Anglia Ruskin University: Thousands to celebrate at ARU autumn graduations

Approximately 6,000 people will attend graduation ceremonies in Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough in the coming weeks as Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) students celebrate receiving their degrees.

Around 1,100 students will cross the stage at Chelmsford Cathedral between Monday, 14 November and Thursday, 17 November. The Cambridge Corn Exchange will host ceremonies on 22 and 23 November with more than 750 students receiving their degress. Finally, more than 200 students will graduate at Peterborough Cathedral on 6 December.

The students will be cheered on by almost 4,000 guests who will be joining in the celebrations at the three city centre venues.

ARU holds two sets of graduation ceremonies, in the summer and in the autumn, for students who have achieved their degrees across all faculties and courses.

Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) said:

“Celebrating the achievements of our students during graduations is among the highlights of the year, and particularly so after the challenges that these students have faced and overcome during a global pandemic.

“We are immensely proud of all of them and even after they have crossed the stage, they will remain part of our ARU community forever.”


ARU will also bestow an honorary degree upon its former Vice Chancellor, Professor Iain Martin.

Professor Martin is currently Vice Chancellor of Deakin University in Australia. He began his career as a surgeon in Leeds with a focus on gastrointestinal cancer and minimally invasive surgical techniques. After spending time in New Zealand and Australia in senior roles at universities, he returned to the UK with ARU in 2016, where he became Vice Chancellor and oversaw the opening of ARU’s School of Medicine, Essex’s only undergraduate medical school, in 2018.

Professor Martin will receive the award of honorary doctor of health sciences during a ceremony in Cambridge on Tuesday, 22 November.