There is exceptional support for international students on the beautiful, green campuses of the University of Surrey. Optimism abounds in the breadth and quality of degree courses and learning facilities.  

You can expect the time of your life at Surrey, with great food, lively bars, rolling parkland, and cosmopolitan Guildford town just steps away. With great natural beauty to the south and west, and London half an hour to the east, you will be on top of the world.  
 

STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

Surrey is your key to a future filled with exciting achievements. The editor of The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide said:  

“In an increasingly competitive graduate jobs market, a degree from the University of Surrey opens doors.” - Alastair McCall. 

At Surrey, you can expect more; amazing sports, live music, great social life and of course, academic excellence. Expect a robust array of undergraduate programmes that reflect your ambitions.  

At Surrey, you can do a work placement as part of your degree – no matter what course you choose. Placements accelerate your future career and are a huge boost to your résumé.  

It’s something that makes studying at Surrey different – and makes the graduates so highly employable. 
 

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

The University started as a London college in the late 1800s. As its academic reputation grew, so did its enrolment, and by the 1960s the college had outgrown its London building and moved to Guildford. In 1966, it was granted a Royal Charter to become the modern-day University of Surrey. 
 

SPECIALIST AREAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

The University of Surrey offers an exceptionally broad range of programmes in all fields. It focuses on your future career from day one. Expect significant support to boost your employability.  

The University is renowned for exceptional teaching and practice-based learning, from academics who are experts in their fields. Many remain active in their professions, helping you get a flying start in your career. 
 

LIFE ON CAMPUS 

The University of Surrey’s main campus is Stag Hill, walking distance to the charming centre of Guildford. Expect delicious food and drink on the lovely, leafy campus, including artisan markets, cafes, restaurants, bars, music venues and a small supermarket. The world-class library, brilliant teaching spaces and beautiful parkland add to the ingredients for your happy university life. 

Surrey’s other campus, Manor Park hosts the celebrated Surrey Sports Park, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and more excellent student accommodation. The two campuses are closely linked by walking, bike or bus. 
 

STUDENT SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

The University of Surrey is proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in the UK, with more than 140 nationalities playing a vital role here. Its renowned international student support team advises on everything, from choosing the right course, to applying for a visa and preparing for your first few weeks at Surrey.  

Surrey’s exceptional student support services include: 

  • MySurrey Hive, a building on campus you can visit, phone or email to ask about everything, including accommodation, careers, international support, finance, transport, visa enquiries, student success and security services. 
  • The Centre for Wellbeing is a strong resource if you would like to talk through a personal, emotional or psychological issue.  
  • Your personal tutor is there to support your academic, personal and professional development throughout your time at Surrey.  
  • Each faculty has its own Academic Hive, there to support you with all study queries and concerns. 
  • Surrey’s Library is another hub where you can access support services, academic skills and learning advice. 
  • The Students’ Union is here to support you with all aspects of life, including academic and personal support, and inclusion. 
  • The Disability and Neurodiversity Team supports students with long-term physical and mental health conditions, helping with exam arrangements, preferential accommodation, parking, one-to-one support and assistive technology. 
  • Surrey’s Chaplaincy team represents many faiths and religions. 
  • The University provides a money advisor service to all students. 
  • There is an on-campus job agency for part-time work during your studies. 
  • You can access specialised entrepreneur support facilities and workshops.  
     

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY FACILITIES  

The University of Surrey’s teaching buildings and facilities are state-of-the-art.  

Expect amazing simulation opportunities: a fully operational pilot process plant, wind tunnels, ion beam facilities, flight simulators, a courtroom and a Clinical Simulation Centre, home to the Immersive Learning Environment that’ll transport you to the centre of clinical scenarios. These provide a safe, supervised environment to put your skills and knowledge to the test and build your professional readiness.  

The University offers some of the best performing arts facilities in the UK, including streamlined studios, the $5.5 million Ivy Arts Centre, which includes a 200-seat theatre and 50-seat studio space, both with professional sound and lighting; as well as dance studios, rehearsal rooms and a full costume department. Students also have access to up-to-the-minute black magic film cameras and a TV studio.  

Sports are represented by the world-class Surrey Sports Park, while the Library and Learning Centre have seen an investment of $20 million over the last five years. 
 

