Why did I chose ARU?

Upon completing my undergraduate architecture degree, I found myself in a rather comfortable position - I had a job, a car, and my family was around me.

It was truly hard to give up what I worked hard for, but I needed to push my career forward. When researching universities, I was looking for excellence, convenience and also staff support and Anglia Ruskin University couldn't have been a better choice. 

To start, they have achieved the University of the Year award, and also have been ranked as third best in the UK for academic support. You can really tell - the teaching staff very quickly replies to their emails, the phone calls to international student support are answered quickly, and the library support has been amazing. There is just a lot that the University staff do to make student life easier. This doesn't just apply to general staff…

At the faculty of Architecture, you get access to cutting mats, scalpels, rulers, and drawing boards in a faculty resource library. Even though it is with restricted access, it is for free! And as international students, we spend a lot of money buying these essential items again despite having them at home, so this makes all the difference.

When speaking with the staff before starting the course - you can tell how determined they are to support their students and push them forward. The transparency was incredible and very refreshing to see. It felt really encouraging, especially after feeling under-supported in my previous academic endeavors.

The student village accommodation is at an excellent location. Despite the age of the accommodation, it is a 3-minute walk from the campus and a 15-minute walk to the train station. This is so incredibly convenient especially because I wanted to save up money, and rather than buying food on campus, I could very easily cook at home and save up money.

Overall, Anglia Ruskin University is a great choice due to its excellence and striving to support students. I am very pleased with my choice and hope to make many good memories and push my career further ahead.