you
can eat, drink coffee and socialise eg Café Lago (6th floor Main Building); La Serre
(Ground Floor, Main Building); Einsteins and The Blue Room (Guild). There are also
various pubs nearby (eg The Sacks of Potatoes, Gosta Green) which serve food.
Sports facilities
Woodcock Sports Centre and Gem Sports Hall are conveniently situated on campus
and offer an extensive range of activities from aerobics classes, badminton and basketball to swimming, squash and weight-training. All students enrolled at Aston University are automatically members of the sports facilities and on production of their
ID card, are entitled to reduced rates. For further information, there are various leaflets available from the reception at either sports centre on campus. Racquets and
other equipment can be hired if needed. There is also a floodlit outdoor all-weather
playing surface which can be used for all sorts of outdoor sports activities. There are
also playing fields for other sports such as rugby, hockey, football, cricket at the University’s recreation centre a few miles away. Please see www.aston.ac.uk/sport
Religious Provision and University Chaplaincy
Aston University has a Chaplaincy which offers confidential help and advice to all
students and staff regardless of their faith. The Chaplains can also put you in touch
with a place of worship. They can be contacted in their offices on the ground floor of
Lawrence Tower. There are also a number of religious societies in the Students’
Guild which will be listed in the Guild Handbook. An Islamic Prayer Room is located
on the fourth floor of the Students’ Guild. Religious provision is also made for the
Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh faith communities at the University. Contact information for faith leaders can be obtained from the Chaplains.
Careers Service
The Careers Service (CS), situated on the first floor of the South Wing, provides students with detailed information on an extensive range of careers, opportunities for
postgraduate study and training, and individual employers. The CS Information
Room is open from 8.45am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday and students are welcome
to use the reference material there. There are also leaflets to help with writing CVs
and letters of application, finding vacation work, etc. See www.careers.aston.ac.uk
for more information.
11
HEALTH AND INSURANCE
NHS Health Centre
Aston University has its own NHS Health Centre. You will be registered during your
first week at Aston. The general practitioners (GPs) there will deal with all your
medical problems in the first instance, and they will refer you to a specialist if necessary. Trained counsellors offer a free, confidential advisory service for all kinds of
emotional and psychological problems and difficulties. There is also a Dental Surgery on campus.
Important
If you are enrolled at Aston for less than 6 months, you will be charged for treatment unless you are an EU citizen and can produce your EHIC (European Health
Insurance Card). Despite the fact that you will normally be entitled to full medical
treatment, some provisions should be made before coming to Britain. It is advisable
to go for a dental check-up, an eye sight test and/or make sure your glasses or contact lenses are the right strength and, finally, to check whether any particular medicine which you might have to take regularly is available in the UK. If not, make sure
your supply is sufficient.
Also: note that if you want to consult a specialist, you must go and see a doctor from
the Health Centre first, in order to obtain a letter for the specialist, otherwise you will
have to pay the specialist’s bill yourself!
Health Centre phone:
Counselling Service phone:
Counselling Service Email:
+44 (0)121 503 8580
+44 (0)121 204 7411
[email protected]
Insurance Cover
If you are an EU citizen and staying for more than 6 months you must before you
leave home obtain the relevant EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). This covers all medical treatment in any NHS surgery or NHS hospital.
Otherwise you must take out full medical insurance. However you will have to pay
for dental treatment and for eye sight tests. There is also a standard prescription fee
(£6.00 per item prescribed). Some contraceptives are free on prescription from a
general practitioner.
It is essential that you also take out travel insurance, and personal belongings/
possessions insurance cover against theft, fire or damage, the latter preferably before you leave home, or immediately on arrival. The Students’ Guild or the International Student Advisers’ Office can advise you on companies offering special rates
to students.
12
SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
The University welcomes applications from students with disabilities. You are asked
to give details, via your home institution, to the relevant Aston exchange coordinator
at an early stage of application. This will allow us to accommodate any particular
needs you may have in advance, for example, to discuss with you the need for possible extra help and how it will be provided.
All teaching is carried out on our compact main campus, close to the residences.
Most buildings are supplied with lifts, and kerbs have been lowered to allow easy
access for wheelchair users. The University has a number of specially adapted flats
for wheelchair users (a visit in person is highly recommended over the summer to
see accommodation facilities).
