International Year Abroad (IYA)

Our International Year Abroad programme offers an English language qualification for international students in their final or penultimate year of undergraduate study.
On occasions, places may be available for newly qualified graduates.

The aim of the programme is to improve levels of language skill and confidence to use English in academic settings. Most IYA students stay at Aston to follow post-graduate study at Aston Business School or elsewhere. Many students take up places in English-speaking universities around the world.

The IYA programme is devised to develop your abilities to deploy academic English in completing university level tasks across the range of language skills. In addition, IYA students have the opportunity to create a programme that reflects their own particular interests through elective modules that explore cultural aspects of life in the UK as well as developing vocational skills.

You will study at one of the UK’s leading universities on our friendly, green campus situated in Birmingham city centre, Britain’s second city.

Core modules totalling 70 credits across two terms:

• IELTS Preparation (Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing & Current Affairs
  
• Academic Skills
  
• Introduction to Life in Britain
  
• Introduction to Intercultural Communication
  
  

Elective modules totalling 50 credits across one or two terms:

• British Society Through Contemporary Literature
  
• British Society through Printed Media
  
• British Society through Film and Television
  
• Introduction to the Language of Business
  
• Introduction to the Language of Tourism and Hospitality
  
• Introduction to the Language of Banking
  
• Introduction to the Language of Journalism

In addition, suitably qualified undergraduate students may follow elective mainstream modules in areas of politics, international relations, and linguistics as well a language from the University Wide Language Programme.