Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) gives you the opportunity to take the next step on your academic journey – explore who you are, go further and increase your prospects with a Masters degree. With more than 100 postgraduate degrees and most of those offering part-time study and distance learning pathways, we’re perfectly positioned to make postgraduate study work for you. Benefit from our gold standard teaching (TEF, 2023) and expert tuition, tailored to your success. Whether you want to excel in your current industry, retrain in a new area or advance your knowledge, our postgraduate courses are here to support you.

You’ll find ARU’s campuses in three exciting cities – Cambridge, Chelmsford, and Peterborough – all of which have their own unique charm, style and beauty. ARU’s partnership with ARU London also gives you the opportunity to study for an ARU-validated degree in the bustling capital city.

Our newest addition, ARU Peterborough, has achieved incredible milestones since welcoming students in September 2022. The campus was awarded University of the Year in the 2023 Social Mobility Awards, showcasing its dedication to fostering excellence in learning and growth. Purpose-built from the ground up for Peterborough and the surrounding region, ARU Peterborough boasts industry-standard facilities to support your studies, all housed inside a brand-new building.

University of the Year 2023

ARU is proud to be the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2023!

This fantastic award serves as a testament to the dedication to exceptional academics, transformative research, and making a significant impact in the region and communities where we live, work, and study. But that's not all – it's also a shout out to the amazing work of the students and graduates who are making a meaningful impact in society.

Some other recent successes include:

• 1st in the UK and 20th in the world for Health and Wellbeing
• The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2021 for its world-leading music therapy work – and in particular its research with people living with dementia, and their families.
• ARU ranked in the top 15% in the country for graduates in employment and/or further study 15 months after graduating and ranked 3rd in the country for graduates who are employed as managers, directors or senior officials (2023 Graduate Outcome Survey)

Research Community

ARU has a vibrant, ambitious and growing research community. With 9 world-leading areas of research, we’re making a positive difference – tackling global issues from climate change to mental health.

By choosing to join a research programme with us, you’ll benefit from dedicated workspaces, high quality facilities, and support from our experienced and research-active supervisors.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a Doctor or Master of Philosophy (PhD/MPhil), an MD (Res), a PhD by Published Work or a Professional Doctorate.

Future career prospects

From your first day at ARU, we'll support you to build the skills and abilities employers value in graduates. Our dedicated careers and employability service offers advice and guidance for students to amplify their career possibilities and stand out from the crowd, including careers advice, campus job fairs, workshops and employer visits, and help with your CV and job searches.

A growing number of our Masters degrees offer placements as an integral part of the course. These placements range from 12 weeks to 34 weeks. You'll be responsible for sourcing your own placement, but there'll be plenty of support and guidance on offer in your faculty.

English language support

Our Anglia Ruskin University Language Centre has been established for over 35 years and we've taught more than 15,000 students. We can help you to improve your academic English language skills, prepare for English examinations, and prove English language ability with tests. We’re here to support your academic success.

Our standard entry criteria for postgraduate courses is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with nothing lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Some of our courses may have higher English language proficiency requirements.

Facilities and support arrangements

ARU Facilities

• £115m of investment in recent years
• Science Centre with SuperLabs and a 300-seat lecture theatre
• Essex’s first School of Medicine complete with specialist simulation rooms, mock hospital wards and the ARU Anatomy Centre
• University Eye Clinic and Law Clinics open to the public
• Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab to trade and invest virtual money with real-life data
• Specialist and industry-standard equipment for engineering, computing, sport, forensics, art, gaming, tv and film production and more
• Ruskin Gallery and Mumford Theatre in Cambridge

ARU Support

• Free and fully confidential Counselling Service and Wellbeing Service
• Money Advice Service team who offer impartial advice about all aspects of student finance and how to manage your money
• Disability and Dyslexia Support team who provide specialised services for students with physical disabilities, mental health issues, ongoing medical conditions and learning difficulties such as dyslexia
• Study Skills Plus Scheme who help students develop research, exam and time management skills and is available as group workshops or booked as one-to-one sessions.
• Access to SilverCloud – An online program to help manage stress, anxiety and depression
• Dedicated Personal Development Tutor for one-to-one support throughout duration of studies
• SafeZone app allows students to access emergency assistance from security staff day or night when on campus or in university accommodation.
• Students’ Union provide confidential, impartial advice and run events/volunteering
• Employability teams to help with CV writing and securing part-time work, placements or internship opportunities

Fees, funding and costs

If you're an eligible postgraduate student, you can apply for a Master's Loan to cover your course fees and living costs.

