Aston University: Fees, January Deadline and Scholarships
TL;DR: Aston University is a city-centre university in Birmingham, with a second campus in London, that takes international students in January, April and September. Most taught master's degrees cost £24,800 to £25,500 for 2026/27, the January application deadline is 30 November 2026, and an automatic scholarship of £4,000 to £5,500 is available to deposit payers.
If you want a UK master's that starts soon, Aston University still has a January start open, but the window is short. This guide covers fees, entry scores, the deposit and the scholarships, so you can decide this week. Not sure where you stand? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What is Aston University like for international students?
Aston University has a city-centre campus in Birmingham, in the English Midlands. It also runs Aston University London at 200 Aldersgate Street, near the City of London, which teaches a smaller set of master's degrees such as Business Analytics, Data Science, Cyber Security Management and Project Management.
Aston holds a Gold rating, the highest possible, in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), and the Guardian University Guide 2026 places it 23rd in the UK for career prospects, according to the university's rankings page. Many courses build in work experience. Two master's degrees, MSc Data Science and MSc Engineering Management, have a 22-month "Professional Practice" route that you can transfer onto if you secure a placement.
Prosper can apply to Aston University for you, for both the Birmingham and London campuses.
Aston University fees for international students
Aston publishes fees on each course page. The figures below are the international fees shown for 2026/27, even though the same pages list starts in January, April and September 2027.
| Course | Start dates listed | International fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Business Analytics | January, April, September | £25,500 |
| MSc Data Science | January, April, September | £24,800 |
| MSc Engineering Management | January, April, September | £24,800 |
| MBA (full time, 3+ years' experience) | January, September | £31,500 |
| BSc Computer Science (per year, 2027/28 entry) | September | £22,575 |
For undergraduate degrees, Aston says fees may rise by up to 6% a year, and the optional placement year on BSc Computer Science costs £2,500. Always confirm the fee on the course page for your exact intake before you accept an offer.
Aston University January intake: the 30 November deadline
Aston lists January 2027 starts for MSc Finance, Business Analytics, Project Management, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Cyber Security, among others. The final application deadline for January 2027 is Monday 30 November 2026. The April 2027 deadline is still to be confirmed.
A January start leaves little time once the offer arrives. You still need to pay the deposit, receive your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), hold the visa funds for 28 days and apply for the visa. If your documents are not ready, September is the safer plan.
Aston University entry requirements and English scores
For postgraduate study, Aston converts your grade point average to the UK degree class each course asks for. Its English rules are set by school:
- Business School, including the MBA: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with one band allowed at 5.5 and the rest at 6.0 or above. PTE Academic 67.
- Engineering and Physical Sciences: IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. PTE 64.
- Engineering Systems and Management, and Health and Life Sciences: IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
Aston also accepts TOEFL iBT (not the Home Edition), the Duolingo English Test and Oxford ELLT. Duolingo scores are 120 for Business and 110 for Engineering. If your IELTS is 6.0 where 6.5 is needed, Aston offers a conditional route with an in-sessional English module.
For undergraduate study, international school qualifications are accepted course by course. Students who fall short can take the International Foundation Programme or International Year One, which Aston runs with a pathway partner.
Aston University scholarships for international students
Aston lists its awards on one scholarships page, and the awards cannot be combined.
- International Community Scholarship (master's): £4,000 for January and April 2027 starts, £5,500 for September 2027. It is automatic, but only if you pay the deposit by the deadline in your offer. It does not apply to the MBA or MRes.
- Sir Adrian Cadbury Chancellor's Scholarship (master's): £10,000, by application with a 500-word statement. The January 2027 round closed on 1 November 2026; April and September dates are still to be announced.
- Undergraduate, September 2027: an International Community Scholarship of £9,000 (£3,000 a year) and a Chancellor's Scholarship of £10,000, both competitive.
Deposit, CAS and visa costs
Aston quotes the deposit amount in your offer email, and most students must pay it before a CAS is issued. If your visa is refused, the refund keeps a £500 administration charge, under the university's tuition fee policy.
On the visa side, GOV.UK sets the Student visa fee from outside the UK at £558. The Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 a year. For a course outside London you must show £1,171 a month for up to nine months, held for 28 consecutive days.
Applying from Sri Lanka
Aston has a Sri Lanka country page with clear rules:
- CGPA for master's (4.0 scale): 2.8 where a course asks for a UK 2:2, 3.2 for a 2:1 and 3.6 for a First. Below that, a Pre-Masters is offered.
- English from O/L: a B in O/L English is accepted as IELTS 6.5, and a C as IELTS 6.0.
- Medium of instruction: graduates of the Universities of Colombo, Moratuwa, Sri Jayewardenepura and Peradeniya can use their English-medium degree if it was completed within three years, with a wet-stamped letter.
- Undergraduate: Sri Lankan school qualifications are accepted, with the grade set on each course page.
After the CAS, you book biometrics at VFS Global in Colombo and the TB test at IOM Colombo.
Frequently asked questions
Does Aston University have a January intake?
Yes. Aston University runs January starts for several master's degrees, including MSc Business Analytics, Data Science, Finance and Cyber Security. The final application deadline for January 2027 is 30 November 2026.
How much does a master's at Aston University cost?
For 2026/27, international fees are £24,800 for MSc Data Science and MSc Engineering Management, £25,500 for MSc Business Analytics and £31,500 for the full-time MBA. Check the course page for your intake.
What IELTS score does Aston University need?
Aston University asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 for most master's degrees, depending on the school. The Business School needs 6.5 overall, while Engineering and Physical Sciences needs 6.0 with no band below 5.5.
Is the Aston University scholarship automatic?
The International Community Scholarship is automatic for eligible master's students who pay their deposit by the offer deadline. It is worth £4,000 for January and April starts and £5,500 for September.
Does Aston University have a London campus?
Yes. Aston University London, at 200 Aldersgate Street, teaches master's degrees including Business Analytics, Data Science and Project Management.
More guides
Compare Aston with other options in our guide to universities in the UK for international students, check UK tuition fees for international students, read how the UK university deposit works, see what a CAS contains, and look at another Birmingham option, Birmingham City University.
PS: If a January start at Aston University is your goal, the 30 November deadline is the date to plan around. Send us your transcript and English score and we will tell you which course fits and what to do first. Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- Rankings, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/why-aston/rankings (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Aston University London campus, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/london/campus (accessed 11/11/2026)
- MSc Business Analytics, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/business-analytics-msc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- MSc Data Science, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/data-science-msc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- MSc Engineering Management, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/engineering-management-msc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Full-time MBA, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/mba-full-time-mba (accessed 11/11/2026)
- BSc Computer Science, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/computer-science-bsc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- How to apply (postgraduate), Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply (accessed 11/11/2026)
- English language requirements, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Scholarships for international students, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/international/scholarships (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Visa application from overseas, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/current-students/support-services/international/prospective-students/visa-application-overseas (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Tuition fee charging policy 2026-27, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/tuition-fee-charging-policy-2026-27.pdf (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Sri Lanka country page, Aston University, https://www.aston.ac.uk/international/aston-in-your-country/south-asia/srilanka (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Student visa, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Student visa: money you need, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Immigration Health Surcharge, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay (accessed 11/11/2026)