The Disability and Additional Needs Unit (DANU)
This unit is located in G16 (ground floor main building).
DANU can provide you with advice and a copy of A Guide for Students with Disabilities at Aston - the University's Disability Statement.
Phone: +44 (0)121 204 4711.
Email: [email protected]
Text message: 07769 961107
http://www.aston.ac.uk/current-students/welfareservices/disability/index.jsp
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BIRMINGHAM
14
STUDENT CITY
Birmingham is home to over 50,000 students. A fantastic
student city.
Birmingham is Britain’s second city, it is flourishing and is
internationally recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, business, shopping,
industry and sport. The city centre is a fusion of attractive squares, modern
shopping arcades, diverse pubs, clubs and restaurants and fine museums, theatres
and art galleries – truly a World City.
Easy accessible. Whether by road, rail or air, travelling to and from
Birmingham is easy. The city is conveniently central to an extensive network of
motorways and railways. Birmingham International Airport is ten minutes away
whilst London is only a 90-minute journey on the train or around two hours’ drive.
Getting around Birmingham once you’re here is straightforward, with cheap and
efficient bus, train, tram and taxi services. Walking is just as easy, as the city centre
is now almost totally pedestrianised and is a safe and welcoming place.
The Pubs. An evening out spent in one of the numerous pubs in Birmingham is
certainly something none of you should miss. There are so many places to go, and
so much to do that you will always be spoilt for choice… The Broad Street, Brindley
Place/Mailbox area is popular with students and has lots of places to eat and drink
beside the canals, for example Zinc Bar, Living Room, Bank, The Works, Flares,
Hard Rock Café, Bar Epernay and Walkabout (amongst many others). Rumour has
it that there are 100 pubs within a one-mile radius of the Aston University Campus.
Numerous pre-club bars like Poppy Red, Ipanema, Hidden, and SoBar are also
open late, as you would expect from a top-class entertainment city like Birmingham.
The bars, cafés and clubs at The Arcadian Centre (near the Chinese Quarter) are
also popular with students.
The Clubs. Birmingham is bursting with clubs playing anything from dance,
house, drum and bass and jungle, to hard rock, 70s, 80s, lounge, soul, jazz and
garage. Clubs like Apt, The Medicine Bar, Air (home to GodsKitchen), The Works,
Indi, Rococo Lounge and Gas Street play host to top DJs and attract clubbing
aficionados from across the UK. Most also offer a student night, where entrance
prices and drinks start from as little as £1. Alternatively, the National Exhibition
Centre (NEC) and the National Indoor Arena (NIA) frequently host some of the
largest names in music, whilst the Birmingham Carling Academy (300 metres from
campus) attracts ‘medium-sized’ indie, R&B and dance acts, as well as hosting
student nights during the week.
Eating out. It might well be that you come to a stage during your stay in
Britain where you develop a deep longing for non-English food...! You should surely
try some typical English meals like Fish and Chips or Steak and Kidney Pie with
chips and peas but don't miss out the opportunity to go to some of the excellent local
foreign restaurants for a change. All tastes are catered for, with thriving English,
French, Cajun, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Austrian, Greek, Indian, Chinese, Latin
American, Thai and Japanese restaurants.
15
The Cinemas and Theatres. You can choose from a wide range of cinemas,
from the large multi-screen complexes to smaller cinemas (such as the newly refurbished and restored Electric Cinema, the oldest working cinema in the UK, dating
from 1909) specialising in Arthouse, foreign language and avant-garde films. Student discounts are available for most performances. Birmingham has one of the
highest concentrations of live theatre outside the West End of London; the Alexandra, Birmingham Rep, Crescent, MAC, Hippodrome, Library and Old Rep Theatres
stage both traditional and more innovative works.
Museums and Art Galleries. Some of the finest art
collections in the world are to be found in
Birmingham. The City Museum and Art Gallery, the Gas
Hall and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts provide
spectacular settings for classical and modern works, while
the IKON Gallery on Brindley Place hosts challenging
exhibitions (and serves great coffee!). Birmingham also
has a wealth of museums.
