Anglia Ruskin University institutional logo

Anglia Ruskin University

Chelmsford, United Kingdom • Founded 1858 • QS 2027 #1001-1200

Updated Sep 2026 · Source: aru.ac.uk · How we collect data

Overview

English Name: Anglia Ruskin University
Acronyms: ARU
Founded: 1858
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #1001-1200 Times Higher Education 2026 #601-800 SCImago 2026 #1264
Anglia Ruskin University learning environment
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Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Writtle.

Its origins trace to 1858, when art critic John Ruskin opened the Cambridge School of Art. The school later merged with other institutions, including the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology (CCAT) and, separately, the Essex Institute of Higher Education, becoming Anglia Polytechnic and then gaining university status as Anglia Polytechnic University in 1992, before taking the Anglia Ruskin University name.

Writtle University College merged into ARU on 29 February 2024, adding its Writtle campus and land-based courses. ARU is organised into four faculties spanning arts and social sciences, business and law, health and medicine, and science and engineering, and runs five research institutes covering music therapy, sustainability, policing, military social research, and vision and eye research.

Its Chelmsford campus houses a School of Medicine that opened in 2018.

Location & Contact

Anglia Ruskin University's campus location, postal address, and admissions contact channels are below.

Address: Bishop Hall Lane
Postal Code: CM1 1SQ
Other Sites: Also campuses in Cambridge, Peterborough and Writtle
Phone: +44 (1245) 493 131
Fax: +44 (1245) 683 690
Social Media:

Academic Details

Anglia Ruskin University's academic profile in numbers is listed below.

Academic Year: September to June (September-January; February-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: General Certificate of Education (GCE) with passes at Advanced ('A') level, or equivalent and Test of English Proficiency.
Total Students: 34,370
Female Students: 20,655
Academic Staff Range: 700-799
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Universities UK

Degrees

EIE Institute of Education in Malta (Valletta) provides a Master of Business Administration (MBA) awarded by Anglia Ruskin University

Doctoral 14 programs
  • Design
  • English
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • Graphic Design
  • History
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology
  • Theatre
  • Writing

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Arts, Law and Social Sciences (Faculty) 16 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Cultural Studies
  • English
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • French
  • German
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Media Studies
  • Modern Languages
  • Music
  • Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Spanish
Health, Social Care and Education (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Child Care and Development
  • Community Health
  • Education
  • Health Sciences
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Social Studies
  • Social Work
Medical Science (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine
Science and Technology (Faculty) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Optometry
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate
  • Surveying and Mapping
International Business (School) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • International Business
  • Marketing

Programs Offered

Browse Anglia Ruskin University's programmes by level, or filter by name.

335 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 168 programmes

Showing 10 of 168.

Master of Business Administration 10 programmes

Master of Philosophy 26 programmes

Showing 10 of 26.

Master's Degree 86 programmes

Showing 10 of 86.

Doctorate 27 programmes

Showing 10 of 27.

Professional Doctorate 6 programmes

Professional Doctorate in Business and Management
Business Administration · On-campus
Start: January 2027

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology
Islamic & Quranic Studies · On-campus
Start: September 2026

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Professional Doctorate in Science and Technology
General Engineering · On-campus
Start: September 2026

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Diploma 1 programme

Foundation 3 programmes

Postgraduate Certificate 5 programmes

Critical Care
Blended
Start: January 2027

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Education & Teaching · Online
Start: January 2027

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Postgraduate Diploma 3 programmes

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Scholarships and grants accessible to students attending Anglia Ruskin University or other universities in the United Kingdom are below.

Alumni Scholarship
University funded · Partial Tuition
A fee discount for ARU graduates returning for further postgraduate study: 20% off fees for postgraduate taught courses, or £400 off postgraduate research fees.
ARU Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 300 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A household-income bursary of up to £300 a year for UK and eligible EU/EEA undergraduate and integrated Master's students at ARU's Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough campuses, paid automatically once your household income is assessed by Student Finance.
ARU-Prof Tony Hall Town Planning Scholarships
University funded · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Six scholarships of £5,000 each for UK students starting the full-time MSc Town Planning, with preference for under-represented applicants and those interested in transport, urban design or public-sector work.
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 1,500 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A yearly bursary of up to £1,500 (rising to £2,000 in your final year) for care leavers and students who lived in a foyer or supported accommodation before starting at ARU, separate from the local-authority Higher Education Bursary.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
International Undergraduate Scholarship
University funded · International students · 7,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A fee discount worth £5,000 to £7,000 across the full degree for international students starting a full-time bachelor's degree at ARU, applied automatically as part of the offer process.
MBA Scholarship
University funded · 4,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A fee reduction for all successful applicants to ARU's MBA programmes: £4,000 off the one-year MBA, or £2,000 off the two-year MBA with professional experience (£4,000 if a placement isn't secured).
Paula Heister Scholarships
University funded · International students · 16,800 GBP per total · Full Tuition · Covers Living
Scholarships for the MA Children's Book Illustration covering full tuition fees, worth £16,800 (including a £2,600 stipend) for UK students or £23,300 for international students, awarded on financial need and academic merit.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
Sport Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 12,500 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Financial support for talented athletes at ARU, given either as a cash bursary (Elite level) or a full or partial tuition fee waiver (Podium level), for undergraduate or postgraduate taught students who compete at regional, national or international level.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.

How to apply to Anglia Ruskin University

What applying to Anglia Ruskin University involves, in five steps.

  1. 1
    Browse the programme catalogue

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Anglia Ruskin University offers 335 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check eligibility for your chosen programme

    Each programme at Anglia Ruskin University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Get your documents ready

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Apply through UCAS or direct entry

    Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS (ucas.com) rather than directly to Anglia Ruskin University. Postgraduate applicants apply directly through Anglia Ruskin University's own admissions portal at aru.ac.uk.

  5. 5
    Reach out and track your application

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (1245) 493 131. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Anglia Ruskin University

Frequently asked questions about Anglia Ruskin University.

When was Anglia Ruskin University founded?

Anglia Ruskin University was established in 1858 (approximately 168 years ago).

Where is Anglia Ruskin University located?

Anglia Ruskin University is located in Chelmsford, United Kingdom.

Is Anglia Ruskin University public or private?

Anglia Ruskin University operates as a public institution.

What is the student enrolment at Anglia Ruskin University?

Student enrolment at Anglia Ruskin University is around 34,370.

What is Anglia Ruskin University's ranking?

It ranks QS 2027 #1001-1200.

What degrees does Anglia Ruskin University offer?

Anglia Ruskin University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

Who recognises Anglia Ruskin University?

Yes, Anglia Ruskin University is recognised by Privy Council.

What is Anglia Ruskin University's official website?

You can find Anglia Ruskin University online at aru.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

Top the United Kingdom universities often run international branch campuses. Anglia Ruskin University's international footprint compared to this benchmark signals global engagement scale.

Members of Universities UK

Anglia Ruskin University and the universities below are both members of Universities UK.

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