Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
ARU's Cambridge campus is on East Road, a short walk from the city centre and right by Mill Road, one of Cambridge's liveliest streets. It's a modern, practical university with lots of career-focused and health courses, and campuses in Chelmsford, Writtle, Peterborough and London too. Check which campus your course is at before you decide.
In Cambridge you get a beautiful, compact, bike-friendly city, but you pay for it. Rents are high, and university rooms cost about £125–£225 a week for 2026/27. Accommodation isn't guaranteed and is allocated first come, first served, so apply as soon as you firmly accept.
Known for
Anglia Ruskin University is 92nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 42.9, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | University of Chester | 43.9 |
| 91 | University of Stirling | 43.5 |
| 92 | Anglia Ruskin University | 42.9 |
| 93 | University of Greenwich | 42.8 |
| 94 | University of Hull | 42.7 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
15th of 124 · Inclusion Score 74.9
51st of 124 · Sustainability Score 54.4
56th of 124 · Safety Score 44.6
66th of 124 · Nightlife Score 48.1
92nd of 122 · Careers Score 24.6
94th of 124 · Innovation Score 47.5
95th of 124 · Employability Score 24.1
98th of 124 · Social Score 41.4
98th of 123 · Happiness Score 37.5
103rd of 124 · Wellbeing Score 37.5
105th of 124 · Affordability Score 40.2
106th of 124 · Societies Score 39.5
108th of 124 · Value Score 32.1
111th of 124 · Freshers Score 39
112th of 124 · Balance Score 30.4
Cambridge as a student city
Ranked 56th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 46.
Anglia Ruskin University appears in 51 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity Surveying | 4th | of 35 | 103 |
| Fashion Design | 9th | of 49 | 122 |
| Architecture | 12th | of 55 | 121 |
| Sports Science | 18th | of 78 | 154 |
| Psychology | 25th | of 108 | 173 |
| Criminology | 23rd | of 94 | 168 |
| Computer Science | 25th | of 102 | 172 |
| Cyber Security | 15th | of 58 | 130 |
| Midwifery | 14th | of 54 | 108 |
| Marketing | 23rd | of 88 | 159 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
ARU Students' Union runs clubs, societies and events across the campuses, plus advice and representation. In Cambridge, the East Road campus is a short walk from the city centre. Mill Road is next door, with independent shops, international restaurants, cafés and bars. Cambridge itself is small, green and full of bikes, with riverside pubs, punting on the Cam and plenty of museums and galleries.
University halls cost £125.44–£224.35 per week for ARU-managed Cambridge rooms (2026/27, 40 weeks and 3 nights, bills included); third-party halls £169–£271.89 (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
ARU doesn't guarantee accommodation. Rooms are allocated first come, first served, so the university recommends applying online as soon as you've firmly accepted a conditional or unconditional offer. International students must book accommodation before travelling to the UK. A £400 advance rent payment is due when you apply for an ARU-managed room.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swinhoe House | Cambridge campus (on campus) | twin, non en-suite, en-suite and studio | £125.44/wk | The cheapest option is a twin non en-suite (£125.44). Standard non en-suites cost £139.65 and refurbished en-suites £183.47–£191.31. Contract runs 8 September 2026 to 18 June 2027. |
| University shared houses (incl. Collier Road) | Next to campus or within 2 miles | shared houses, non en-suite and en-suite rooms | £131.04/wk | Houses for 2–10 students. Off-campus houses average £163.87 a week. Collier Road houses next to campus cost £139.23–£208.53. |
| YMCA (third party) | Off campus | en-suite or non en-suite | £176/wk | Two floors reserved for ARU students. £176 non en-suite, £190 en-suite (40-week). A £300 booking payment goes to the YMCA. |
| Peter Taylor House | Cambridge campus (on campus) | en-suite and studio | £183.75/wk | Bright, modern on-campus rooms: standard en-suite £7,428.75 for the tenancy. Refurbished en-suites £197.61, studios £221.34. |
| Anastasia House | Across the road from the Cambridge campus | en-suite, non en-suite and one-bed flats | £206.50/wk | Flats right opposite campus. One-bedroom flats £224.35 a week. |
| CB1 (third party) | About 15 minutes from campus, near the station | en-suite and studios | £206.77/wk | 42- or 50-week contracts. Studios up to £271.89 a week. Extra holding fee, deposit and utilities bond apply. |
| The Railyard (third party) | About 15 minutes from campus | en-suite | £217.88/wk | A 43-week contract (£9,368.84). A guarantor is needed if you pay in instalments. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Right by campus. Cambridge's most diverse, lively street, with terraced houses, independent shops and food from around the world.
Next to East Road, close to campus and the city centre.
North of the river, quieter and residential, a short cycle from campus.
Top tip
Apply online as soon as you firmly accept your offer, since rooms go first come, first served. The 2027 process launches between mid-March and mid-April 2027, and prices will rise from the 2026 figures. Budget for the £400 advance rent payment on application. Third-party halls (CB1, The Railyard, YMCA) have their own fees and contracts.
Cambridge is an expensive place to live. ARU-managed rooms cost £125–£224 a week for 2026/27 (around £5,300–£9,000 a year), with utilities and internet included. ARU's own guide puts accommodation for students living away at £500–£1,350 a month and groceries at £140–£300. It also notes that East of England students spend an average of £1,181 a month (Save the Student survey).
Getting around
The Cambridge campus is on East Road, a short walk from the city centre. University halls are on or next to campus, and third-party halls are around 15–20 minutes' walk away. Most students walk or cycle. Cambridge station has fast trains to London, and most single bus fares in England are capped at £3.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Anglia Ruskin University is 92nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 42.9. Its strongest results are for inclusion (15th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, Anglia Ruskin University places highest for Agriculture (3rd of 6). Across our awards, it also stands out for inclusion.
No. ARU is a separate, independent university. Its main campus is in Cambridge on East Road, but it has no connection to the University of Cambridge's colleges.
No. Rooms are allocated first come, first served, so apply online as soon as you've firmly accepted your offer. International students should book before travelling.
For 2026/27, ARU-managed rooms cost £125.44–£224.35 a week on a 40-week contract with bills included. Standard on-campus en-suites are about £184 a week. Third-party halls like CB1 and The Railyard cost more.
It depends on your course. ARU has campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Writtle, Peterborough and London, each with its own accommodation.
There's limited hospital accommodation for nursing, midwifery and operating department practice students at Harston House (Addenbrooke's) and Alexandra House (Hinchingbrooke).
ARU estimates £500–£1,350 a month for accommodation, £140–£300 for groceries and up to £200 for leisure if you live away from home. It's one of the pricier student cities outside London.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
