ARU London for Mature Students: Foundation Year Degrees With GCSEs or Work Experience (2026/27)
Quick answer
Anglia Ruskin University London (ARU London) in Canary Wharf offers degrees with a Foundation Year for home and mature students.
- Age 21+: you can get in with 5 GCSEs or a Level 2 qualification (school qualifications from your home country count), or 1 year's relevant work experience in the last 2 years.
- Fees: £5,760 for the Foundation Year, then about £9,535–£9,790 a year, all covered by Student Finance for eligible home students.
- Study: 2 days a week, daytime, evening or Friday–Saturday.
Check if I qualify for ARU London
Courses with a Foundation Year
- Business and Financial Management
- Business and Human Resource Management
- Business and Law
- Business and Tourism Management
- Business, Hospitality and Events Management
- Business and Marketing
- Digital Marketing and Management
- Finance and Accounting
- Health and Social Care
- International Business Management
- LLB Law
Direct entry to Year 1
- BSc Accounting and Finance
- BSc Business and Healthcare Management
For direct entry you need a Level 3 qualification or BTEC with 120 credits, or a completed Foundation Year with 120 credits.
Entry requirements
Age 21 and over:
- Education route: 5 GCSEs, any Level 3 or a Level 2 equivalent. Qualifications from your home country are accepted.
- Work route: 1 year's relevant work experience in the last 2 years, shown with payslips, matching bank statements and employer verification.
- LLB Law with Foundation Year: a Level 3 qualification, or 2 years' work experience with payslips and employer verification.
Age 18–20: you must have educational qualifications. If you didn't study in the UK, you'll need Duolingo 90.
Interview and English
- Written test: a 15-minute written statement on a set question.
- Interview: 15–25 minutes with an academic.
- English: checked at a face-to-face interview, through Duolingo, an on-campus test or the Oxford English test, depending on your background.
Timetable and intakes
- 2 full days a week on campus, with daytime, evening and Friday–Saturday options.
- Intakes: January, May/June and September.
Campus
3rd Floor, Import Building, 2 Clove Crescent, East India Dock, London E14 2BE (near Canary Wharf).
Student finance
Home students can usually get a Tuition Fee Loan for the full fee and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. See mature student finance eligibility and Universal Credit and student finance.
Apply with free support
We'll check which route you qualify for, help you prepare for the written test and interview, and guide you through student finance. Our service is free.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at ARU London without A-levels?
Yes. If you're 21 or over, 5 GCSEs or a Level 2 qualification, or 1 year's recent relevant work experience, can get you onto a Foundation Year degree.
What work experience evidence does ARU London need?
1 year's relevant work in the last 2 years, with payslips, matching bank statements and employer verification.
How much is ARU London?
£5,760 for the Foundation Year, then about £9,535–£9,790 a year depending on intake, covered by Student Finance for eligible home students.
Where is ARU London?
At the Import Building, 2 Clove Crescent, East India Dock, London E14 2BE, near Canary Wharf.
When are ARU London intakes?
January, May/June and September.