UK's Aston University steps up recruitment of Nigerian students in post-coronavirus era

BRITAIN'S Aston University in Birmingham has stepped up its pursuit of Nigerian students in the post-coronavirus era by starting to accept applications for undergraduate courses as from September this year.

Among the countries with the highest number of students in higher education across the UK, Nigeria has over 17,000 undergraduate and post-graduate in its tertiary institutions. Ranking among the top 10 sources of students alongside China, India, Malaysia, USA, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and Canada, there are more Nigerian students in the UK than from any European nation.

Aston University has always recruited students from Nigeria, with its vice chancellor visiting the country regularly to address workshops. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has affected recruitment but anticipating an imminent easing of the lockdown, the university has stepped up recruitment.

In line with providing students with the best experience, Aston University places a huge importance on equipping students with employability skills. It has a dedicated team working closely with UK and international employers and partner universities to source and promote placement opportunities to Aston students and also organise employer events and recruitment fairs on campus to bring employers and students closer together.

Students can take up paid placements of up to £15,000, giving them the opportunity to apply what they have learnt on their course in the real world whilst gaining valuable professional and paid experience. In many master’s courses, students can take an extended work placement of up to 12 months with the Aston Global Advantage and choose to study abroad in Europe and beyond.

Babajide Ogundeji, the university’s regional manager for Africa, said: “Aston University has a longstanding reputation for training professionals in all sectors. We are known as an enterprising university and our undergraduate students work with real life projects and undertake placements in industry, the professions or the public sector, while our postgraduate portfolio are designed in close partnership with business and industry in the UK and internationally, giving students the ideal platform from which to build their future career."

He added that for September 2020 entry, Aston University will be offering between £3,000  and £8,000 in scholarships to international students including Nigerians. Prospective students from Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa that wish to apply and need more information can contact Babajide Ogundeji on 08136091160, b.ogundeji@aston.ac.uk or visit Aston University’s official website www.aston.ac.uk/