Careers and alumni
We want our students to be our best ambassadors, which means giving you the best possible student experience and supporting you as you go on to future successes. That’s why we have created a careers service and an alumni network to make you proud of Surrey.
Outstanding employability
Students from the University of Surrey have an outstanding reputation for employability. A recent survey of our UK-domiciled postgraduates revealed that only a few were still looking for employment six months after completing their studies, with the majority following careers that were relevant to their studies.
The active and creative role of our Careers Service plays a large part in this success, notably through its strong links with the public, private and charitable sectors.
Thanks to these links, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet employers face-to-face, whether through our networking evenings, employer led skills workshops and CV-checking service, or our Autumn and Summer Careers Fairs. Recent initiatives include our ‘Inspiring Futures’ events, where highly successful professionals come to talk to our students about their own career journeys and lessons learnt along the way.
Careers Service
Specialist advice
As a postgraduate student, you will have access to all the resources offered by the Careers Service to help you plan your future career, whether you have a specific career goal in mind or are unclear where your future lies.
We have a specialist careers adviser for postgraduate research students who – as well as offering individual appointments – delivers a comprehensive programme of workshops designed to foster the career management skills of PhD students. Topics include CV writing for academic/non-academic employers, interview skills and networking.
All our events are open to international students, but we also run special events and workshops on job-application techniques, to give students from abroad an understanding of the UK job market. We have an excellent relationship with Duncan Lewis, a firm of immigration lawyers who give presentations to our international students on visa-related issues.
Individual advice
One-to-one careers advice and guidance is available to you every step of the way, both while you are here and after you have left. There are careers advisers linked to specific departments who deliver talks on career options related to your programme. We are on Facebook and Twitter, but we still believe in the face-to-face personal touch for those students who need it.
The vacancy database on our website demonstrates just how popular our students are with employers, and we also provide career destinations for all our programmes.
Forever part of our alumni network
When you join the University of Surrey, you become part of a worldwide network designed to help your career flourish. Forever Surrey, the University’s 85,000-strong alumni group, offers a host of benefits to give you a professional boost, both during and after your studies.
Contacts and networking
We understand the value of good contacts, and our series of networking sessions will help you to build relationships across the globe. Our regular events allow you to meet and exchange ideas with influential alumni from a range of industries.
Opportunities such as the Forever Surrey Live series of online talks provide exclusive insights into a wide
range of topics, and our continuing professional development programme helps our alumni sharpen existing skills and develop new ones.
Immediate access
Rather than having to wait until you complete your studies to reap the rewards of the Forever Surrey group, you can start making the most of the network from the day you arrive. Whether you want to join a specific Surrey LinkedIn group or sign up for a networking session, you will be able to gain a professional advantage from your very first day on campus. This includes access to our online networking services, which connect Surrey graduates working in a wealth of professions in every corner of the world.
Membership and opportunities
Our recently expanded Library and Learning Centre will be a crucial resource for you during your studies, but as an alumnus you acquire lifelong library membership for constant access to the latest books, journals and other publications throughout your professional life.
As well as this membership and our full range of professional services, Forever Surrey provides plenty of opportunities to let your hair down. From major events like the Surrey International Alumni Day to more intimate drinks receptions, our gatherings help to keep you in touch with your fellow graduates in a relaxed setting.
Keep up to date on the latest news from Forever Surrey.