Aston University Reviews | Glassdoor.co.uk
Aston University Reviews
Companies
  • Jobs
  • Companies
  • Salaries
  • Interviews

    Aston University Reviews

    Updated 24 March 2019
    68 reviews

    Filter

    Filter

    3.9
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    Aston University Chancellor John Sunderland
    John Sunderland
    9 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

    Sort: PopularRatingDate
    Pros

    • "Good teaching facilities, good research, based close to city centre" (in 7 reviews)

    • "Good place, friendly staff and colleagues, excellent understanding manager" (in 5 reviews)

    Cons
    More Pros and Cons

    1. "Good place to gain experience, not to earn money"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Researcher in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Researcher in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Aston University part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Flexible schedule, no pressure.

      Cons

      Small financial compensation. Suffice to cover living expenses though.

    2. "Depends on who your line manager is"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I worked at Aston University full-time

      Pros

      Excellent reputation for students

      Cons

      Some management needs to learn the meaning of empathy

      3. Join the Aston University team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "International Projects and Business Development Manager"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - International Projects and Business Development Manager in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - International Projects and Business Development Manager in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Aston University full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Team culture and environment
      Internal training and professional development
      Facilities and support departments
      In-house events (Conferences / Fairs)
      Work/life balance with possibility to work from home and/or flex-hours

      Cons

      The number of in-house progression can be limited for Managerial positions.
      Average pay is slightly under the national average for Higher Education.

      Advice to Management

      To pro-actively research and source internal and external training to develop staff professionally and personally,

    4. "Decision-making by management is extremely poor"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Aston University full-time

      Pros

      Many friendly colleagues to work with

      Cons

      Management positions make very poor decisions that significantly demotivate staff
      Student welfare is not a priority

    5. "Great place to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at Aston University full-time

      Pros

      Friendly staff for most part
      Good salary
      Great learning opportunities

      Cons

      Upper management can throw tantrums and can embrace the my way or highway approach

      Advice to Management

      Understand what you want from your direct reports.

    6. "Student Ambassador"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Student Ambassador in Birmingham, England
      Former Employee - Student Ambassador in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Aston University part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      -Supportive Team
      -Good working environment
      -Managers are easy to get to

      Cons

      -Had issues with payroll scheme

    7. "Strong leadership but lack ethical practice by some exec members"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Aston University full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      community atmosphere amongst staff due to its small/med size. location. constant refurbishment/renovation to modernise.

      Cons

      abuse of power by some leadership members considered untouchable due to their position. lack integrity and expense fraud is prevalent by senior leadership team. HR are illiterate so don't expect them to know what they are doing. instead read the policies as they don't comply with their own protocols. little-to-no staff development. extortionate canteen prices. high staff turnover in some depts yet not noticed by exec board. cause for concern.

      Advice to Management

      look into expenses by PVCs. you might find abuse is common and long term may save a fair few bob by removing the abusers of the system. scrap HR and start afresh. reward the little people more.

    8. "What you make of it"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Aston University full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Room to make improvements if you're hungry for it

      Cons

      Set in their ways which is frustrating if you don't challenge status quo constructively and effectively

      Advice to Management

      champion changemakers

    9. "Research fellow"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Birmingham, England

      I have been working at Aston University full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Good environment, nice lab facilities and well-known research centre in photonics

      Cons

      mostly contractual, short to medium term contract

      Advice to Management

      Integration into academia can be increased

    10. "Rewarding Role"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Aston University full-time

      Pros

      Working within a university that champions the Widening Participation (WP) programme gives me a great sense of job satisfaction, as I am in touch with students who may not have traditionally attended university, but who bring a new outlook and fresh ideas and challenges to my role. My team are like my close friends, and the overall feeling of being a part of the Aston University family leaves me feeling very secure. The campus is beautiful, and the training and opportunities for self-development are in abundance.

      Cons

      The HR/Payroll services at Aston could be much improved - I frequently have experienced problems regarding pay or taxation, that are a result of procedures not being followed. I think the internal customer service could also be changed up, so that I am not made to feel cheeky for asking for an advance payment when my pay is short a considerable amount.

      Advice to Management

      The university's good reputation precedes it, and as a former Aston student myself, I am immensely proud of the steps Aston is taking to make university a viable pathway for more young people. One thing I would say is to invest perhaps more in the Payroll/HR areas so that we can all have a better experience in this essential part of being an Aston employee.