SPORTS AND SOCIETIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

Hundreds of clubs and societies await you, from mountaineering, mixed martial arts and dance, to politics, sailing and yoga. You can even start your own. You can expect everything from concerts and parties, to sports, theme weeks and live music. The Students’ Union boasts three popular entertainment venues that deliver an exciting social calendar through the year. 

The amazing $44 million Surrey Sports Park hosts over 40 sports clubs, including lacrosse, volleyball and football, as well as a 50m swimming pool and 120-station gym. Whatever your passion, Team Surrey has something for you. 
 

ACCOMMODATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

Choose your campus home! Accommodation is guaranteed if you’re a new student (as long as you apply by the deadline). There are more than 6,000 study-bedrooms on campus, all with unlimited, free broadband and at least half with private en-suite shower and toilet. All student residences are self-catered with shared kitchen facilities. There are choices to suit all budgets and requirements. The residences are monitored by security 24/7. 

Off campus, there is a variety of housing in the Guildford area let privately or through the University of Surrey's own Property Management Scheme. 
 

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS  

Expect a big welcome at the University of Surrey, proud host to a wonderful community of more than 16,000 students from 140 countries.  Enjoy the University’s friendly assistance as you prepare for your journey, and after you arrive. Expect support and information from the dedicated International Student team.  Expect your personalised Welcome Timetable with all your events, including international orientation sessions, campus tours, talks with the orld-class academics, and all the fun of Welcome Week. 
 

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS 

Expect real industry experience on Surrey’s award-winning Professional Training programme. It is one of the largest in the world, with over 2,300 providers in the UK and overseas. Most of Surrey’s courses offer the career-enhancing option of a year in industry. 

Surrey’s external partners are the route to real-world impact for students. The University works with all sizes of business, from the entrepreneur to the multinational corporate, charities and government organisations. 
 

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS 

Expect to have a once in a lifetime experience, see the world, experience brand new cultures and make new friends. You will have amazing opportunities to study and work abroad, both during your degree at the University of Surrey and as a recent graduate.  

These experiences enhance your employability, add a distinctive element to your résumé, and help you network at an international level. Surrey also sponsors over 20 summer programmes in exciting locations such as Brazil, China, India, Fiji and several EU countries. Funding opportunities are available for a wide range of these activities. 
 

EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 

The editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide said: 

“Surrey has an enviable record in the graduate jobs market, with consistently large numbers of graduates going into high-skilled jobs when they leave. This is no accident; the pathways to their later success are laid down during their studies.  

“The University has an exceptional placement programme for its students and is renowned for working closely with the business community. In an increasingly competitive graduate jobs market, a degree from the University of Surrey opens doors.” - Alastair McCall. 

At the University of Surrey, you can do a work placement as part of your degree – no matter what course you choose. Placements accelerate your future career and are a huge boost to your résumé.  

With more than 100,000 alumni, Surrey’s professional networks span the globe. The University offers résumé, application and interview support, careers fairs and workshops, plus advice and guidance throughout your time as a student as well as up to three years after you graduate.  

It’s something that makes studying at Surrey different – and makes the graduates so highly employable. 
 

STUDY IN GUILDFORD, SURREY 

The University of Surrey sits in the charming town of Guildford, which has been entrancing visitors for over a thousand years.  

Just 15 minutes’ walk from campus, the quaint cobbled High Street of Guildford offers chic to street fashion, cosmopolitan dining, clubbing and coffee-housing. This historic, yet vibrant town is set in the heart of the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with rolling chalk downs, ancient woodlands, flower-rich grasslands, and heaths that rise to form the highest point in south-east England. 

A few steps away from campus is the station that will take you to the heart of London in 30 minutes, with its 6,000 years of history and 21st century gateways to the UK, Europe and the world. 

 
WHY STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

This is your opportunity to make your future what you want it to be. At the University of Surrey, you can expect more than a degree. 

You can expect quality teaching and assessment, great accommodation and the support of the award-winning university career service. That’s why they are famous for the graduate Employment success. That’s the kind of support you can expect from the university even after graduation.  

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The information on this page has been submitted by the higher education institution itself. If you want to know more, get in touch and one of our student advisors will answer all your questions!

