ARU Cambridge — Attraction in Cambridge

The way that Anglia Ruskin University is handling its own academic processes is still a major cause for concern. In their complaints department, many students are reporting that the marking criteria for their work is not being adhered to from their academic rules and regulations, making up things as they go along with no other internal / external markers nor do they give any feedback for work unless you ask

Many students have to go through and report to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for a review into multiple changes that have affected their plans to study such as misleading advertisement when a course starts and course date ends, overcharging tuition fee costs and for not providing adequate responses for course delivery delays. One student has even taken this university to court for selling a 'mickey mouse' degree design which was found in the news media.

Another student has reported that they caught a disability advisor mocking them for having a disability whilst doing a group activity online and other disabled students speaking up for being failed with applying reasonable adjustments. This university often will not recognise if you have a disability on record nor will they acknowledge your medical notes, ignoring the student disability advice suggestions.

Any work that has been submitted for marking with exceptional circumstances will often be forgotten by administration because the teams do not communicate with each other. Students report to the student advice centre regularly for their faculty team forgetting they had uncapped work approved by the panel board. They do not apologise when they get things wrong and falsely accuse students for their errors. One student reported that the course they applied for was delayed for almost two years and nobody at the University told them that it stopped running anymore

Furthermore, the student advice centre and student union receive thousands of issues regarding course and module information because the faculty's do not update this - some students have noticed course content and material still being used since 2013. When students make a query to student advice, they are hostile and this is not something that they can help you with as they cannot get involved

It seems that the university is focused on extorting tuition fees rather than ensuring students are treated respectfully. The fees department will not return any monies they owe to you if you do not take a module already paid for in advance, instead they enjoy taking students on a game of chase your faculty. This is leaving many students feeling incredibly stressed, sometimes suidicial ideation noted in the health and wellbeing teams due to the unhealthy reactions from their own University staff.

This is not a university worth investing your time and efforts. It is such a shame as the teaching quality in most faculty's is very much world class. Their vision and values do not align with their policies and procedures. Recommendations are much needed in recruitment of better trained admissions and administration staff to bring back trust and support...

Anglia Ruskin University is outstanding in my opinion. The teachers are brilliant and can't do enough for you. The mix of British and International students is lovely, every one is accounted for. There is excellent help for international students but also if the English native speaking students need help, it is also available. Not all of us are from affluent backgrounds, which is also taken into account the financial advisers are great. Furthermore, excellent scholarships can be obtained even after starting, for the best workers. I am a mature law student and my experience has been invaluable. Despite being 40+ I have job offers and a great future ahead already. We don't necessarily have to go out of our way to find work either, events are organised whereby Solicitors and Barristers come and talk to us and mingle with us afterwards. This is helpful as we gain contacts by networking with the relevant professionals. The Employability service will help all students gain employment or alternatively there is an amazing volunteering service, which will hook you up with lots of companies and charities. If you are worried about grades or prospect outcome of your degree, you just have to email for an appointment with your tutor or any relevant tutor or alternatively speak to the student advisers. The information desk or 'i centre' are very happy to help and the university staff will do anything they can to get whatever books or journals you require. The food is excellent in the restaurant and at a very good price and there is a 'Costa' upstairs, alternatively there is the street cafe or the Coslett cafe and when it's too late there are plenty of vending machines. The cash point installed last year was a great bonus and now the university accepts tap cards and credit cards of all sorts. It really is a great opportunity for anyone. All you need to do is write, learn what you are given, follow the instructions and keep on top of your weekly tasks and assignments. If you have any problems in understanding or keeping up, just ask, it'll be sorted.

Studying in such a culturally diverse university is nothing short of an amazing opportunity. Next year I am going to stay with one student in eastern Errope for my hols and the year after in Bombay with a rich Indian friend. I have friends in Saudi, Asia and many parts of Africa. Not to forget London and the home counties too!

I love it, and certainly will never have any regrets about joining ARU. It's got the best Law Lecturers ever. My dissertation tutor is a double doctor, a fellow of Middle Temple and an accomplished writer. My dissertation is on international law, it's oh so interesting and I can't wait to get started.

I would advise anyone to try it out, who ever complains are perhaps those who don't bother to work, or have out of this world expectations. Good luck to...

The worst application process I have ever experienced. Was told one thing about a course to only later be told that that information was not correct which completely messed up my academic plans. I could have forgiven this, because they were very apologetic, but the process went even more downhill from there. I sent in a professional reference from a previous supervisor of mine mid December. It was the last part of my application that was missing. I did not hear back from a "senior" admissions officer until the FRIDAY BEFORE my course was supposed to start. Nearly a whole month later. It was at this time that they decided to tell me that it would not be accepted and that my ex-supervisor would have to send the reference letter from her professional email, which she did. Come the first day of the course, I had still not heard back from them. I had to send an email stating my dissatisfaction and only then did I hear back, this was on the second day of my course. Apparently, they needed to confirm when exactly my supervisor worked at the company. At this point, I was tired of being given the run around and withdrew my application. All in all, it seemed a little ridiculous considering this is definitely not a top university; their application process is unnecessarily pedantic and disorganised. I did not have a good experience with the GI bill area of the school, either. I sent an email enquiring about using my husbands GI bill and heard no response for at least a month. I would not have trusted them to contact the Veterans Association in the USA had I gone through with a...