Support at university
We know that university's a big step up, and we're here to support your child throughout their time at ARU. That includes support with their studies, but also with their general health, happiness and wellbeing.
You can read a bit more about these services below.
Encourage your child to look at our Student Services pages and find out more about the support on offer.
All new undergraduate students are allocated a Welcome Buddy – a current student from their course or area of study who will become a friendly face around campus and help them settle in during their first trimester.
Welcome Buddies are there to signpost students to further support, share their university experience and help with any first year nerves.
ARU has received a Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework, a UK-wide review of university teaching standards. We're rated outstanding for 'highly effective course design and content that inspires students to actively engage and commit to their learning'.
We're here to help all our students succeed in their studies, and offer:
- the Study Skills Plus programme which supports all aspects of academic learning, including writing, research and getting organised
- a Disability and Dyslexia Service that provides dedicated support for students with disabilities, ongoing medical conditions, and specific learning difficulties.
All our students have a Personal Development Tutor who can discuss their academic progress and future aspirations, but also general wellbeing and any concerns that may affect your child's studies.
Your child will also be part of a Personal Development Community – a group of fellow students they can talk to about work and assessments, or any other worries or concerns.
Find out more about Personal Development Tutors and Communities.
We want our students to have a happy, successful time here at ARU and we have a number of services that can support them.
These range from wellbeing workshops and life coaching, to counselling and mental health support. We also have a Sexual Violence Advocacy Service.
All our campuses have prayer and meditation facilities, and our Chaplaincy team is here to offer a listening ear. Chaplaincy is available to all students, irrespective of faith or commitment.
Peer Wellbeing Mentors, who are all current ARU students, are also here to listen - and they organise a range of activities across the year to promote positive wellbeing.
You can read more about all these services on our health and wellbeing pages.
We know our students want to get the most out of their university experience, and that includes opportunities to forge friendships and have fun.
Our Students' Union organises a broad range of events during Welcome Week and throughout the year. It also runs a thriving volunteering programme.
ARU is home to more than 100 student-led societies too, which give our students the chance to discover new things and make friends. Societies range from Chess to Yoga and everything in between; and include a number of culture, faith and identity groups.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in sport too, with a wide range of sports clubs, fitness classes and 'turn-up-and-play' sessions.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand to offer free, confidential advice about funding, budgeting and money management at university.
We understand it’s a difficult time with the cost of living increasing, and we’re working hard to try and reduce the financial pressures for our students where we can. Find out what we're doing to support with the cost of living.
Many students are eligible for loans that cover the cost of university tuition fees, and help pay for day-to-day living costs like accommodation, food and travel. Find out more on our student finance pages.
From their first day at ARU, we support our students to develop the skills that employers value.
They have access to a range of careers and employability services, and unique Ruskin Modules that build transferable skills.
Many of our courses include opportunities to gain experience through work placements or industry collaboration.
In the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024, an annual UK-wide survey of university graduates, we are:
- top 10% in the country for graduates in employment and/or further study 15 months after graduating
- ranked 5th in the country and 1st in the East of England for the proportion of UK undergraduates who are employed as managers, directors or senior officials 15 months after graduating.