About us
A supportive and inclusive university built for the modern world.
Offering a combination of distance and blended learning degree courses to students in the UK and globally, Arden University provides access to the skills, knowledge, and opportunities our learners need to further their careers and achieve the success they deserve.
Having received degree awarding powers from the UK Government in 2015, today we have more than 27,000 ambitious students learning with us online and at our UK campuses in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds, as well as in Berlin, Germany. As a new university, we’ve been able to build our courses from the ground up to reflect the needs of today’s students, with many of our courses being developed hand in hand with UK employers and business organisations.
Arden University in Numbers
- 90+ – degree courses
- 9 – Campus locations
- 27,000+ – students
- 2,300 – graduates and counting
- 20+ – accreditations, memberships and professional bodies
Our focus on accessibility, our strong industry links, and the support we offer our students and staff means that Arden is a unique institution that is removing traditional barriers to higher education. This is reflected in our uniquely modern approach to how we assess students – moving away from the traditional exam model and towards practical assessments that reflects how students will put their skills to use in real life.
Future-proof courses, for lasting success
Now an established presence in the Higher Education industry, our degree programmes are driven by technology, shaped by employers, and built around our learners’ lives. Arden’s cutting-edge digital learning platforms contain all the materials our students need to succeed, and our industry accreditation and partnerships with institutions like the NHS, CMI, and CIPD, provides students with the resources, insight, and opportunities to transform their careers and make a positive contribution to their communities.
Creating an award-winning learning experience
Our increasing student numbers have also been met by industry recognition.
Most recently, our hard work and commitment towards providing quality education for all led to us being named Higher Education Institution of the Year at the EducationInvestor Awards 2023.
In September 2023 we received Highly Commended at the ALT Awards – recognising our commitment to learning technology.
Our Library team secured a nomination in the Times Higher Education Awards 2023 for our library provision.
In 2024 CEO Magazine ranked our Executive MBA the best in it’s class in the UK and among the top ten Executive MBAs globally.
Our MBA was also voted among the top ten MBA courses in Europe and number 2 in the UK overall by CEO Magazine.
Our Campuses
Berlin
University of Applied Sciences Europe, Dessauer Str. 3-5, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Birmingham – Lock 14
39 Summer Row, Birmingham, B3 1JJ
Leeds
S7 Park Square, Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2LW
Manchester
2 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3HF
London – Holborn
Arden University, 4th Floor, Buchanan House, 30 Holborn, London, EC1N 2LX
London – Tower Hill
Arden University, 6th Floor, Sceptre Court, 40 Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DX
London – Ealing
Arden University, Santon House, 53-55 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, W5 5SA
Birmingham – Crossways
Arden University Crossways, 8th floor 156, Great Charles Street Queensway, Birmingham, B3 3HN
Arden Online
For distance learning students
How does Blended Learning give you the edge?
1. Arden’s face-to-face learning is active, not passive.
We believe that sitting in lecture halls being talked at for hours is not the best way to absorb knowledge. Arden’s learning model is about interaction, discussion and application of knowledge, allowing you to fully understand the material in depth. Furthermore, our tutors only responsibility with Arden University is to teach students, not to work on research. Their sole purpose is to support you and help you succeed. Our goal is for you to not only graduate but to become an expert in your chosen subject.
2. You get the time to study and progress your career
Many universities spread their teaching across the week, making it difficult for students to fit in much else. Arden’s Blended Learning model enables you to complete a full 3 year Degree, with just 2 days face-to-face commitment per week. Leaving you 3 whole days to progress your career or spend as you wish.
This means for whichever course you study you can gain valuable workplace experience while applying your learning directly. The best way to truly learn anything.
This could put you 3 years or more ahead of your peers at traditional university – a massive advantage in what is becoming an increasingly competitive graduate market.
3. You can graduate debt-free
By condensing seminars and providing materials online we are able to offer a more affordable route than most traditional universities. Whether Undergrad or Postgrad you can still access student funding.*
What truly sets us apart is that because you can earn while you learn, you can even graduate debt free – putting you ahead of many studying at traditional universities.
Our story
Arden University was brought to life from our ambition to give all people equal opportunities for higher education. We began our journey in 1990 as the chosen online delivery partner for traditional universities, and have been evolving since. In 2014, we earned taught-degree awarding powers, and now very proudly award our own degrees.