Sporting Events. Currently, local football teams Aston
Villa (Villa), West Bromwich Albion (The Baggies), Birmingham City (The Blues), Coventry City and ‘Wolves’
are competing in England’s top two Divisions (The Premiership and Championship)
and all have their home grounds within easy reach. Warwickshire County Ground at
Edgbaston provides Test and county cricket games and a number of local rugby
teams compete in national divisions. Major tennis tournaments are held at Edgbaston Priory and international golf tournaments at The Belfry, the National Golf Centre
(including the Ryder Cup). The Alexander Stadium hosts international athletics,
whilst the National Indoor Arena (NIA) is also the venue for over thirty indoor sports,
including tennis’ Davis Cup.
Around Birmingham. Birmingham lies at the heart of England and is
surrounded by a wealth of beautiful countryside. Historic towns and cities, picturesque villages, hills, valleys and rivers are all a short journey away. Directly to the
north are the beautiful Derbyshire Dales, The Peak District National Park and the
cathedral city of Lichfield. Thrill seekers need look no further than the Alton Towers
theme park in Staffordshire. Worcester, a historic city on the banks of the River Severn is famed for its porcelain, Elgar’s birthplace and the impressive Malvern Hills
close by and less then one hour away
from Birmingham. Further west, the
mountains and lakes of Wales are only
90 minutes’ drive for world-class hiking,
climbing and water sports. To the south
lies Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s
home town, and historic Warwick Castle.
16
WEBSITES
www.amccinemas.co.uk AMC Broadway Plaza, cinema
www.theelectric.co.uk Electric Cinema, Independent and unique cinema.
www.odeon.co.uk Odeon Cinema
www.mac-birmingham.org.uk Midland Arts Centre (MAC) Independent screening of
unusual films.
www.ugccinemas.co.uk UGC Five Ways, cinema
www.warnervillage.co.uk Vue Starcity. It has a Warner Village 32 screen cinema
centre. There is also a Mega bowl along with mixed theme restaurants, bars and
over 2,979 parking spaces. This complex is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Birmingham Repertory Theatre
www.hippodrometheatre.co.uk Birmingham Hippodrome, Theatre
www.getlive.co.uk/birmingham Alexandra Theatre
www.crescent-theatre.co.uk Crescent Theatre
www.rsc.org.uk Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford
www.bmag.org.uk Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
www.ikon-gallery.co.uk IKON Gallery
www.stpaulsgallery.com St Paul’s Gallery
www.artatwalsall.org.uk The New Art Gallery, Walsall (tel. 01922 654400)
www.thinktank.ac.uk Thinktank, Museum of Science and Industry
www.wowbirmingham.co.uk What’s on in Birmingham
www.beinbirmingham.com Birmingham Tourism Centre
www.birmingham.gov.uk Birmingham City Council
www.visitheartofengland.com Heart of England Tourist Board
www.necgroup.co.uk National Exhibition Centre Group
www.brindleyplace.com Brindley Place
www.mailboxlife.com The Mailbox
www.nationalrail.co.uk trains
www.visitbritain.com
www.travelinformation.co.uk
Maps of Birmingham
Birmingham bookshops sell the Birmingham A-Z and/or the Ordnance Survey Street
Atlas of Birmingham. For web based maps try http://multimap.com
17
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation on campus
Aston University’s Accommodation Office will normally provide student accommodation on campus but only for students who wish to complete a full academic year of
study (three terms). You will automatically receive detailed information from the Accommodation Office. Every assistance will be given to students remaining for one or
two terms to help them find privately rented accommodation.
All of the rooms in the University Halls of Residence are let for the whole Academic
Year. Three invoices are issued - one at the beginning of each term. Each of the
first two invoices covers the term and short vacation period. The final invoice covers
term three only.
Note that you must return the 'Acceptance of Accommodation Offer' form and the
required deposit to secure your University accommodation. This is very important as
it guarantees that your University accommodation is available when you arrive. You
must keep the bottom part of the form as you will need it when you collect your keys
upon arrival.
All information can be found here:
http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/accommodation/
Private Halls of residence
The private halls of residence might rent out for a shorter periods. There are a growing number of private companies operating in Birmingham city centre.
Derwent Living:
Mainstay:
Opal:
Unite:
Liberty Living:
HCR group:
www.derwentliving.com/
www.mainstaystudent.co.uk/
www.opalstudents.com/
www.unite-students.com/ACCOMMODATION.information/
www.libertyliving.co.uk/
They own Alexandra House in Norfolk Rd, Edgbaston, Bir
mingham which is cheaper than the other private halls as the
rooms are not en-suite. HCR do not have a website; see
www.astonstudentpad.com instead.
