Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Benefits of studying a short course or CPD

Here at ARU, we offer a broad range of short courses including continuing professional development (CPD), as well as leisure and hobby courses.

  • CPD courses can help you to improve your professional skills or develop new ones.
  • Leisure and hobby courses are a great opportunity to learn new things and have fun.

What courses do you offer?

There's a great variety of short courses on offer, and you can browse all courses here. Most courses fall under the following subject areas:

  • animal car, including dog walking, pet sitting and canine first aid
  • art and design
  • DIY and construction, including welding
  • equine
  • floristry
  • health care and medical science
  • horticulture and landscaping
  • land-based industries: machinery, mechanics, mowers, tractors, and pesticide application
  • medicine
  • nursing and midwifery
  • social care.

We also offer a tractor driving experience day and a welding experience day. Both make a unique gift.

Bespoke courses

If you're interested in a bespoke course, delivered at your chosen location, please email [email protected] or call 01245 424286/7.

When do your courses take place?

Generally, CPD courses or those linked to professional activity are available during the week, with leisure courses taking place in the evenings and on weekends.

Many of our courses are offered throughout the year, and you can check individual course pages for details of upcoming dates.

Some courses are seasonal, as they take place outside or work around the main nesting season (March-August).

What is continuing professional development (CPD)?

Continuing professional development can help you to develop and enhance your skills, refresh your knowledge, or stay up-to-date with the latest developments in a particular industry.

Some CPD courses are accredited by organisations such as City & Guilds or Lantra.

CPD may take place online or in person, in the workplace or at another location – such as a college or university.

We offer a range of CPD courses, with a particular focus on health, medicine and social care; and the land-based industries.

Why study with a college or university?

There are a number of benefits to studying with us on campus, or online:

  • knowledgeable teaching staff, many with industry experience
  • specialist equipment, materials and facilities
  • hands-on practical experience
  • opportunities to take your skills one step further
  • friendly and supportive course teams.

If you're looking to improve your professional skills and advance in your career, you'll benefit from courses that meet industry needs. We consistently review our training to make sure we're reflecting recent trends, and covering the latest skills and specialist knowledge.

Find out more