Placement And Career Information

Anglia Ruskin University has a strong employability structure through its Employability Service, Placements Team, Employer Engagement Team, ARU Temps and Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy.

Many undergraduate courses include an optional placement year. Some postgraduate courses offer Professional Experience routes as part of an extended two-year master's structure.

How Undergraduate Placements Usually Work

ARU's undergraduate placement year takes place during the degree and gives students the chance to work in an industry related to their course. Many placements may be paid, but students need to secure a role through a competitive process.

Students should check:

• Whether the course offers a placement year
• Whether placement is optional or required
• Whether it is paid or unpaid
• Whether the student must apply and interview
• Whether the placement is approved by ARU
• Whether the placement affects course length and fees
• Visa and Student route conditions
• Deadline for placement proposals

ARU notes that proposals for undergraduate placements starting in September must be submitted by 1 August, while January placement proposals must be submitted by 1 December.

Postgraduate Professional Experience

Some master's courses offer Professional Experience in the second year of an extended two-year course. ARU lists three possible modules:

• Professional Project, usually on campus with industry partners
• Work Experience, usually based on campus with paid work experience in university business units
• Work Placement, normally off campus and paid

Students should confirm the exact course route and UKVI conditions before applying.

Career Support At ARU

ARU supports students with:

• Careers advice and planning
• Handshake appointments
• CV and application support
• Interview preparation
• Assessment centre preparation
• Employer events
• Placement search support
• Careers fairs
• Speed networking events
• ARU Temps for temporary and part-time roles
• Enterprise support through AREA
• Graduate support after study

The Placements Team can help students tailor CVs, prepare for interviews and understand the placement process.

Graduate Career Routes

Career outcomes depend on the course, but ARU students commonly explore:

• Healthcare and nursing-related roles
• Medicine and life sciences
• Business, management and finance
• Marketing and HR
• Computing, software and cyber security
• Engineering and construction
• Law and public services
• Education and teaching
• Psychology and social care
• Creative industries and media
• Enterprise and start-ups

Important Planning Advice

For the September 2026 intake, students should check placement and professional experience availability before accepting an offer. Not every course has the same work experience structure.

International students should also confirm how placement affects visa duration, CAS, tuition fees and work conditions. The best approach is to begin placement planning in the first year, not when deadlines are already close.