Aston SU has various services, aiming to represent, support and advise members. These services include clubs and societies, fairs, volunteering and charity (Raise and Give (RAG)), campaigns, radio and other extracurricular activities.
Aston SU has over 110 clubs and societies, including club sports such as basketball, cricket, fencing, golf, hockey, rugby, table tennis, and tennis. The system allows students to join a limitless number of clubs and societies according to their interests: academic, career, faith, cultural, sports, art and general interest.
Aston SU moved to a brand new £10m building, located next to the ASV sports pitch in the heart of the campus. There are various facilities available in the SU, including study areas, prayer facilities, coffee shop and more.
Aston students and staff buried a time capsule (to be opened in 50 years in 2068) underneath the new Students' Union building.
The Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) provides students with professional, independent, free and confidential advice and representation.
The ARC can help students with:
- Academic advice
- Accommodation rights
- Money advice
- Employment rights
- Consumer rights
- Hate reporting
The Lounge is the student Bar and Restaurant located on the First Floor of Aston Students' Union.
The Lounge is a great place for students to relax, have fun with friends and enjoy the sunshine on the balcony with a beautiful view on Aston Campus.
The SU shop on the Ground Floor of the Students' Union sells a variety of essential day-to-day items such as food, clothing, stationery, greetings cards, stamps, medications and household products.
In 2017 Unite Students bought Aston's student accommodation, Aston Student Village, for £227m. The accommodation provides more than 3000 bedrooms for Aston University students.
Aston Student Homes (ASH) is owned and managed by Aston Students’ Union and is endorsed by Aston University. ASH is the official Students’ Union accommodation support service set up for the mutual benefit of private landlords/agents and Aston students. ASH is not a Lettings Agency and we do not ‘match up’ students with landlords.
However, students are referred to us for all queries relating to accommodation. We advertise a whole range of accommodation including large city developments, traditional houses, self-contained flats/studios, rooms in shared properties, short-term accommodation and homestay properties.
Our aim is to offer a wide choice and to help Aston University students in Birmingham to find good quality private accommodation.
Situated only ten minutes walk from the University, Aston Brook Green is a unique student housing project for primarily for Aston University Students. It was developed some 35 years ago by the Union in partnership with a local housing association Midland Heart. A pocket of 52 Victorian terraced houses were modernised and converted to 60 flats. The project comprises, thirty-two 3 person flats, eight 4 person flats and twenty self-contained one bedroom flats. The 1 bedroom flats can accommodate couples without children or single students (postgraduates and final years are given preference).
The flats were converted and furnished specifically to meet the requirements of students. The only items that students need to supply are cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery and bed linen. All of the flats are fully double-glazed, have showers over baths and are fitted with gas-fired central heating with residents having complete control over when their heating is on.
The site has a token operated launderette with tokens available from the Union Shop. There is no shortage of parking on the streets surrounding the site. Aston Brook Green is well illuminated, covered by CCTV and landscaped with trees and large grassed areas.
Aston Brook Green has its own wireless network. Access to the network is FREE to all residents.
The aim of the project was to provide affordable accommodation for students: in 2019/20 the rent for a bedroom in a 3- or 4-bedroom flat is £58 per week and for a 1-bedroom flat £103 per week. During the renovation of the site, the front doors were moved from the street side of the properties to the rear. The central area has been opened up and there are large grassed areas. Between 150 and 160 students are accommodated here, and because of its relatively small size compared to other student halls, the residents form a close community which is appreciated by all who live there.
Sir Adrian Cadbury has been a major philanthropic donor to Aston University, funding the lake, lecture theatres and hardship funds. New SU building is named with thanks for the generous contribution he provided and in recognition of his time and friendship to the University. Sir Adrian, was Chancellor of the University from 1979 to 2004. This connection to Aston meant a great deal to Sir Adrian, and he describes, in his own words, the impact of this.
“I have had a long association with Aston from when it was a Technical College, through to it becoming a college of Advanced Technology and a university in 1966. I became a member of the University Council and then succeeded the first Chancellor, Lord Nelson, in 1979.
As Chancellor, I had a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the life of the University. I had a formal role on the ceremonial occasions and beyond that I was welcome to be involved in anything where I could support the University.
What I appreciated from that involvement was the personal contacts and friendships with the interesting and remarkable people, who gave life to the University. From Vice-Chancellors to students. The University has a family feel and I enjoyed being accepted into that family.
I took a few classes in the Business School. This kept me in touch with those studying here for whom I have the highest regard, particularly for all they do for the community.
My advice to students would be to aim high and never underestimate your abilities and what you can achieve if you persevere.”
Keith Robson was the first President of the Guild, elected in 1966. He was heavily involved in the building process of the Students’ Union, supporting the activities of the Guild and encouraging the involvement of students in the Union while the building was under construction.
One of Keith’s achievements was the introduction of a sabbatical year for the President instead of a part-time post. Today Aston SU has four full-time officers.