Date: 24th February 2026 

Speakers: Rhys Bell – Student Recruitment Advisor, Aston Online and Dr Zahida Shah – Programme Director, BSc Business and Management 

Introduction 

Rhys Bell: Just kicking off, this is the introduction webinar to the BSc Business and Management online programme. 

Here we have some basic but interesting facts about studying with Aston Online, just so everyone is aware. 

I am the Student Recruitment Advisor for this programme, and I will be happy to help you with any questions you have after the webinar itself. I am joined today by Dr Zahida Shah, who is the Programme Director and will be leading the academic side of the session as well. 

Programme and university overview 

Rhys Bell: So, a little about Aston and about the BSc Business and Management specifically. 

Some of the goals of the BSc Business and Management programme are to help students develop future-ready skills and gain expertise in areas such as AI, digital transformation, and leadership. 

It is also focused on real-world learning, so that means solving genuine business challenges through hands-on projects and case studies. 

The programme is also industry-relevant, and the curriculum is designed in collaboration with industry leaders so that students are learning cutting-edge business practices. 

About Aston Online itself, the university received Triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in 2023. Aston has a triple-accredited business school through AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. The university is ranked in the Top 5% of global universities, and it was named University of the Year for Student Success in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025. 

Why Aston Online 

Rhys Bell: Why Aston Online? 

Aston University Online offers a number of advantages that make it an appealing choice for prospective students around the world. 

You receive round-the-clock support in the form of expert tutors and one-to-one feedback. 

You also have a dedicated Student Success Team, access to a digital library, learning resources and materials available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and complimentary full access to Adobe Creative Cloud. 

You can also earn as you learn. You can spread the cost and pay monthly or in instalments. There is no need to take time out from your employment. I would say about 90% of the students I speak with and help onto a programme tend to work full-time throughout the duration of the programme. 

There are also funding opportunities available, depending on your circumstances, and we are always happy to discuss that with students on an individual basis. 

You can take control of your schedule, access programme materials anytime and anywhere, study at your own pace, and the programme is one 100% online and fully asynchronous. 

Dr Zahida Shah: Let me just unmute myself. 

Good afternoon, everyone. I am Zahida, and I am the Programme Director for both the campus-based and the online Business and Management programmes. 

As Rhys just briefly mentioned, the Business and Management programme is housed within a triple-accredited business school, and the programme attracts a lot of students because of those accreditations. 

That applies to both the online and campus-based versions, but for the online programme in particular, I would say that you are very much in good hands. The team works very effectively together. I have worked with everyone from learning designers to the many people behind the scenes who make things happen and ensure that your learning experience is seamless. 

As Rhys mentioned, you are supported around the clock. 

Before I continue, I should say that I like to keep things interactive. So, I will go through the slides and give you the key information, but I would really encourage questions at the end, because your questions are much more important in ensuring that we actually provide the information you need in order to make your decisions. 

Key information and learning experience 

Dr Zahida Shah: We have already seen some key information around tuition fees, Aston accreditations, and rankings. 

What I want to draw your attention to is the fact that there are monthly payment plans available for the fees. Again, you can find information about this on the website, or you can come back to us and ask questions about your own individual circumstances, and we can give you more tailored information. 

The duration of the programme is 48 months, and it is a very flexible programme. You can continue with your studies while fitting them around your family responsibilities, caring responsibilities, work, and other commitments. 

It is fully flexible, but at the same time it ensures that you receive a learning experience that mirrors the quality of what our campus students receive, without you having to leave your home, workplace, or wherever you are studying from. 

In terms of skills, this programme helps you gain strong business acumen. That might be in relation to management roles within organisations, or it might support you if you are thinking about starting your own business. 

You will learn about what goes into setting up an enterprise, including the components of a business plan and the things you need to consider in areas such as human resources, marketing, and finance. All of these are integral to what we affectionately call the BAM programme. 

You will also learn a great deal about strategic problem-solving. This includes looking at internal strategies within organisations, such as developing new markets or new products and services, and embedding sustainability or corporate social responsibility. These are some of the areas you will explore from a strategic perspective. 

Innovation within leadership and management is also important. Digital transformation and technology are central as well, not least because of the way the programme itself is delivered online through a digital platform. 

Aston has a very strong digital presence in the West Midlands in the UK, and now also in London, though that is a wider discussion that I will not go into today. 

You will also be looking at broader business perspectives, including finance, business planning, consultancy, and related areas. These all form part of your curriculum and the programme as a whole. 

