A joint education program by NEFU and Aston University has recently been approved by the Ministry of Education. The annual enrollment starts from 2018 to 2022. It is included in the national general higher education enrollment plan and candidates need to take the National College Entrance Examination. It plans to recruit 120 people each year and adopt the “3+1” training mode (3 years for NEFU and 1 year for Aston). Both universities have mutual recognition of courses and credits. A student who meets the qualifications for a bachelor's degree from Northeast Forestry University will be awarded a degree certificate from Northeast Forestry University. Similarly, the student will be awarded a bachelor's degree certificate from Aston University for his degree qualification.

The project will provide students with an international teaching environment, high-quality teaching resources, and will also provide a quality education platform for international talent cultivation.

Founded in 1895, Aston University has five colleges offering different courses for undergraduates, and graduate students. In the recent ranking of the UK's scientific excellence research, Aston University ranked 35th in the United Kingdom, of which 78% of research projects are among the best in the UK and even the world. Of the students studying engineering management, Aston University graduates have the highest employment rate in the UK.