Being a student in Cambridge

From the University Library where I am today studying my french make-up exams, I had the idea to tell you more about how it is to be a student here, in Anglia Ruskin, and in Cambridge.

Firstly, we are thursday, and it is my last day of teaching of the week, and by teaching, please understand that I just have two hours from 5pm to 7pm of English. We only have 8 hours of classes per week (4 lectures and the 4 seminars attached). At the departure of this semester, we thought it was like holidays, and it is for most part of the semester, but we have to study big essays of 3000 words with references (and obviously the need of reading a lot of books). This differentiate a lot the two systems of teaching (France & UK) because the English are working a lot by their own, they read a lot and study early their assignments. In France, we prefer to have a lot of lessons but less personal work. I think I would say now that I prefer the English system, but maybe because I don't know it well. You work a lot by your own, and so that, you have to learn and be interested in the subject you study.

Helmore Building - ARU Main entrance

A bit more about student life in general, the Student Union of the University tries to organize a lot of events and travels around the country to make us discover. I didn't participate to the travels but I participated to the parties organized into the University. It is a way to meet a lot of people and mostly international students because the British are going out together (as we do in France). It is a lot of fun, most times! Night life in Cambridge is pretty fun for the most reason that the city is composed of 99% of students! Everyday, a lot of students are going out in the city center. We experienced every nightclubs and we were surprised most time by the fact that from monday to sunday : they are full ! To enter a place, you don't need your ID but your Student Card! yeee

            

Everyday life as a student in Cambridge is also very easy. We live in the city center, 5 minutes walk from University and 6 minutes walk from Tesco (the big shop where we can buy our food). It is open 7 days out of 7 and from 8am to 10pm ! Concerning the restaurants and bars, they are a lot of students prices and offers!

Finally, about sports in Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University offers sports activities. Because everybody just have 8 hours lessons a week, there is a lot of time to do sports. It  is essential for students here to do sports and in the great University of Cambridge, the sportsmen have also the best marks. For example, the boys and girls who are doing the Oxford - Cambridge oar race are always the firsts of promotion.

The online daily newspaper special Cambridge : http://cambridgetab.co.uk/ just about student life.