There will be a lot of independent work involved, but there may also be some collaborative elements. Because of the asynchronous nature of the online programme, there may be fewer opportunities for live collaboration than in the campus-based experience. However, I do hope that once you complete the undergraduate programme, you might also consider our postgraduate programmes and perhaps even spending some time on campus in the future. 

Entry requirements 

Dr Zahida Shah: What do we require for entry onto the programme? 

If you are a UK home student, you will need to have achieved three Bs at A level, or the equivalent qualification. International qualifications can also be considered, and our international team is very good at assessing equivalencies. 

You will also need to meet the English language proficiency requirements as appropriate. 

Rhys, perhaps you could say a little more on that, as I know we do have IELTS and similar requirements on the campus side as well. 

Rhys Bell: Certainly. This is something we usually speak through with students on a one-to-one basis. 

We do accept the usual English language qualifications such as IELTS and TOEFL, but depending on nationality and personal circumstances, there can also be other options available. 

So, if anyone has direct questions about English language requirements, please get in contact with the Admissions Team after the presentation, and we will be happy to help. 

Dr Zahida Shah: Perfect. Thank you. That is exactly why I say that while the slides are useful for giving the general picture, your questions are really what help us address your specific concerns and circumstances. 

Programme structure 

Dr Zahida Shah: Now, if we move on to the programme structure, you can see the modules that you would study across Stage 1 right through to the final stage. 

You will notice modules such as ‘Sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation’. You may also find that I naturally focus on areas such as ethical business and responsible management, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, because those are my specialist areas. 

That said, strategy and strategic management are also areas that I teach and have worked in. 

Just to give a little personal background, I have had 11 years of post-doctoral experience in industry; so, many of the modules you will be studying are areas I have actually worked in as a manager, including managing organisations and projects. 

I came to industry after my PhD, so I actually did things the other way round. My academic background is in sociology, but I then spent years in industry learning and practising business. 

I worked with government, Business Link, chambers of commerce, business support providers, women’s enterprise initiatives, and various other organisations. 

That means that many of the subjects you will study, such as marketing and management, are not only things I teach academically, but things I have done in practice. 

These are not only core business skills, but they are also highly transferable skills. 

As I said earlier, if you wanted to start your own business, there are three key things that would go into your business plan if you wanted to seek investment. Marketing is one of them, because you need to know how you will reach your customers. Market research is another, because you need to know whether there is demand for your product or service. Finance is key as well. And then there is the question of the product or service itself – is it needed, and is there a gap in the market? 

So, these skills are not only useful if you want to work within organisations. They are also useful if you want to create your own organisation. 

I think a lot of the modules are quite self-explanatory, so I will let you look through them and then come back to any questions you might have. 

Career paths 

Dr Zahida Shah: A common question is, what can you actually do with a Business and Management degree? 

There are a number of career paths you may consider once you complete your studies. If you are already working within an organisation, it may also help you move into promotional or more strategic roles. 

For example, I once worked as a business development manager in a charity that supported women affected by domestic abuse. So, the not-for-profit sector is absolutely an option, and it often includes the same business and management roles that you would see in commercial organisations. 

One area not specifically listed on the slide is consultancy. 

You may find that as you progress through the programme, you become particularly interested in or knowledgeable about a certain area, and you might later decide to become a consultant in that field. 

For example, firms such as Deloitte and KPMG are often looking for consultants. You could also become a sustainability consultant, which is, unsurprisingly, one of my favourite areas. 

You could work in sustainability for international organisations such as the United Nations, or you could become involved in corporate social responsibility and ESG, which refers to environmental, social, and governance frameworks that many companies are increasingly adopting. 

I would not say that businesses are adopting ESG purely for marketing, but certainly for competitive advantage, and those are exactly the kinds of business concepts you would become familiar with on this programme. 

So, these examples are by no means exhaustive. There are many more routes you could go down. 

Is the programme right for you? 

Dr Zahida Shah: You may be wondering whether Aston’s online Business and Management programme is right for you. 

If you are looking to accelerate your career, gain managerial skills, or move into business fields, even with limited experience, this programme can help you build on what you already have. 

With the support of the tutors and the wider online support available, there is a lot of scope for you to expand your career prospects and think strategically about your future. 

You may want to transition into business or management roles across different industries. 

As I mentioned earlier, we work closely with companies through Aston’s campus-based programmes, particularly those that include a placement year. One organisation we have been working with recently is DHL, who described the wide range of roles they have within their operations, including logistics management, supply chain management, and a variety of other management and strategic functions. 

Most companies have a wide range of management and business roles. 

Likewise, the not-for-profit sector, social enterprise, and NGOs all need strong business skills too. 

There is really a huge amount of scope for these skills to transfer across industries. There are too many examples to list, but I hope I have given you a flavour of what is possible. 

