Anglia Ruskin University - ARU

Overview

Anglia Ruskin University - ARU is one of the top 350 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings) and is an innovative institution which is also considered a ‘rising star’ – one of the institutions predicted to be challenging the global elite by 2030.

Many of our courses are recognised by industry and a large number are professionally accredited. Businesses regularly come back to us for interns, training, research and collaborative programmes. With 84% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2018, our students are some of the most satisfied in the country. We’re one of the largest universities in the East of England and have two main campuses in Chelmsford and Cambridge, each less than an hour away from London. Both cities have been rated in the top ten best places to live in the UK. So come and join our international community of over 100 nationalities and make your ambitions a reality.

Services for International Students

Anglia Ruskin has just under 2,000 international students enrolled and is consistently ranked in the top three universities in the country for its Welcome, Arrival and Orientation Programme for international students by the International Student Barometer. Following the latest survey in 2013, student satisfaction was rated at over 90 per cent.

Anglia Ruskin's student services team has specialist International Student Support advisers who are on-site to help international students with banking, language support and visas, as well as holding social events and orientations. An International Orientation Programme runs before each semester to welcome and support new students.

Ranking

• 130th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 98th in the Guardian University Guide 2025

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has significantly increased the quality and impact of its research since 2014 and is carrying out “world-leading” research tackling real-world issues affecting people across the world, according to the results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Nine subject areas at ARU were judged to have achieved “world-leading” impact, that is the change or benefit they have made to the wider world. These areas were: Allied Health Professions; Business and Management Studies; Communication, Cultural and Media Studies; Language and Literature; History; Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts; Psychology; Social Work and Social Policy; and Sociology.

Accommodation

Anglia Ruskin University - ARU has a wide variety of different accommodation options available in each of Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough. Accommodation ranges from brand-new en-suite rooms to traditional halls of residence, as well as shared houses and flats. All accommodation is located on or close to campus and within walking distance of the city centres.

Location

Based in the east of England, Anglia Ruskin University - ARU has three modern main campuses in Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough, all less than one hour away from London. The Cambridge campus is in the heart of a famous university city and has recently reached a milestone in its history with the opening of a new £35 million redevelopment.

The Chelmsford site, known as the Rivermead campus, is a 10-minute walk from the town centre in a picturesque location on the banks of the river Chelmer. Rivermead is a modern campus with most of the buildings being under 10 years old. Both Cambridge and Chelmsford were recently rated in the top ten best places to live in the UK. Peterborough is the smallest campus, specialising in health and social care courses. 

Cambridge and London Stansted are the closest airports to all three of the main sites at Anglia Ruskin, while regular train services connect the university with the rest of the UK.

Alumni

• Syd Barrett and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
• Michael Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft (Investor, billionaire and former vice chairman of the Conservative party)
• Shoo Rayner (author and illustrator)
• Patrick Le Quément (former chief designer, Renault)