Across the Pond is this university’s official representative for selected countries around the world which, depending on where you are from, means we can help you apply to its courses as well as with gathering all the documents needed to submit an application. We can normally offer a speedier route to help you since the institution is hugely popular and receives enquiries from all around the world on a daily basis. We also have close ties with the university’s international facing staff and as such can explain your grades, your academic background and the educational system in your home country. Our partner universities appreciate that students who apply through Across the Pond get the help they need, not only in terms of submitting the application and supporting documents, but also with everything leading up to arrival in the UK, such as student accommodation, visa and funding information as well as preparing for departure to the UK.

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FACTS ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF SURREY 

Established: Surrey received its Royal Charter to become a university in 1966, but started life as a London college in the late 1800s
Location: Guildford, about 30 miles (48 km) south-west of central London
Population of Guildford: Around 143,000
Closest airport: Guildford is 20 miles (32 km) from London Heathrow (LHR) Airport. All other London airports are within easy reach, with London Gatwick (LGW) being the second closest
Student population: Around 15,000
International students: The University of Surrey is proud to host around 5,000 international students
Nationalities on campus: Surrey is one of the most culturally diverse universities in the UK, with more than 140 nationalities on campus
Employability rate: 95% of Surrey undergraduates are in work or further education (Graduate outcomes 2022)
 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE/CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE 

  • Surrey’s placements programme partners with 2,300+ companies, from Amazon to the Zoological Society of London.  
  • School of Hospitality and Tourism Management: ranked 1st in the UK and 2nd in the world for hospitality and tourism management in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022.  
  • Clinical Simulation Centre, home to Immersive Learning Environment that’ll transport you to the centre of clinical scenarios.  
  • World-class $44 million Surrey Sports Park. 
  • The Surrey Space Centre is a world leading Centre of Excellence in Space Engineering. 
  • Library and Learning Centre have seen recent investment of $20 million.  
  • Courtroom.  
  • 5G/6G Innovation Centre brings together academics and industry partners. 
  • Surrey Sleep Research Centre brings multidisciplinary approaches to pre-clinical and clinical sleep research. Its groundbreaking sleep studies are published in high-impact academic journals and international media. 
  • Fully operational pilot process plant. 
  • Wind tunnels. 
  • Ion beam facilities. 
  • Flight simulators. 
  • $5.5 million Ivy Arts Centre, which includes a 200-seat theatre and 50-seat studio space, both with professional sound and lighting. 
  • TV studio, rehearsal rooms, a full costume department, black magic film cameras and dance studios.  
  • Surrey Research Park: 203 companies at Park were responsible for 10% of Guildford economy.  
  • The University’s Centre for Wellbeing offers advice and support for mental, emotional and psychological issues, as well as signposting to clinical services. Its services are free. 
     

FUN FACTS 

  • Surrey Space Centre has a sustained programme of building complete satellites, performing mission planning and working with international launches. 
  • 2,300+ placement partners including Airbus, Amazon, IBM, HP, Morgan Stanley, Oracle, and the Walt Disney Company. 
  • More than 136,000 graduates in 187 countries. 
  • Shortlisted for University of the Year 2023 by The Times / The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. 
  • There are over 180 clubs and societies at Surrey, from mountaineering, mixed martial arts and dance, to politics, sailing and yoga. You can even start your own.  
  • You’ll find delicious food and drink on the lovely, leafy campus, including artisan markets, cafes, restaurants, bars, music venues and a small supermarket. 
  • Surrey Research Park is supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, with 25% of winners in Surrey’s ‘40 Under 40’ awards being based there. 
  • Surrey Research Park has helped to create the UK’s largest regional space cluster, Space South Central. 
     

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS 

  • For three consecutive years (2019-2021), Surrey was awarded ‘Best University Placement Service’ and in 2022 they were awarded Best University Careers/Employability Service by the National Undergraduate Experience.   
  • Complete University Guide 2023: 1st for Information Technology Systems; 1st for Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies; 2nd for Food Science; 2nd for Paramedic Science; 3rd for Nursing; 3rd for Veterinary Medicine. 
  • Global Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings: Surrey named as one of the world’s top universities for its global contribution to society and communities. 
  • Renowned for the wide range of mental health and wellbeing services available on campus. 
  • Surrey has been awarded three Queen's Anniversary Prizes for its research. 
     

