Student reviews
What is studying medicine at Anglia Ruskin University actually like?
The interview gets you a place; these reports are about the five or six years after that. Gathered from current student and recent graduate forums, weighted by how many independent sources agree. These are unverified community reports, not official university information.
7 reports
ARU does genuine full-body cadaveric dissection using Thiel-embalmed cadavers, reported as the only English medical school to do so, with one two-hour dissection morning per week in small groups of about six students, rather than prosection-only teaching.
Single report(older cycle)
ARU does genuine full-body cadaveric dissection using Thiel-embalmed cadavers, reported as the only English medical school to do so, with one two-hour dissection morning per week in small groups of about six students, rather than prosection-only teaching.
"At ARU we do full body dissection and are the only medical school in England that offers thiel embalmed cadavers which preserves a more life-like appearance and feel in comparison to formaldehyde."
Life of a Medic blog, first-person account by Faye Bate, named 3rd-year ARU medical studentClinical placements start early: first placements begin in November of first year, in small groups (around six students on hospital placements, pairs on GP placements), which is earlier than many UK medical schools.
Single report(older cycle)
Clinical placements start early: first placements begin in November of first year, in small groups (around six students on hospital placements, pairs on GP placements), which is earlier than many UK medical schools.
"we have our first placements in the November of first year"
Life of a Medic blog, first-person account by Faye Bate, named 3rd-year ARU medical studentA second-year ARU medical student described teaching as strong specifically because of the volume of clinical teaching delivered by practising local doctors running workshops and lectures, plus said support extends beyond the medical faculty into the wider university.
Single report(spans several cycles)
A second-year ARU medical student described teaching as strong specifically because of the volume of clinical teaching delivered by practising local doctors running workshops and lectures, plus said support extends beyond the medical faculty into the wider university.
"Paraphrase from search snippet: the teaching is excellent as they have a wide range of staff and lots of clinical teaching from local doctors who also come in to deliver workshops and lectures; support comes not just from the medical faculty but the wider university including financial advice, wellbeing services, and study skills services."
The Student Room, Anglia ruskin medicine & east anglia thread, second-year ARU student postChelmsford is described by a real student as a quiet city with a small campus, meaning social life depends heavily on actively joining a sport or society rather than campus life happening organically; London under 40 minutes away by train is the escape valve for students who find Chelmsford too quiet.
Single report(older cycle)
Chelmsford is described by a real student as a quiet city with a small campus, meaning social life depends heavily on actively joining a sport or society rather than campus life happening organically; London under 40 minutes away by train is the escape valve for students who find Chelmsford too quiet.
"Chelmsford is a quiet city and the campus is also pretty small. However, if you involve yourself in an active sport or society, you won't get bored... London is less than 40 minutes away on the train."
Life of a Medic blog, first-person account by Faye Bate, named 3rd-year ARU medical studentHonest downside from a real student: being a genuinely new medical school means some trial-and-error in how the course is run, and students report having to deal with other people's prejudice or skepticism about attending a newer, less established medical school.
Single report(older cycle)
Honest downside from a real student: being a genuinely new medical school means some trial-and-error in how the course is run, and students report having to deal with other people's prejudice or skepticism about attending a newer, less established medical school.
"The element of trial and error that comes with being a new establishment... Other people's prejudices about going to a new med school."
Life of a Medic blog, first-person account by Faye Bate, named 3rd-year ARU medical studentA separate, multi-poster TSR thread from non-medic ARU students alleges that medicine students form a clique that dominates extracurricular societies and receives campus privileges non-medics do not get, with some non-medic posters describing feeling excluded by medic students. This reflects social reputation and campus dynamics rather than course content, and only represents the non-medic side of the story.
Single report(spans several cycles)
A separate, multi-poster TSR thread from non-medic ARU students alleges that medicine students form a clique that dominates extracurricular societies and receives campus privileges non-medics do not get, with some non-medic posters describing feeling excluded by medic students. This reflects social reputation and campus dynamics rather than course content, and only represents the non-medic side of the story.
"Paraphrase from search snippet: some students report medical students are very horrible egotistical people that like to dominate every extracurricular activity on campus and describe being bullied and purposely excluded by some of these nasty people; the medics are cut off from the rest of the students but are given so many privileges that other students don't have access to."
The Student Room, Anglia Ruskin bullying and favouritism threadDay-to-day teaching is described as heavily practical/lab-session based, to the point that one first-year student considering leaving cited an inability to physically manage lab equipment as a central struggle; ARU's counselling/wellbeing team and student services were reported as responsive when the student raised this.
Single report(spans several cycles)
Day-to-day teaching is described as heavily practical/lab-session based, to the point that one first-year student considering leaving cited an inability to physically manage lab equipment as a central struggle; ARU's counselling/wellbeing team and student services were reported as responsive when the student raised this.
"Paraphrase from search snippet: many classes involve practical lab sessions, but the student developed hand tremor and numbness over the summer, causing stress during practicals and difficulty using equipment; ARU staff responded offering the Counselling and Wellbeing team and Student Services to discuss changing course."
The Student Room, leaving ARU thread, first-year ARU medicine student postFree course: Communication and Role-Play Scenarios
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