One year later, we officially became Arden University – one of the few specialist online learning universities to launch in the last 50 years.
We are now a leading provider of flexible online and blended learning degree courses, and currently have more than 23,000 students studying with us globally both online and at our nine study centres in the UK and Germany.
We offer a wide range of courses which are accredited by many recognised professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Chartered Management Institute, the Association of Project Managers, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and many more.
Although many things have changed since our conception, our core values at Arden have always remained the same: to provide universal access to higher education and to improve our student’s career trajectories through innovative, modern learning.
Watch the video below to see how Arden is making it possible for people from all walks of life to gain life-changing skills and qualifications.
Why Arden
Why choose Arden University for your studies?
Here at Arden, we believe everyone, everywhere has the equal right to education. Whether you’re constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we’re passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.
We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.
All of our students, ranging from 18-80 years of age, benefit from our full support both online and on-site. We’re also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.
All of our courses at Arden come with a strong focus on employability – many of which are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK. You can find out more about our professional accreditations by clicking the logos below.
International Partnerships
Collaborate with the fastest growing university in the UK At Arden University our ambition is to drive the future of learning through higher education enhanced by technology, shaped by employers, and built around the lives of ambitious global learners. A key means of achieving this is through the development of partnerships with like-minded institutions – working collaboratively and sharing best practice to achieve career enhancing opportunities for students regardless of their location.
In developing these partnerships, Arden University engages with key regional and national stakeholders across the globe, including governmental organisations, higher education networks, and public and private institutions.
This enables Arden University to develop focused priorities in specific regions, bringing benefits to international students seeking UK education who are unable to travel to the UK. This in turn supports the educational needs of global communities by producing graduates with employment-focused qualifications who are equipped with the skills needed to contribute to their countries’ economic needs and development goals.
Our engagement with the international community also provides diverse and enriching educational opportunities for staff and students alike. In the global village of the digital age, we believe this has never been more important.
We welcome enquiries from interested potential partner institutions.
Partnership models
Please see below an overview of the current partnership models available. Arden University retains full responsibility for academic standards and the student experience across all its partnership models.
Progression Agreement
- An arrangement where an organisation refers students from a specific programme of study delivered by the organisation for admission to a programme of study at Arden University.
Infrastructure Service Provider
- An arrangement where a partner institution provides one or more infrastructure elements to support programme delivery by Arden University, such as provision of premises, or particular learning resources and facilities.
Recognised Study Centre Partner
- An arrangement where a partner institution is authorised to provide the infrastructure and study centre resources to students Arden University programmes who are in the UK or overseas. This could include library and study facilities, local pastoral support, work-based learning sessions, study skills workshops, English language support, and other local services.
Franchise Partner
- An arrangement where a partner institution is authorised to deliver and assess Arden University programmes either in part or in whole.
Dual Award Partner
- An arrangement through which a partner institution is authorised to deliver, assess, and award a separate part of study on a dual programme (in English language, except where otherwise authorised by Arden University).
Arden University criteria for partnership
Arden University will consider the viability of a proposed partnership on the basis of the following factors:
- Alignment in vision, mission, and strategy between the potential partner organisation and Arden University.
- The robustness of the business case, including market analysis and evidence of demand.
- Evidence of a successful previous partnership track record.
- Evidence of the capacity to provide increased and equitable access to higher education.
- A supply chain opportunity for recruitment through progression.
- Opportunities to diversify the Arden University’s portfolio of collaborative relationships.
- The reputational advantage for the partner organisation and Arden University to aid the delivery education opportunities globally.
We ensure that collaborative arrangements are only undertaken after careful consideration, scrutiny, and approval of reputable organisations in the UK or internationally. We welcome enquiries from interested potential partner institutions. Please click here to access our enquiry form.
Why Arden University?
- We are the UK’s Higher Education Institution of the Year*.
- We focus on the careers of the future and provide degree courses accredited by leading professional bodies such as the CMI, CIM, BPS, ACCA, CIMA, APM, and more.
- As of February 2022 we have more than 20,000 students enrolled on our programmes, including 7,400 students studying with us online across five continents.
- In recognition of our continued commitment to student outcomes, we were named the UK’s number one education business in the 2020 Education Investor Awards.
*(EducationInvestor Awards 2023)