Anglia Ruskin University - ARU
speciality: Computer Science

Studying at Anglia Ruskin university has been an amazing experience. The campus is welcoming, and the people are always friendly and helpful. There’s a real sense of community here—everyone supports each other, whether in class or outside. The staff genuinely care and make learning enjoyable. I’ve grown so much personally and academically, and I’m proud to be part of such a positive environment.

Anglia Ruskin University is a welcoming place to study, with supportive lecturers and courses that focuses on practical skills for the future. The campuses are modern and easy to navigate, with good facilities like libraries and study areas. There are plenty of activities to participate in and the diverse student community makes it easy to meet people from different backgrounds. Being based in lively cities like Cambridge, also gives the students lots of opportunities to enjoy life while studying.

Right in the middle on Cambridge, this futuristic and student-driven University is accessible from everywhere in Cambridge, whether you live on campus or nearby student accommodation like the Railyard. I love the professors, they know what they’re talking about and are willing to help you with whatever the issue may be. They have a “welcome buddy” scheme where a current student doing something related to your course will show you around and answer any questions you may have. They also help with finding jobs and making sure you’re as prepared as you can be.

The university is in a central location. It has a train station 15 minutes away and bus routes less than 5 minutes away. The university has paid onsite parking, however this often fills up during the day.

The university is quite small. I started in 2022 and I was the first group to attend. The smaller size made it easier to work and chill out. Furthermore, the smaller groups allowed for more 1-1 time with the lecturers and to feel more involved in the lessons.

The lecturers are very knowledgeable, many are always willing to help and are very friendly. There was some disorganisation, which I most credited to teething issues at the new university.

The course workload was heavy, but not overwhelming. If you planned ahead you’ll be fine, but lack of planning will catch you out. At times I did feel like some of the work was too easy, the majority of my course achieved a 1st class w/ honours, though this could be due to excellent classmates.

Regarding community. There are many communities and groups, I didn’t really engage with these so I cannot comment on how they are. I do know that they often did events.

There are plenty of computers on site, places to relax, and games available. There’s rental laptops available and lockers too. Although, there is no onsite library, it is completely digital. Getting a hard copy is a pain and requires waiting a few days.

A major concern and bother I’ve had with ARU is that it gives the impression that the uni exists to give student visas. It is no secret that the majority of students are foreign, and the uni openly leans towards this publicly and internally.

This has often led to myself and other English students feeling neglected and swept to the side. In many cases the university has openly discriminated against native students, this is clear in the messaging by the uni and many of their policies and initiatives. For example, in my 2nd year the university offered 1-1 employment coaches to students, the only requirement was that you’re non-White. I raised concerns about this, however I was quickly ignored and told to be quiet.

Myself and other English students have not engaged socially with the uni due to this. This university, in my opinion, should focus its efforts on the local native working class, it has a fantastic opportunity to uplift local communities and to provide long term careers.

Objectively the actual content of the course and the lecturers deserve a 4/5. However, due to these other issues I cannot rate the uni more than a 2/5.

The academic environment at Anglia Ruskin University is truly supportive. There are so many helpful people at ARU who are always willing to lend a hand. The staff are approachable, knowledgeable, and passionate about their subjects, making complex concepts easy to understand. The university’s culture is warm and inclusive, with a strong focus on student success. All of the lecturers I’ve met are not only experts in their fields but also dedicated to helping students achieve their full potential. They’re enthusiastic about teaching and are always available to offer guidance and support outside of class.

Being part of a diverse international community is a great opportunity to experience different cultures and gain valuable insights into various perspectives. It’s also great that the program offers courses designed for professionals, helping them develop the specific skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their fields.

Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge is in such a lovely area and the campus has everything you could need. It has good transport links for buses. Also, the student services and stdunet union support you in the best way. The uni was pretty good with COVID precautions, with managing the combination of face-to-face and online classes. It. has great placement support and helpful staff to find a job which is really effective. Overall I’m happy here.

I was really inspired when I saw this message – named one of the top 40 universities in the UK and top 350 institutions in the world, in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 2021.

Proud to be associated with ARU.