Find your course
Why distance learning with ARU?
At ARU our online courses are designed with you in mind. Wherever you are in your journey, we want you to achieve your full potential and to realise your goals and ambitions.
Now’s your time and you’re welcome here. Choosing an online degree from ARU gives you the flexibility you need to study when it’s most convenient, allowing you to fit your learning around your other commitments, such as your job, family or hobbies and interests. Whether you want a career change, promotion, simply want to keep your brain active or are returning to the workplace after a break, our online degrees can make it happen.
Our dedicated distance learning support team and expert tutors will support you every step of the way. With our world-class Learning Management System (LMS); accessible from your phone, tablet, or computer; you can access materials, study and engage with tutors and other distance learners from wherever you are.
Our latest rewards and recognition
In addition to our fantastic achievements below, we're proud, once again, to be named as one of the top 350 institutions in the world in the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings 2023.
Gold-standard education
We've received a Gold award – the highest possible rating – in a UK-wide review of teaching, learning and student support. Our course content and delivery, learning resources, and approaches to supporting student success are all rated as ‘outstanding'
University of the Year
We're proud winners of the University of the Year accolade at the Times Higher Education (THE) 2023 Awards. Our submission acknowledged the contributions our students and graduates make to society.
Graduate career development
Our university is in the top 15% in the country for graduate employment. This reflects graduates’ career development 15 months after graduating, with data collected by the Graduate Outcomes Survey, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), June 2023.
Studying with us
You’ll join a diverse and inspiring online community of distance learners from all walks of life, and, if it’s convenient to you, you’re welcome to use our campus facilities. We look forward to welcoming you to your graduation ceremony to celebrate your success.
Our students
We measure our success by our students' success and so we love to hear about their online education stories, each one unique to their experiences and personal ambitions.
Meet some of our current distance learning students and Alumni to hear why studying online worked for them.
Our campuses
ARU has campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and London. Depending which subject you choose to study, you may have the opportunity to join us on campus for occasional residential workshops or study days.
In fact, even as a distance learner, if you live close to one of our campuses, you're more than welcome to pop in to use the libraries and facilities any time.
Graduation
Just like students studying on campus, we invite our online degree students to take part in a graduation ceremony. Completing a degree, online or in person, is a huge achievement, and we encourage you to celebrate this with friends, family, and fellow students.
If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.
96% of our Alumni would recommend studying with ARU Distance Learning*
Online courses designed for life
Choosing the right course is an important choice, and our suite of distance learning degrees is constantly expanding to ensuring relevance to your desired professional career path.
We offer Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees, and short courses such as top-up degrees, courses in a wide range of subjects, including: Business Management, Psychology, Digital Marketing, Health and Social Care, Education and Technology.
Learn more about our courses and entry requirements.
92% of our Alumni said the effort and investment was worth the outcome*
Achieve your potential
We continue to expand our online degrees and hone our offering so that it suits the lifestyles of learners just like you. You’ll be in good company at ARU – over the past 10 years, more than 10,000 learners from 96 countries have studied online courses with us and gone on to do great things in a vast variety of careers.
If you have any questions about ARU or any aspect of distance learning please do not hesitate to get in touch as we'd love to hear from you.
*2023 alumni survey with 158 respondents