Anglia Ruskin University

About Anglia Ruskin University

  • ARU has its origins in the Cambridge School of Art (founded in 1858) and has grown through a number of mergers and developments to become the university of today.

  • It describes itself as an “innovative global university” with students from 185 countries.

  • The university’s mission emphasises academic ambition, collaboration, research with impact, enterprise and strong outcomes for students.

 

Why Choose ARU

Here are key reasons why ARU could be a good option for international students:

  • Gold Teaching Quality: ARU holds a Gold rating in the UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), indicating high quality teaching and student outcomes.

  • “University of the Year 2023”: ARU was named by Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2023 — a strong recognition.

  • Strong employability focus: The university emphasises preparing students for work. Its ranking data show high rates of graduates in management/director roles within 15 months for undergraduates.

  • Multiple campuses with modern facilities: With campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Writtle (and London via ARU London) the university offers varied environments.

  • International environment: With students from 185 countries and an emphasis on international outlook, ARU gives a global student environment.

 

University Ranking & Reputation

  • In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023, ARU appears in the 301-350 bracket globally and was ranked joint 39th of UK universities.

  • According to other sources, ARU is listed among the top 10% of UK universities for graduate employment (i.e., percentage of students going into work or further study).

  • It has been recognised for world-leading research in 16 subject areas (REF 2021) and holds accolades such as the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in e.g. music therapy.

  • Rankings vary by source and subject area, so it’s good to look at the specific programme you are interested in.

Bottom line: ARU is well?ranked for teaching quality, student outcomes and research impact — while not among the very top (Oxbridge/Imperial level) in all metrics, it offers very good value and a strong international student experience.

 

Campus Locations

Here are the main campuses:

  • Cambridge – the original city campus, great for being in a vibrant university town.

  • Chelmsford – in Essex, another main campus with modern facilities.

  • Peterborough – newer campus (opened 2022) with custom built labs, science and engineering facilities.

  • Writtle – merged recently (29 Feb 2024) and offers specialist areas (e.g., animal, equine, agriculture etc) on a large estate.

  • ARU London – a London-based partner site for certain degrees (business, law, finance) offering flexibility.

Location wise: all campuses are within reasonable distance of London (for travel, work, leisure) and each has its own vibe (town vs city vs specialist). For an international student, the Cambridge or Chelmsford campuses tend to be most used.

 

Types of Courses / Study Levels

  • Undergraduate degrees (e.g., BA, BSc).

  • Postgraduate taught degrees (e.g., MSc, MA) and postgraduate research (MPhil, PhD).

  • Foundation/Pathway courses and short courses (especially via partner institutions) for students who need bridging or want flexible entry.

  • Degree apprenticeships – ARU is one of the UK’s larger providers of these (mix of work and study) in collaboration with industry.

 

Mode of Learning (On-site / E-Learning / Blended)

  • Most programmes are on-campus (in-person) at the campuses listed above.

  • Some flexibility: at ARU London particularly, there is emphasis on “flexible study options” to allow students to balance studies with other commitments.

  • Given the pandemic experience, many universities (including ARU) have incorporated blended learning or hybrid elements—but you should check each course page for the exact mode of delivery for your intake.

 

Number of Programmes Offered

  • ARU offers many hundreds of programmes across undergraduate and postgraduate levels; exact numbers fluctuate each year as new courses launch or retire.

  • While I cannot find a precise “total number” figure in the public sources I checked, the breadth is wide: across arts, business, computing, engineering, health sciences, animal sciences etc.

  • Tip: Use the university’s “Course Search” tool on the official website to filter by your subject, level, campus and intake year.

 

Highlights

  • Gold rating in the UK TEF for excellent teaching and student outcomes.

  • Awarded University of the Year 2023 by Times Higher Education.

  • Strong focus on employability: high percentages of graduates moving into management/director roles.

  • Campus investment: recent years have seen major investment (£100 m+ in facilities) across campuses for science, engineering, clinical labs, law clinics etc.

  • International atmosphere: Students from 185 countries. Good support for global students.

 

Latest Updates

  • The university continues to be listed among the top 350 in the world (THE 2023) and top 40 in the UK — again highlighting its international outlook and research influence.

  • Recent campus investment: The Writtle campus merger (Feb 2024) and the Peterborough campus opened new facilities in 2022.

  • A news piece emphasising its research and international outlook was published (October 2022) reaffirming its global ranking and ambition.

Scholarship

1. International Undergraduate Scholarship

  • Value: Two levels:

    • Lower award: up to £5,000 (that is £2,000 off tuition in Year 1, then £1,000 each further year, up to 3 more years)

    • Higher award: up to £7,000 (that is £4,000 in Year 1, then £1,000 each subsequent year)

  • Eligibility:

    • Must be an international student (international tuition fee payer)

    • Starting a full-time undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree at one of ARU’s UK campuses.

    • Excluded: degree apprenticeships, foundation degrees, distance learning/work-based degrees, ARU College / ARUC, pre-sessional English, online courses.

    • Also note: you must successfully complete the previous year (no carried over credits) to continue receiving the annual £1,000 in further years.

  • How to apply / process:

    • No separate application required. If eligible, you’ll automatically receive the discount.

  • Special notes:

    • Applies for courses commencing in 2024/25 (or similar) as per listing — must check you’re in the correct intake.

    • You cannot combine this with other major discounts/scholarships.

 

2. International Postgraduate Scholarship

  • Value: Up to £4,000 off tuition fees.

  • Eligibility: You must satisfy at least one of:

    • studying for an MBA at ARU; or

    • be an ARU graduate (undergrad) progressing to a postgraduate course; or

    • meet eligibility criteria including exceeding minimum entry requirements.

  • How to apply:

    • No separate application needed—automatic if eligible.

  • Special notes:

    • As with undergraduate scholarship, check whether you are excluded (e.g., sponsored students may be ineligible).

 

3. International Alumni Scholarship

  • Value: For ARU graduates who want to undertake further study at ARU. (Various sources mention values of ~£3,000 or more)

  • Eligibility:

    • You must be an international student, and have successfully completed a full honours degree at ARU (or predecessor) and are applying to a postgraduate taught or research course.

  • How to apply:

    • Automatic in many cases.

  • Special notes:

    • Usually cannot be combined with other major scholarships or early payment discounts.

 

4. GREAT Scholarships (with the British Council & UK Govt)

  • Value: £10,000 toward tuition fees for the first year of a full-time taught postgraduate degree.

  • Eligibility:

    • For students from Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya and Pakistan (for 2025 intake) applying for full-time taught postgraduate courses at ARU starting September 2025.

    • Must hold the appropriate passport/nationality and have applied to ARU and received an offer.

  • How to apply:

    • There is a separate application form (closed for 2025 at ARU when I checked).

  • Special notes:

    • These scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships or early payment discount at ARU.

    • Very competitive due to large value and limited number.

 

5. Early Payment Discount

  • Value: £1,000 discount for first year if you pay your tuition fees in full by the Friday before the start of teaching.

  • Eligibility: It applies to new international students on full-time taught undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

Programs

Cambridge, United Kingdom