Aston University

Visiting your child at Aston University means flying into Birmingham Airport (BHX); the city centre is a 12-15 minute train away. Plan the UK visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from BHX to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a UK Standard Visitor visa - one visa covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (there is no separate 'London visa'). It is applied for online and biometrics are given at a VFS Global centre in India. Most are 6-month visit visas; frequent visitors can choose 2-, 5- or 10-year multiple-entry visas. India has a high (around 82%) grant rate.

• One UK visa covers all four nations - no separate visa for London, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Apply about 3 months ahead, especially for graduation - slots book out and graduations are fixed dates.
• A complete file with strong home ties, clear funds and a clear purpose drives the high approval rate.
• Frequent visitors should consider the 2/5/10-year multiple-entry visa to avoid re-applying each trip.

Just admitted to Aston University? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Birmingham Airport (BHX) early for the best September fares.
• Train from BHX to New Street (~12-15 min), then bus/walk to campus.
• Selly Oak is the main student area - line up housing before arrival.
• Carry your CAS, passport, proof of funds and confirmation of your visa (eVisa share code) in your cabin bag.

Birmingham, the UK's second city, is affordable and has one of Britain's largest South Asian communities - about GBP 1,000-1,450 a month all-in sharing and cooking. The Soho Road and Sparkhill desi belts mean groceries and food from home are everywhere, and buses plus trains cover the city.

Monthly cost of living in Birmingham (a student estimate)

That's roughly £11,500-16,500 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Birmingham students share in Selly Oak (by the university), Edgbaston and the city centre at well below London prices.

• National Express West Midlands buses have student passes.
• Selly Oak puts you near the University of Birmingham.
• Soho Road and Sparkhill are the desi heartlands for groceries and food.

Working part-time

On a Student visa you can work up to 20 hours/week during term time (degree level) and full-time during official university vacations. The 20-hour cap is per week, not an average, counts all jobs combined, and you must be a payroll employee - no self-employment, freelancing or gig/delivery work. After graduating you can apply for the Graduate Route: unsponsored post-study work with no job-type or hour limits, currently 2 years (3 for PhD). Note: from 1 January 2027 the Graduate Route drops to 18 months for non-doctoral graduates, so 2026 graduates should apply by 31 December 2026 to get the full two years.

Safety & student support

Birmingham's universities's areas are generally safe by UK standards; use normal city awareness at night.

• Birmingham's universities has campus security and student-safety services - save the campus number.
• Main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• Use normal city awareness in the centre at night; student areas are busy.

Indian community & food

Birmingham has one of the UK's largest South Asian communities, so desi groceries and food are everywhere.

Indian grocery stores

• Royal Sweets and the grocers along Soho Road (Handsworth) and Stratford Road (Sparkhill).
• Mainstream Tesco, Asda and Aldi carry large world-food aisles.
• The Sparkhill 'Balti Triangle' for restaurants and ingredients.

Student community

• Birmingham universities have large Indian/South Asian societies with major Diwali and Holi events.
• The city has many Hindu temples and gurdwaras.

• Birmingham is the home of the Balti - the Sparkhill Balti Triangle is legendary.

Cost & living figures for Birmingham last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.