And as Rhys already mentioned, one of the biggest advantages is that the programme fits around your current commitments. 

You can study from home, or from wherever you are in the world, and because everything is asynchronous, you decide your own schedule. 

That flexibility is one of the biggest attractions of the online programme. So, if you are asking yourself whether this is the right fit for you, do think seriously about the fact that it can sit alongside everything else you have going on in your life, and we all have busy lives these days. 

Application process 

Rhys Bell: Your success is our priority, and we aim to make the application process quick, simple, and supported. 

Usually, the first step is to complete the online application form, if you have not already done so. I recognise some names in the chat, so I know some of you have already done that. 

If you have not, just go onto the main Aston Online website, click Apply, and that will make the Admissions Team aware of your interest. We will then reach out to speak with you about your career goals and the programme details. 

The online application form itself is very short. It is really there just to register your interest. 

Once we have had an initial conversation and understand your situation more clearly, you will then be asked to submit the relevant documents, as instructed by your Admissions Advisor, whether that is me or another colleague. 

This usually includes your most up-to-date CV, your personal statement, sometimes references, and your academic records. It depends on your personal situation, but those are generally what we look for. 

At that point, you then wait for a decision from the Admissions Team, who will stay in touch throughout the process to support you. 

At the moment, things are a little quieter because we are still some time away from the May start date on the 25th of May, so if you were to submit your application relatively soon, we would likely be able to get a fairly quick response back to you. 

Once you receive your offer letter, you accept it by paying your deposit or arranging your funding if you are using Student Finance. After that, it is simply a case of getting ready to start. 

Application advice 

Rhys Bell: A few tips to help optimise your application. 

For your CV, make sure you tailor it to the programme. Highlight achievements, coursework, and relevant skills or experiences. 

For your personal statement, start with a compelling introduction, showcase your accomplishments and career goals, and connect your aspirations to the strengths of the programme. 

My general recommendation for a personal statement is that it should cover three things: why you want to do the programme, what you can bring to the programme, and what you want to do after the programme. 

For your academic records, gather transcripts from past institutions, provide translations if required, and include references for verification if needed. 

For English language requirements, as we have already touched on, if English is not your first language, then you may need to provide evidence of an English language qualification. The best thing to do is speak with a recruitment advisor such as myself or one of my colleagues, and we can advise you based on your individual circumstances. 

Digital campus and student support 

Rhys Bell: Just a bit of information about Aston Online more broadly and what you will experience when you are on the programme. 

Aston Online is a dynamic global learning environment. By regularly logging in, you will stay on top of your programmes, receive updates from your tutors, and remain connected with fellow students. 

We try to make communication easy. Your message space is where you can communicate with your peers, tutors, and the Student Success Team. You can customise the space as well, for example by highlighting favourite modules, changing the display format, and archiving completed programmes. 

During the programme, you will receive continuous support. 

You will have a comprehensive support network from start to finish, including the Student Success Team and a smooth onboarding process to help you settle in. This includes an induction programme, usually held in the week before teaching begins. 

You will also gain access to the Student Hub, which includes a wide range of support resources, along with continuous academic support throughout your studies. 

In addition, you will have access to Aston’s award-winning careers team, even after graduation. 

Closing remarks 

Dr Zahida Shah: Does anybody have any further questions? 

You do have our contact details if you need anything or if you think of something later on. There is still plenty of time for the application and enrolment process, so please do come back to us with any questions you may have. 

And I would just say that no question is of low value or unimportant. We would much rather address your concerns now. 

Rhys Bell: That is absolutely correct. 

If you do have any questions, the enquiries inbox is a very good place to send them, and we can direct them from there to the right person. We are always happy to help. 

All right, brilliant. I think we will wrap it up there for now, but it has been lovely speaking with all of you. 

If anything comes up, if you have questions, want to start an application, or would like to book a call, just reach out to myself or the Admissions Team, use the enquiries inbox, or use the QR code to book a call. 

Dr Zahida Shah: Thank you so much for your time and your interest in the Business and Management programme at Aston. I look forward to hearing that you have joined us soon. 

Rhys Bell: All right, thank you. Speak to you all later. Bye. 

Dr Zahida Shah: Bye. 

Disclaimer: 

This transcript is based on a recorded webinar and has been lightly edited for readability, clarity and conciseness. We’ve removed filler words, false starts, and repeated phrases (such as “um” and “ah”) without changing the meaning. All information remains accurate to the recording. 

Tuition fees may be subject to annual increases in line with inflation from 2026, in accordance with UK Government policy and maximum fee limits.