Aston Students’ Guild site at Aston Brook Green
This is a development of terraced houses which is owned by a housing association
but managed by the Students’ Guild. Shared houses have 3 or 4 bedrooms with a
living area. See www.astonguild.org.uk following links to house hunting lists and advice and then to Aston Brook Green.
Private Accommodation
Please remember that private properties are neither inspected nor in any way approved by Aston University. We provide an information service only, and the details
we publish about properties are as received from their owners. Consequently, the
University accepts no liability in respect of properties listed on their website. You are
18
advised to thoroughly check a property before coming to an agreement with the
landlord.
The Students’ Advice Centre holds lists of private sector accommodation and can
be contacted on 0121 2044815.
Alternatively, you can contact www.astonstudentpad.co.uk
There are a large number of apartments to rent which may be suitable either for student couples or for two students sharing. It is also possible to find rooms in a development where you might be sharing with someone else such as a young business
person. Lodgings accommodation is living within the same house as the property
owner. It could be either self catered or full board accommodation depending upon
the arrangement with the property owner.
Some useful websites are
http://birmingham.gumtree.com/
www.housepals.co.uk/
www.easyroommate.com/
www.rightmove.co.uk/
www.accommodationforstudents.com/
Areas
There are only a few students renting in the inner city areas of Birmingham (within a
3-4 mile radius of Aston’s campus) such as Alum Rock, Aston, Balsall Heath, Bordesley Green, Handsworth, Handworth Wood, Ladywood, Lozells, Nechells, Perry
Barr, Saltley, Sparkbrook, or Sparkhill.
On the whole students prefer to live in ‘student areas’ like Erdington: Postcodes B23
and B24. This is the area currently most popular with Aston students and it is due
north of city centre with lots of direct bus routes to campus. Rush hour travel can
take a while (as in the whole of Birmingham) but buses drop off just behind North
Wing of the Main Building. Erdington covers a very large area. There are good
shopping facilities both on Slade Road and in Erdington centre. Trains from Gravelly
Hill and Erdington go straight to New Street station. Pleasant area, standard of
housing varies from acceptable to good with reasonably priced rents.
Please refer to http://www.astonguild.org.uk for further information on accommodation. You will find it in "House hunting lists and advice".
Council Tax
This is a tax payable to the local authority in which you live. Students remaining at
Aston for at least one academic year are exempt from Council Tax and will need to
obtain an exemption certificate from Registry after enrolling at the University.
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OTHER PRACTICAL INFORMATION
What to bring
Every means of travel to Birmingham has its limits as far as luggage is concerned.
However, if you want to bring more than the allowed amount of luggage by air or
coach, or more than you can carry, you always have the possibility of sending your
luggage by air cargo. Furthermore, it might be a good idea to try and send it together with the luggage of other students from your university going to Aston. You
could then share the cost of the fixed charges (which amount to around £40 within
the EU). For more information make enquiries at your nearest airport or have a look
in the Yellow Pages.
You might consider bringing with you:
• Warm clothes, as winter can be very cold.
• Outdoor equipment like a water-proof rain jacket, an umbrella, and walking
boots to discover England’s countryside are a good idea.
• You can bring your own sports clothing, but all other sports equipment such as
racquets, balls, etc. can be hired at the University’s Sports Centre. However, it
is useful to have your own equipment if you want to practise sports off campus.
• A sleeping bag will be very useful if you intend to travel around as Birmingham
is right in the centre of England, and you can tour around during weekends.
You can also use it as an extra blanket in winter!
• You don’t need to worry about crockery and cutlery as they can be bought
cheaply at the Bull Ring Market or Pound stores in the City Centre. If you will
be staying on campus and require a starter pack of kitchen utensils these can
be purchased by contacting: www.Uni-Essentials.com
• Bedding is not provided in your campus residence and it is recommended that
you bring your own sheets, pillowcases and duvet, or buy cheap sheets, and a
single duvet or blankets in the city e.g. from Argos or Matalan. Pillows and
mattress cover are provided, however. If you are not able to fit bedding in, then
it is normally possible to buy for £25.00 from Residential Services, on arrival
on campus to collect your keys, a bedding pack (duvet/ duvet cover/ fitted
sheet/ pillow case) but note that if you arrive late to pick up your keys, you may
not be able to buy one immediately. A sleeping bag could be useful.
