Student reviews of Anglia Ruskin University

OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING

Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

I have grown immensely as a researcher as I have gained knowledge in academic writing, conducting literature reviews, and critically analyzing film and other forms of art. I feel confident and equipped to succeed.

Job Prospects

How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?

My course has been enriching in many aspects, and I have gained a lot of confidence in myself as a researcher, presenter, networker, and person. This has occurred through participating in research training events, presenting at seminars, and working on conferences at the university, such as the Cambridge Arts Network conference. My supervisor and other lecturers in the Cambridge School of Creative Industries have guided me and assisted me in making connections with other researchers.

Course and Lecturers

What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?

I enjoy the opportunities to connect with other researchers, and the flexibility in making my own schedule allows me to be able to attend conferences and training. As this is my first research degree, I have been used to taught courses, so getting used to not having class with other students has been a big change, and is something to get used to. Because of this, I have to find these academic and personal connections through my own initiative, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

How many contact hours per week do you have?

Students' Union

What do you think of your Students' Union in terms of student representation and facilities?

I appreciate you that they put on many events for students, but I do think that they could work harder to better understand students’ needs. As an international student doing a research degree, I wish there was more support provided by the student union to help with issues that arise with living abroad and doing research.

Uni Facilities

How good are your university’s facilities?

The research specific facilities are nice, and hopefully there will be even more spaces created for researchers to work and socialize in the near future.

Local life

Is your university in a good location in terms of distance to accommodation and local amenities?

Cambridge has endless possibilities for researchers and creative-minded people, and as a centre of academic excellence, Cambridge definitely does not lack in inspiration. There is always a lot to do, and nightlife is great. Anything you could want is in Cambridge, and London is only a short 45 minute train ride away!

Societies and Sports

How would you rate the variety of societies/sports?

There is a club or society for basically any interest, so anyone will be able to find a group of students with similar interests as themselves.

Student Support

How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).

If you reach out for help, tutors and university workers are there to provide guidance, and I have received a lot of assistance and advice in many matters regarding visas, financial aid, academics, etc.

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Anglia Ruskin University

OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING

Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

Having attended the University some years ago as an undergraduate, the changes which have happened in the interim before I began postgrad study here have been positive-improved facilities, social spaces and the constant reflexivity towards course structure and content as well as student involvement mean that students can be sure that if they are willing to engage proactively with every aspect of their university experience they have the opportunity to make a difference in an environment that appropriates a diverse range of student voices, acts upon student input and collectively isn't afraid to challenge conventions.

Job Prospects

How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?

The employability service have an accredited pathway which increases your employability skills in a targeted fashion, and allows you to register accomplishments to this end. they also host various events and careers fairs throughout the semester. There are coordinated opportunities for volunteering which are also logged and recorded enabling you to chart the skills you have gained and connecting those to your employability profile. Registering with the Employment Bureau, which is different to the Employability service, enables you to search for internal and external vacancies to fit around or following your studies. Lecturers also speak about potential progression opportunities connected to either voluntary roles or for example to research based employment in your field of study.

Course and Lecturers

What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?

As a mature student at the postgraduate level my expectations and requirements from the course have centred around the ability to develop higher level research skills, the capacity to produce publishable academic output as standard, and the opportunity to develop a cogent prospective doctoral thesis. Due to the course leaders’ academic and professional expertise, and willingness to engage with and help orient students beyond mere academic supervision, all of these criteria have been met. On top of this, the newness of the University enables a rigorous yet creative and often non-canonical approach to the subject. There are great links with other universities through interdisciplinary research clusters, the opportunity to attend research student focussed employment events and training.

How many contact hours per week do you have?

Students' Union

What do you think of your Students' Union in terms of student representation and facilities?

As a busy postgraduate parent I have only been involved to the extent of being a course representative which has enable insight into some of the logistical decisions behind the structuring of the courses, teaching and content. However I'm not hugely connected with the undergraduate aspects of the SU which I know organise multiple and interesting events, have campaigned for and built a 24 study and play space, and help to organise multiple student run groups.

