International Pathway Centre

OnCampus Aston 

International students can study a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Aston University through OnCampus Aston, our International Pathway Centre.

We welcome international students to study our pathway programmes across a range of subject areas including business, finance, engineering, the health professions and law.

Undergraduate foundation programmes for international students

A foundation programme will enable you to progress to your chosen undergraduate course at Aston University if you’re an international student and don’t meet our requirements for direct entry.

You’ll learn essential English language skills and develop your subject knowledge as you prepare for academic life in the UK.

OnCampus Aston offers a range of undergraduate foundation programmes, international year one and Pre-Master’s programmes for international students to progress to Aston University.

Why study at Aston University? 

University of the Year for Student Success

The Daily Mail University Guide 2025 has awarded us 'University of the Year for Student Success' for our "best possible student outcomes".

Top 5% in the world

Top 5% of global evaluated institutions (QS World University Rankings 2026)

21st in the UK

The Guardian University Guide 2025

A highly ranked university

University rankings

• 25th overall in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2024) 
• 18th in the UK for graduate prospects and 22nd for continuation rate (Times and Sunday Times University Guide, 2024)
• Ranked in the top 20% of universities in the world (2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings)

Graduate employment

• University of the Year Runner Up for Graduate Employment (Times and Sunday Times University Guide, 2024)
• Top 10 in the UK for ‘Graduate Prospects On-Track’ (Complete University Guide 2024)
• Top 20 in the UK for Career Prospects (WhatUni Rankings, 2023) 

Aston Business School recognition

• Shortlisted for Business School of the Year (Times Higher Education Awards, 2025)
• 1% of business school globally with triple accreditation 

International student rankings

• Top 10% globally for international students (Study Abroad Aide, World Rankings for Best Universities for International Students, 2024)

Pathway Programme Benefits

• Guaranteed progression, subject to qualifications, performance and progression pathway
• Full university experience that prepares you academically and culturally for your degree, and for life in the UK
• English language support
• Develop your academic research and writing skills
• An introduction to your chosen subject area
• Enter with a lower English Language (IELTS) score and develop your English while studying

OnCampus Aston Merit Scholarships

The OnCampus Aston Merit Scholarships recognise high-achieving international students who progress from OnCampus Aston to study at Aston University, Birmingham.

These scholarships provide a tuition fee reduction of up to £6,000 for eligible students joining Aston University in September 2026.

All scholarships are awarded automatically, based on academic performance. There is no separate application process.

Eligible students will normally be identified through the OnCampus Aston progression process. The scholarship is confirmed once the required tuition fee deposit has been paid and becomes active after successful enrolment at Aston University.

 

OnCampus Aston Progression Scholarships

The value and allocation of the OnCampus Aston Progression Scholarships are determined by OnCampus Aston. Applied as a tuition fee discount, the scholarship awarded by Aston University will match the value of the scholarship awarded to the student by OnCampus Aston during the foundation year. 

 

Scholarship value
Students may receive one of the following awards:

Scholarship	Maximum Value
OnCampus Aston Gold Merit Scholarship	Up to £6,000
OnCampus Aston Silver Merit Scholarship	Up to £5,000
OnCampus Aston Progression Scholarship	Match-funded award. Value and allocation determined by OnCampus Aston.

Where a student holds both a Progression Scholarship and a Merit Scholarship, the Merit award will act as a top-up to reach the maximum scholarship value.

The maximum total scholarship available to any individual student is £6,000.

Scholarships are applied as a tuition fee reduction for the first academic year at Aston University only.

Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:

• Progress to Aston University from OnCampus Aston (Birmingham campus)
• Hold an offer for an eligible full-time programme
• Be classified as an Overseas student for tuition fee purposes
• Be fully self-funded
• Successfully complete their OnCampus Aston pathway programme
• Meet all conditions of their Aston University offer

• Scholarships are awarded automatically based on progression status and academic performance within the OnCampus Aston cohort.

  
  Programme exclusions
  The scholarship does not apply to the following programmes:

• BSc Nursing Studies (Adult or Mental Health)
• MBChB Medicine
• MOptom Optometry
• BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• PGDip / MSc OSPAP
• MPH
• MSc Physician Associate Practice
• All MRes programmes
• All PhD programmes
• All MBA programmes

• Important information

• Scholarships are available for the September 2026 intake only
• The award applies to the first academic year at Aston University
• Students may normally hold one Aston University scholarship per programme
• Scholarships cannot be deferred to a later intake
• he scholarship is applied as a tuition fee discount only

Full terms and conditions

Full Terms and Conditions can be found below and should be read carefully before accepting your offer.

OnCampus Aston Scholarship September 2026 - T's & C's692.71 KB

Find out more about scholarships here

How the programmes work

Each programme is made up of modules that relate to your chosen subject area.

These will:

• Increase your subject knowledge
• Develop your study skills to prepare you for academic life
• Improve your English language skills
• Give you a deeper understanding of British culture

There are multiple pathways to choose from depending on your intended progression degree:

Undergraduate Foundation

For the Undergraduate Foundation there are: 

• Business, Economics, Finance and Management
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Life Sciences

International Year 1

For International Year 1 there are:

• Accounting and Finance
• Business and Management
• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity
• International Business and Management
• Marketing
• Law

Pre-Master's

For Pre-Master’s there is one pathway with progression to a wide range of master’s degrees across many subject areas.

After successfully completing your pathway programme, you can move straight on to your chosen undergraduate or master’s degree course at Aston University as long as you’ve met all the progression criteria required. 

Student Testimonials

Find out why some of our previous students studied through OnCampus Aston.