Aston University is a public research university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England. Aston began as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895, evolving into the UK’s first College of Advanced Technology in 1956. Aston University received its royal charter from Queen Elizabeth II on 22 April 1966.

In 2016, Aston was ranked in the top 33 universities in the UK by all three major league tables, and also received recognition Times Higher Education for the second best teaching quality in the UK. Aston was ranked by QS as the 42nd best university in the world under 50 years old in 2015.

Aston pioneered the integrated placement year concept over 50 years ago, with more than 70% of Aston students taking a placement year, the highest percentage in the UK.