Overview

The University of Surrey is home to a global community of more than 16,000 students, over a third of which are from outside the UK. Surrey is more than just a university it is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life changing education and research. Graduates of the University of Surrey are among the most employable in the UK. Surrey was the proud winner of the Best University Careers and Employability Service of 2022 (The National Undergraduate Employability Awards).

　　The university is driven by world class research and innovation that positively impacts society and shapes the future of the digital economy through agile collaborations with businesses, governments, and communities. Students who undertake courses at the university will prepare themselves for numerous career pathways across both academia and industry.

　　The University of Surrey is based in the bustling town of Guildford. Guildford is just 35 minutes by train from the centre of London. The university's picturesque campus houses a range of outstanding learning facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratory and simulation facilities in every faculty. There is a comprehensive range of student services, including a dedicated support service for international students. With a wide range of modern accommodation facilities, international students' comfort and overall experience is a top priority of Surrey.

　　Surrey's three faculties offer a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, all of which have flexibility so students can personalise their degree to specialist interests and individual goals. Every Surrey student also benefits from highly effective careers support and guidance throughout their studies, in addition to plenty of opportunities to develop professional skills outside of core degrees pathways.

　　

What's new

Surrey came 4th in the UK National Student Survey 2023 with an overall satisfaction score of 85.3 percent.

　　The university has actively responded to the changes in learning styles brought about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and improved digital learning facilities and spaces to give international students more choices around how and where they study. Surrey is home to the world's leading innovation centre for 5G and as a result offers outstanding connectivity across the campus. The university also provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with free digital copies of essential textbooks.

　　The University of Surrey has also made progress on perhaps the biggest issue facing the world today: sustainability. The university has committed to being a net-zero emissions university by 2030 and, along with the students' union, is making large and small changes to every aspect of campus life. These changes are in addition to their pioneering research into every aspect of sustainability, from climate change to clean air to sustainable living. In the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, which assess universities against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Surrey were ranked 46th, out of 1,591 universities globally.

　　

Teaching quality

At Surrey, international students learn from top academics who are experts in their fields. Many lecturers remain active in their professions, and because they are always developing their knowledge, are able to teach students the most up-to-date information they need to know to get themselves started in successful future careers.

　　Surrey also stands out for its commitment to practice-based learning. The university has a huge range of professional-standard facilities, such as labs, workshops, and studios, where students develop their skills and learn by doing.

　　The University of Surrey's curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary learning at all levels of study. Courses at the university encourage students to develop a broad perspective while interacting with new and innovative ideas. It is an approach that has proved successful across all Surrey's departments and faculties. The university consistently ranks in the top ten of the UK for a wide range of courses, from veterinary medicine to Iberian languages and manufacturing and production engineering.

　　

Department structure

Courses at the University of Surrey are based around three faculties, which are home to a wide range of schools and departments.

　　

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Arts, humanities, and social sciences courses cover a variety of disciplines. World-class departments in the faculty include the Guildford School of Acting, the School of Economics, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the School of Law, and the Surrey Business School.

　　

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

The faculty combines the core engineering disciplines as well as specific areas of chemistry, mathematics, computing, and physics. Departments include Computer Science, Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Sciences.

　　

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

There are five schools at Surrey that offer courses in human and animal health. These are the School of Biosciences and Medicine, the School of Health Sciences, the School of Psychology, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the new School of Medicine (graduate entry).

　　Across all their faculties, the University of Surrey offers a wide range of courses to suit different learners. These include:

　　Undergraduate degrees Postgraduate taught degrees Postgraduate research degrees Continuing professional development and short courses Degree courses with a foundation year International pathway programmes.

　　

Entry requirements

Whether students are an international or UK learner, the university asks everyone who wishes to study at Surrey to meet certain academic requirements for their courses. These vary on a course-by-course basis and different countries have different equivalents to UK qualifications. To find out what the requirements are for a certain course, international students are encouraged to visit the university's application page for international students and select the country they achieved their qualifications in.

　　Some courses may also have additional academic requirements. For example, there is an audition process for performing arts courses.

　　International students are required to have a good standard of English to study at the University of Surrey. The exact English language requirements vary on a course-by-course basis. International students are encouraged to check the university's website for full details of English language requirements and for details of what English language qualifications Surrey accept.

　　If students are not confident that they will meet the language requirements, they are encouraged to take a look at the university's intensive pre-sessional English courses. These courses are designed to prepare international students for degree programmes and to develop English language proficiency so that they can go on to meet the entry requirements.

　　In order to study at the University of Surrey, international students are required to hold a valid student visa. Students can find out more about how to apply for a student visa via the university website.

　　The University of Surrey has a dedicated team available to help students throughout their application process. From advising on choosing the right course, to applying for a visa and preparing for their first few weeks at Surrey, the admissions team are there every step of the way.

　　

Facilities

Across all the university's departments, students benefit from fantastic facilities for group learning, advanced research, and private study. State-of-the-art facilities include specialist labs, studios, classrooms, lecture theatres, simulation facilities and media suites.

　　The library and learning centre are open seven days a week and Surrey offers additional dedicated quiet spaces on-campus, like MySurrey Nest, where students can both study and unwind.

　　International students have access to university managed accommodation, with over 6,000 study-bedrooms all located on campus. Many of these rooms feature an en-suite bathroom. The university offers accommodation choices to suit all budgets and requirements. All international students are guaranteed university accommodation in their first year, as long as their application arrives on time.

　　In addition to plenty of food and drink options on-campus to suit all dietary requirements, the campus is also home to the Surrey Sports Park. Via this sporting complex, students have access to a 120-station gym, a 50-metre swimming pool and a number of courts and playing fields.

　　

Graduate outcomes

Graduates from the University of Surrey are prepared for future career success in both academia and industry. The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide awarded Surrey the prestigious University of the Year for Graduate Employment in 2022. An impressive 95 percent of the university's graduates are in work or further study following graduation (Graduate Outcome Survey 2023).

　　Surrey was the first university in the UK to introduce professional training placements as part of an undergraduate degree. Today, almost all of Surrey's undergraduates are given the opportunity to do an industry placement. These placements increase their employability and networks and make sure they are prepared for the world of work.

　　Surrey has established relationships with more than 2,300 partner organisations, including well-known companies like Oracle, the Walt Disney Company and Airbus, providing a huge range of placement opportunities for its students.

　　The university provides personalised careers support through its careers services. If students have a career path in mind, the service can help them on their journey. They provide practical advice and professional insight in addition to putting students in contact with relevant graduate employers. The strength of Surrey's careers support is recognised nationally, with the careers and employability service rated the best in the UK (National University Employability Awards, 2022).