• Don’t bring your own continental portable TV. It will be useless because there
is a different system in the UK. Radios however can be used without problems.
Adapters can be obtained from the Guild Shop or most DIY shops or other
shops that sell electrical goods (e.g. Currys or Dixons).
Cost of living
You should allow around 350-400 GBP for your monthly budget for accommodation,
food and transport. Most goods are reasonably priced, but students from abroad
usually find it expensive to live in the UK. Alcohol and tobacco are heavily taxed and
not quite as affordable as in most other European countries. To try and cut down on
expenses go shopping at big chains like TESCO, ASDA, LIDL or ALDI or at the Indoor market Hall for fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products. The Markets
are situated at the back of the new Bull Ring Shopping Centre and the Indoor Market is open Monday - Saturday. There are also shops on campus.
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Banking
Each bank has different rules for opening an account. Please make your own enquiries with the branch and also seek advice from your own bank at home before
you leave.
Student Discounts
Student discounts are the only way to escape the problem of having enough time
but not enough money to enjoy student life. Getting a student concession at British
organisations and institutions is mainly a matter of having the right discount card. So
make sure you take all the appropriate cards with you wherever you go. Normally
your Aston student ID card is enough.
NUS Card
NUS stands for National Union of Students, which is the students’ trade union in
Britain. You will automatically be a NUS member once you have registered with Aston University. However, note that the University ID card you get after the registration procedure is not your NUS card. You can obtain it free of charge at the reception desk in the Guild of Students (please bring a passport-sized photograph with
you). The NUS card is recognised virtually everywhere in Britain. You can get reductions at cinemas, theatres, museums, and also at certain hairdressers, restaurants
and shops. A basic principle: always ask for concessionary rates anywhere! Some
organisations only offer them on request. For further information please see http://
www.nusonline.co.uk/cards/
ISIC Card
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is no doubt the most widely recognised proof of student status throughout the world. The conditions are similar to
those of a NUS membership, which makes it possible to obtain discounts on certain
train, ferry and air fares. Unlike the NUS card, the ISIC card is valid world-wide. It
will only cost you about £6 for a one-year membership. So make sure you use it.
You can also purchase it in your own country. It is really worth it if you intend to
travel outside Britain during your stay here (like flying home for Christmas!). If you
do decide to buy an ISIC card, don’t forget to take a passport-sized photograph to
the issuing agency. A booklet provided with the ISIC card tells you where you can
get major discounts. Please see http://www.isic.org/
Public Transport in Birmingham
If you have to travel by bus every day, you should buy a Student Travel Card. This
can be used to travel throughout Birmingham and the Black Country every day.
Please see this website for further information: http://www.travelwm.co.uk/buyonline/travel-cards/student-cards.jsp
Young Person’s Coach Card
If you intend to travel around Britain on National Express coaches get yourself a
Young Person’s Coachcard. It costs 10 GBP and secures you a discount of up to
30% on National Express adult tickets. http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/
offers/students.cfm
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Young Person’s Rail Card
If you are between 18 and 25, you can purchase a Young Person’s Rail Card, which
gives you a discount of up to 30% on most rail fares. http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/
Cheap phone calls
National and international cards for cheap phone call abroad are available at almost
all newsagents and they cost £5, £10 or £20. They can be used in payphones,
home, hotel, etc. Or find the right access number on http://www.telediscount.co.uk/
Important phone numbers
Dial 999 for emergencies (police, ambulance, fire)
Dial 118 500 for national directory enquiries.
Dial 118 505 for international directory enquiries.
National operator 100
International operator 155
Lost Property: 0845 113 5000
Tourist information – Marketing Birmingham Tourism Centres & Ticket Shop:
+44 121 202 5099 (location: Welcome Centre, New Street; Birmingham Tourism
Centre & Ticket Shop at the Rotunda) www.visitbirmingham.com
Birmingham Taxis: TOA 0121 427 8888
Centro (local trains/bus info): 0870 608 2608
National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
Birmingham Airport: 0870 7 335511
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