You can borrow up to:

• £11,836 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2022
• £11,570 if your course started between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022
• £11,222 if your course started between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021

The amount you'll receive is not dependent on your or your family's income. If your course lasts for more than a year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.

You won't start repaying your Masters Loan until you're earning more than £21,000 a year.

Please visit our postgraduate student finance page for more information

Location

Cambridge:

Cambridge is a great place to be a student. From exploring the botanical garden to punting on the River Cam, students can enjoy lots of outdoor activities, alongside cultural attractions like the Fitzwilliam Museum and Gallery, the Museum of Cambridge and Kettle’s Yard.

It boasts quirky, independent shops, plus the Grand Arcade and the Grafton Centre for all your shopping needs. There are plenty of fun student nights at local bars, clubs and pubs for nightlife activities.

Chelmsford:

Famous for its cathedral, Chelmsford is a major city in Essex. Outdoor attractions include Hylands House, RHS Garden Hyde Hall and Chelmsford Racecourse, while indoor activities include shopping in the Meadows Shopping Centre, Bond Street or High Chelmer Shopping Centre, or even ice-skating at Riverside Leisure Centre!

There’s plenty of independent cafes and restaurants on Moulsham Street or in the city centre itself to grab a bite or a drink. If you’re more into the nightlife, the city is home to vibrant clubs, bars, and pubs, while also being just a short train ride from the capital.

London:

ARU London is in trendy Farringdon, with plenty of pubs and bars and restaurants. There are great transport connections, with trains into central London in minutes. Plus, Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports.

Peterborough:

Peterborough is a historic city with a grand Norman cathedral, a Bronze Age archaeological park and the stunning Burghley House manor.

Students will find cuisine from all over the world in the city, as well as the Queensgate Shopping Centre and Nene Park, a lively leisure park. There are lots of popular student nights in the local pubs and clubs, too.

Accommodation

There are a range of rooms to suit individual budgets and lifestyles.

In Chelmsford, students can choose to live in the Student Village right on-campus. Most rooms are en-suite and each room is equipped with: a single bed, desk and chair, mirror, wardrobe, bookshelf and noticeboard. There are shared spaces including the kitchen, and all bills are included in the price.

In Cambridge, there’s a variety of halls to choose from on-campus. The university-owned accommodation includes:

• Anastasia House
• Peter Taylor House
• Swinhoe Hall
• University shared houses

Most of these rooms are en-suite and offer a shared kitchen and communal area.

Third-party accommodation in Cambridge includes:

• CB1
• The Railyard
• Anglia House
• Sedley Court
• YMCA

These properties can be applied for through the Residential Services Office.

Students in Peterborough can apply to live in nearby flats and houses with the help of the Residential Services team.

The accommodation pages on the university website hold more details and information about the options and prices available at each campus

Culture

ARU encourages its students to get the most out of their studies and their experience. From the moment you join, you'll be apart of an inclusive, friendly community who will support and champion your success. During your first week, you will get to experience our Welcome Week; A week designed for you to meet other students on your course and your lecturers, get involved in activities and to overall have a bit of fun to help settle you into university life.

From that week forward, you can expect to look forward to SU events and day-trips, society-run events, and even regular dog therapy sessions on campus.

How to apply

ARU offers postgraduate courses with start dates in January, May and September – giving you flexibility to join throughout the year. Once we've received your application, it can take us up to four weeks to consider it, so we suggest applying at least a month before your preferred start date.