NOTABLE ALUMNI  

  • Sir Alec Issigonis CBE, FRS: designer of the Mini 
  • Sir David Varney BSc: Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs 
  • Marion Vernese Williams: Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados 
  • Michael Middleton: businessman, father of Catherine, Princess of Wales 
  • Deborah Turness: President of NBC News  
  • Jim Al-Khalili OBE: Physicist, author and broadcaster 
  • Susan Blackmore: author and broadcaster 
  • Hassan Diab, former Prime Minister of Lebanon 
  • Ameenah Gurib, former President of Mauritius  
  • Nicholas Caplin CB, commander of British Forces, Germany 
  • Dame Linda Dobbs DBE, High Court judge and first non-white person to be appointed to the senior judiciary of England and Wales 
  • Dr Linda Papadopoulos: psychotherapist and broadcaster 
  • Tanya Byron: psychologist, writer, media personality and Chancellor of Edge Hill University 
  • Sir Arthur Hawkins: Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board 
  • Novelists and writers Tariq Goddard, Suzannah Olivier and Alexander Waugh 
  • UK politicians: William Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston, Ann Keen, Liz McInnes, Jim O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of Gatley, Kay Swinburne and George Young, Baron Young of Cookham CH 
  • Dr Beatrice Shilling OBE: Aeronautical engineer and motor racer 
     

NOTABLE ACADEMICS 

  • Current and emeritus academics at the University of Surrey include ten Fellows of the Royal Society, twenty-one Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering, one Fellow of the British Academy and six Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. 
  • Sir Martin Nicholas Sweeting OBE FRS FREng FIET FRAeS, Distinguished Professor who founded and chairs the Surrey Space Centre and is founder and executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, a corporate arm from the University of Surrey. 
  • Jim Al-Khalili OBE: Physicist, author and broadcaster. 
  • Alan Woodward: internationally renowned computer security expert. 
  • Amelia Hadfield: Dean International, Head of Department of Politics, Founder and Former Co-Director of the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE). 
  • Daniele Albertazzi: Professor of Politics and Co-Director of the Centre for Britain and Europe. 
  • Derk-Jan Dijk: Professor of Sleep and Physiology, Director Surrey Sleep Research Centre. 
  • Eleanor Ratcliffe: Lecturer in Environmental Psychology. 
  • Emily Setty: Senior Lecturer in Criminology. 
  • Jane Ogden: Professor of Health Psychology. 
  • Lindsay Broadbent: Lecturer in Virology. 
  • Lorenzo Fioramonti: Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey (UK) and a former member of Parliament and Minister of Education, University and Research in Italy. 
  • Luciano Rispoli: Senior Lecturer in Economics. 
  • Melanie Bailey: Theme Leader for Health and Food Technologies, EPSRC Fellow, and Reader in Analytical Science. 
  • Ravi Silva CBE: Director, Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and Head of NanoElectronics Centre. 
  • Nishanth Sastry: Director of Research, Department of Computer Science. 
     

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY RANKINGS 

  • For three consecutive years (2019-2021), Surrey was awarded ‘Best University Placement Service’ and in 2022 they were awarded Best University Careers/Employability Service by the National Undergraduate Experience.   
  • Complete University Guide 2023: 1st for Information Technology Systems; 1st for Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies; 2nd for Food Science; 2nd for Paramedic Science; 3rd for Nursing; 3rd for Veterinary Medicine. 
  • QS World University Subject Rankings 2022: 1st in UK and 14th in world for Hospitality and Leisure Management.  
  • QS World University Subject Rankings 2022: 5th in UK and 18th in world for Petroleum Engineering.  
  • Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022: 2nd in world for Hospitality and Tourism Management and ranked in the top 100 for: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Management, Nursing, Sociology and Telecommunication Engineering. 
  • 9th in the UK for Student Satisfaction, 2022 National Student Survey. 
  • Complete University Guide 2023: 18th in UK overall. 
  • Ranked 5th in the UK for music by the Guardian University Guide 2023, providing a Tonmeister course unique in the UK. 
  • Best university careers and employability service 2022 
  • University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2022 
  • 9th in NSS 2022 
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Digital meeting with a Student Advisor

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Book an online session with an advisor with Across the Pond to learn more about studying in the UK! 

Study at the University of Surrey (England)

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Universities you can meet: University of Surrey

This session provides an introduction to the well-regarded University of Surrey. Known for its excellent teaching and for being a leader in innovative learning environments, Surrey prepares its graduates for excellent employment opportunities.

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