Uni Facilities

How good are your university’s facilities?

The library is a good space with separate sections for quiet and silent study and laptops for hire; although many texts are now being sourced online. there are new labs and the Science building hosts an excellent standard of lab for psychology and the biomedical sciences, as well as having specialist optometry facilities and the eye and hearing clinics. However as a social sciences student my experience has been with this faculty for which the facilities have been adequate (we don't need too much in the way of equipment!) There s a gym and plenty of student focussed spaces being developed which allow for more mobile study than just the library, which works particularly well for group work and informal meetings.

Local life

Is your university in a good location in terms of distance to accommodation and local amenities?

Cambridge is a growing town with a vibrant scene for students from both of the Universities here; there are plenty of green spaces and interesting social and academic events throughout the year for example the Festival of Ideas, the Science Festival and so on and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with these at ARU. Outside of this, there is a growing leisure scene which has been long in the making in Cambridge, with climbing centres, pools, and an ice rink due to open this year. Its a good time to come and be busy in Cambridge!

Societies and Sports

How would you rate the variety of societies/sports?

I have no direct experience of these unfortunately but there seem to be quite a few!

Student Support

How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).

The academic tutors I have had experience with have always gone over and above requirements both to make the process of studying clearer, to help with future directions and discuss feedback and assessments etc. the wellbeing service is well used and well represented and there is the option for both group sessions, online support as well as one to one counselling for a range of issues from academic to highly personal

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Anglia Ruskin University

OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING

Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

Overcrowded course, not enough staff, teething problems for a fairly new course involving online learning material has made things a little awkward at times. Ultimately the University wants your cash. As much as possible. The people they have employed are great, but they dont employ enough, that would cost them money. They could also deliver the course in 2 years instead of three, but that too would mean more staff, and more money, oh and they would miss out on a third year of 9,000 quid each. The University is fairly poor facilities wise, contact time is minimal, 'self directed study' is an amazing excuse for penny pinching. They do give you £400 a year to spend on books. However, its only at one book store, on campus, where all the prices are jacked up. They dont have many books, so you'll have to order them online, which incurs even further cost. It looks good, gives great PR, in reality most students buy overpriced electronic items and waste it anyway, books are cheaper and better from amazon or ebay. In line with this, my course involves a lot of placement, often some distance away. When I am on placement I drive over 70 miles a day, 10/15 weeks of the year. That is not cheap. Imagine if I wasn't fortunate enough to have my own car, and had to use public transport?! But friendly old university has you covered right? I mean, you're paying them nearly nine-thou.. wrong. Placement costs are not included, and are not negligible. There is a small fund to assist with this but they run out each year after partially covering a handful of students costs. There are 70 people on my course, in my year alone. We all incur those costs. I do want to re-mention however just how good the staff are here. University as a concept/system is an ugly cash hungry elitist monster, but the people in this one, on this course, deserve great credit.

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Anglia Ruskin University

OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING

Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

For the last 3 years I’ve been doing Film and TV Production at Anglia Ruskin University, and it is everything I wanted it to be. The course, which is divided into several modules, focuses heavily on putting the students into the shoes of filmmakers. The university provides us with the equipment used on professional film sets and allows us to learn from practice rather than theory. With modules such as Documentary, TV Studio, Specialised Practice and the final Major Project, the course becomes a worthwhile and entertaining experience while enhancing artistic skills in the area of filmmaking.

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Anglia Ruskin University

OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING

Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

Anglia Ruskin University has, so far, given me an amazing university experience. Having studied Drama in my first year and now having transferred onto the Writing and Film course, I can say without a doubt that the student services give wonderful support with your options as a student. As a course rep for my current course, I have gained a huge responsibility of making sure fellow students are enjoying what they do, as well as communicating with staff on a professional level. What ARU doesn't tell you is how much respect you will be given as a student, and it's phenomenal when you realise how your lecturers will give you such independence with your coursework and how much love they have for their industries. It really is all about “U” here, and it's really shown!