International Students

Support for international students

Year-round support

Experienced staff in our International Student Office are available to help from the moment you consider studying at the University, until after graduation, and at all stages during your studies. We offer professional advice on immigration and visa issues, equivalence of different entry qualifications, pre-departure information, employment regulations and international student welfare.

A Surrey welcome

Arriving in a different country for the first time can be daunting and sometimes stressful. To help ease you through the arrival process, the staff and current students from the University of Surrey Welcome Team will meet you at either Heathrow or Gatwick airports on selected days, and either take you directly to campus from Heathrow or help you onto the Guildford train at Gatwick. Simply register for this service online before you travel – full information can be found on our international students pages.

We recognise the importance of helping international students to settle in as quickly as possible. All new international (non-EU) students are invited to arrive a few days early in order to attend the International Orientation Programme.

This is designed to prepare you for the start of your studies at Surrey, including information about visas, working in the UK, registration and various social events. This programme will help you to feel at home and enjoy the main University induction programme that follows.

Visits to your country

The International Student Office attends overseas recruitment events and fairs in many countries around the world. View all up-coming events and visits in your country.

Our agent network

The University has a carefully appointed network of agents as our representatives overseas. Our agents are based in 30 different countries and have offices in over 200 locations, working on our behalf to counsel and support our international applicants. If you are interested in applying through one of our agents, details can be found on our international students pages.

Entry and application

All applications for both postgraduate Masters and Research programmes should be made using the online application form via the specific programme pages. While there is normally no formal application deadline, we strongly advise early application as some programmes become full quickly. Plenty of time should also be allowed for visa application and processing in order to ensure timely arrival for your studies. Students commencing a postgraduate taught programme must register within two weeks of the start of their programme* – you will not be permitted to join your programme after this time. If you have any questions relating to the application process please contact us or visit the How to apply section.

* Students commencing MSc Advanced Materials must register within one week of the start of their programme.

Visas and working in the UK

Visa application

If you require a student visa, you need to apply through Tier 4 of the Points-based Immigration System.

Working in the UK

There are UK visa restrictions governing employment taken by international students during their course of studies, but, subject to the appropriate leave to remain, students on a full degree programme of more than six months may work part-time up to 20 hours per week during term-time.

If you wish to work in the UK after your studies, you may qualify under Tier 2 (General). You will need an offer of a graduate-level job, with a minimum annual salary, and to make an application whilst still in the UK on a valid student visa. There may also be other options under Tier 1, depending on your situation. Full details of these work routes are available on the UK Border Agency website.

ATAS

There is an extra permission that you may need to get when you are a postgraduate student researching or studying some science and engineering subjects, if you are a national of a country that is not part of the EU/EEA. It is called the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).

You must get your ATAS certification before we can issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which you will need to apply for your Tier 4 general student visa. Most PhD subjects in science and engineering need ATAS certification. At the time of publication, 14 Masters-level programmes at the University of Surrey require ATAS. Here is the list of programmes affected, with their Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) codes:

• MSc Advanced Materials (F200)
• MRes Chemistry (F100)
• MSc Information and Process Systems Engineering (H830)
• MSc Medical Imaging (B800 and F350)
• MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) (C521)
• MSc Medical Physics (F350)
• MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering (H850)
• MSc Physics (EuroMasters) and all pathways (F100 and F300)
• MSc Process and Environmental Systems Engineering (H830)
• MSc Process Systems Engineering (H830)
• MSc Radiation and Environmental Protection (F351)
• MSc Radiation Detection and Instrumentation (F351)
• MSc Renewable Energy Systems Engineering (H800)
• MSc Space Technology and Planetary Exploration (H643 and H420)

You can check if your subject needs ATAS certification once you know the JACS code for your programme. JACS is a national system of identifying subject areas. If you are coming to be a student at Surrey, your offer letter will include the JACS code(s).

Go to the list of subjects that require ATAS certification at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.

If the first letter and number of your JACS code is on the list, then you must apply for ATAS certification. You can apply online and it is free. The FCO aims to process the majority of applications in 20 working days, but some applications can take longer. The FCO will email its decision to you in the form of a certificate which you should print off and attach to your visa application.

Shortly after receiving your formal offer of admission, you will receive an email advising you to apply for ATAS. For students pursuing a postgraduate research programme, the email will contain a brief research statement, and for students pursuing a Masters programme, the email will contain a list of available modules. You will need to ensure that the text you enter on your ATAS application form is exactly the same as the text provided in the email. If these two documents do not match, you may have difficulties when applying for your visa or extension of stay.

Apply promptly for your ATAS certification – you cannot receive your CAS and make your visa application without it.

Families

Postgraduate students on a full-time programme of one year or more are able to bring immediate family members with them to the UK, as dependants.

The University has a limited amount of family housing available to international students with dependants. Alternatively you may prefer to choose off-campus housing, in which case it is advisable to travel alone initially, in order to find suitable accommodation before inviting your family to join you.

The International Student Office can offer visa advice and support for students with families.

International events

International events on campus

Throughout the year, the International Student Office publicises activities of interest to our international community. We arrange several social events to enable students to adjust to life in the UK and to meet others from all over the world. Every year we host the End of Year Lunch during the Christmas vacation for all students staying on campus. Everyone is welcome to come and join us; you can bring family members along too if they are living with you.

iFestival

iFestival (International Festival) is an annual two week Students’ Union event that is organised by our students to promote international culture and diversity. The festival is a celebration of the different cultures found right here on campus, ranging from performances to food festivals, film screenings and much more. iFestival is an amazing chance for all students to explore the diversity of one of the most multicultural universities in the country – and there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved.

English language requirements and support

To benefit fully from a postgraduate programme, you will need a good standard of English and will have to provide evidence of your ability. The minimum standard required is shown below, which applies to the majority of programmes. Where a higher level is required, this will be detailed within the individual programme pages.

English language requirements

The following qualifications are accepted by the University as evidence that you meet our minimum level of competence in English:

• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (grade B)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grade C)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (band 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components); the test must have been taken no earlier than two years before the start of your programme
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with 92 overall in the internet-based test, with 22 or higher  in each component (23 or higher in the speaking test); the test must have been taken no earlier than two years before the start of your programme

The University of Surrey has an IELTS test centre on campus. If you have IELTS at 0.5 below the required level for your programme and at no lower than 0.5 below the level in any single component, you will meet our English requirements upon subsequent successful completion of the University of Surrey’s ten-week pre-sessional English programme, PS10, without the need to take another IELTS test.

You do not need to show an English qualification if you are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country, as defined by the UK Border Agency (UKBA):

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

You do not need to show evidence of English if you come from elsewhere but have studied and been examined in the English medium for the final two years of a degree from any of the countries listed below (and certain other countries). For further details, please contact the Registry Student Centre or the International Office.

• Australia
• Barbados
• Barbuda
• Belize
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• The Bahamas
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

Help with your English

The School of English and Languages offers a selection of courses for students, these include:

Pre-sessional English courses - for students who need to improve their IELTS in preparation for entry to our postgraduate programmes

English for University Study (EUS) - for students who meet their degree programme requirements but wish to improve their English and study skills before the start of the programme (a fee is charged for these courses)

English Language Support Programme (ELSP) - to help you with your English during your time at Surrey.

More information can be found on the English Language Programmes website.