Anglia Ruskin University

Visiting your child at Anglia Ruskin University means flying into London Stansted (STN); Cambridge is about 40 minutes away by train. Plan the UK visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from STN to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a UK Standard Visitor visa - one visa covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (there is no separate 'London visa'). It is applied for online and biometrics are given at a VFS Global centre in India. Most are 6-month visit visas; frequent visitors can choose 2-, 5- or 10-year multiple-entry visas. India has a high (around 82%) grant rate.

• One UK visa covers all four nations - no separate visa for London, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Apply about 3 months ahead, especially for graduation - slots book out and graduations are fixed dates.
• A complete file with strong home ties, clear funds and a clear purpose drives the high approval rate.
• Frequent visitors should consider the 2/5/10-year multiple-entry visa to avoid re-applying each trip.

Just admitted to Anglia Ruskin University? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into London Stansted (STN) early for the best September fares.
• Train/coach from STN to Cambridge (~40 min); the city is compact and cycle-friendly.
• Book housing early - Cambridge's market is very tight; a bike helps a lot.
• Carry your CAS, passport, proof of funds and confirmation of your visa (eVisa share code) in your cabin bag.

Cambridge is an expensive small city - about GBP 1,200-1,650 a month all-in sharing and cooking, driven by very high rents in a compact, in-demand city. It is famously walkable and cycle-friendly, and London Stansted (STN) is the nearest gateway, about 40 minutes by train or coach.

Monthly cost of living in Cambridge (a student estimate)

That's roughly £13,500-19,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Cambridge rents are high for its size; students share across the city and rely heavily on cycling.

• Cambridge is a cycling city - a bike is the standard way to get around.
• Stansted (STN) is ~40 min by train/coach; bigger hubs are a bit further.
• Book housing early - the market is very tight.

Working part-time

On a Student visa you can work up to 20 hours/week during term time (degree level) and full-time during official university vacations. The 20-hour cap is per week, not an average, counts all jobs combined, and you must be a payroll employee - no self-employment, freelancing or gig/delivery work. After graduating you can apply for the Graduate Route: unsponsored post-study work with no job-type or hour limits, currently 2 years (3 for PhD). Note: from 1 January 2027 the Graduate Route drops to 18 months for non-doctoral graduates, so 2026 graduates should apply by 31 December 2026 to get the full two years.

Safety & student support

Anglia Ruskin University's areas are generally safe by UK standards; use normal city awareness at night.

• Anglia Ruskin University has campus security and student-safety services - save the campus number.
• Main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• A safe, compact university city; normal awareness at night.

Indian community & food

Cambridge has a smaller South Asian community, with desi grocers in the city and London close by.

Indian grocery stores

• Indian/Asian grocers in the city (Mill Road is the multicultural food strip) carry spices and staples.
• Mainstream Tesco, Sainsbury's and Aldi carry world-food aisles.
• London (~1 hr by train) has the widest selection for big shops.

Student community

• Anglia Ruskin has an active Indian/South Asian society with Diwali and Holi events.
• The area has Hindu and South Asian community groups.

• A good range of Indian restaurants, especially along Mill Road.

Cost & living figures for Cambridge last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.