UCAS scheme

Your application for entry to full-time first degree programmes must be made online through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

This applies to all UK universities (except the Open University) and certain colleges of Higher Education.

All our programmes are kept updated on the UCAS website with their UCAS course code.

You will need to include this information in your application:

• Our UCAS number is S85
• Our code name is SURR
• We do not use campus codes

Full instructions on how to fill out your application are available on the UCAS website.

When to apply

Earliest date to apply

UCAS can start to receive applications for entry in Autumn 2013 from 1 September 2012.

UK and EU students

The normal closing date for receipt of applications is 15 January 2013 for students applying from UK or EU addresses.

Students applying from outside the EU

Visit our page for international students for information specific to those applying from outside the EU.

Occasional students

If you are from an overseas university and you wish to undertake part of your degree programme at the University of Surrey, or if you wish to follow specific modules or parts of a programme, you may apply as an ‘occasional’ student directly to the University and not through UCAS, on a form obtainable from the Admissions Department.

Confirmation and clearing

During the confirmation and clearing period, we operate a freephone helpline. Up-to-date information will be posted on our website during clearing.

T: 0800 052 2248
T: +44 (0)1483 689 926

General entry requirements and qualifications

For individual programme requirements, please see programme entries.

Special requirements for Nursing Studies, Midwifery, Paramedic Practice and Operating Department Practice programmes are listed within the subject entry.

Applicants are required to have a minimum of three A-levels. We accept a wide range of qualifications as an alternative to A-levels for entry to the University, including:

• QCF Level 3 qualifications such as BTEC Extended Diplomas or Diplomas
• Scottish qualifications
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• European Baccalaureate
• Irish Leaving Certificate
• Access Diplomas and Foundation courses
• Cambridge Pre-U

Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.

All programmes require GCSE in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above, or an equivalent qualification. For some programmes, requirements are above this University minimum, so you should also refer to the specific programme pages.

It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.

English language requirements

Overall English language requirements

To benefit fully from an undergraduate programme, all students will need a good standard of English. The standard required for most programmes is shown below, although there are exceptions which are detailed in the specific subject information.

• GCSE/GCE Ordinary Level in English Language (grade C) or equivalent
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (grade B)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grade C)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Overall band score: 6.5 with no lower than 6.0 in any component
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Overall score 92, see table below for individual scores

The University of Surrey has an IELTS Test Centre on campus.

Minimum requirements for degree programmes

IELTS
Overall 6.5
Listening 6.0
Speaking 6.0
Reading 6.0
Writing 6.0

TOEFL IBT
Overall 92
Listening 22
Speaking 23
Reading 22
Writing 22

If you have achieved an overall IELTS score 0.5 below the required level for your programme and each skill is no lower than 0.5 below the individual component score required for your degree programme, you will meet our English requirements upon successful completion of the University of Surrey’s pre-sessional programme (PS10) without the need to take another IELTS test.  

Minimum requirements for Pre-sessional English Programme

If a student has the following minimum scores, they may join the PS10 programme and if they successfully complete, they need not retake IELTS or TOEFL. However, their degree offer may require scores that are higher than the minimum in which case higher entry scores for pre-sessional would apply.

IELTS
Overall 6.0
Listening 5.5
Speaking 5.5
Reading 5.5

TOEFL IBT
Overall 88
Listening 20
Speaking 21
Reading 20
Writing 20

School leaving or matriculation certificate English qualifications

Some overseas school leaving or matriculation certificates contain a compulsory examination in English and these may be taken as equivalent to GCSE grade C. Some English language examinations may also be accepted as part of an International Foundation Year. Please enquire for further details.

Admissions policy and selection

The University of Surrey offers a high-quality learning environment which supports you in achieving your full potential in your academic discipline and prepares you for your career and lifelong learning.

It is University policy that all applicants are considered primarily on merit and their academic potential. We welcome applications from people who, in addition to any formal qualifications, can demonstrate:

• Intellectual ability (sufficient to profit from the rigorous demands of a degree programme)
• Suitability for their chosen programme of study
• Motivation to study
• Interest in their chosen subject

To be considered for an offer, you will usually be expected to have achieved, or be predicted to achieve, our minimum entry requirements or above. However, we are unable to guarantee that meeting the grades stated in our minimum entry requirements will be enough to enable us to make you an offer. All aspects of your application will be taken into account when deciding whether to make an offer.

Admission to the University is subject to your acceptance and observance of the University’s rules and regulations. You should be aware of our full Admissions Policy, including information on the Contract of Admission and complaints procedure.

Participation in Higher Education

The University is fully committed to widening participation for those students who have the potential to succeed in Higher Education but are from currently under-represented groups. Students from families with little or no prior experience of Higher Education are particularly welcome, and we offer a generous bursary scheme to applicants with a low residual family income. We also appreciate that care leavers experience a different set of challenges in taking up a place in Higher Education. The University has teams in place to provide care leavers with the necessary support before you begin your time with us.  

Please call the University to speak to an advisor.

T: 0800 980 3200/ +44 (0)1483 681 681

Mature students

Applying as a mature student

We believe that mature students make an important contribution to university life through their range of experience and non-traditional qualifications.

We are very aware that mature students are usually highly motivated and often very successful on the programmes that they undertake. The University therefore welcomes applications from mature candidates.

Mature applicants may satisfy the entry requirements through standard academic qualifications. However, the University is also willing to give careful consideration to those who can provide evidence of their commitment to academic study through a range of other awards and experience.

These include but are not limited to: credits with the Open University, Special Certificate courses, NVQ awards or other courses specially designed to assist mature students to restart academic study. The University also has links with a number of Access programmes.

Applications from mature candidates are considered on an individual basis. Please contact the Admissions Department in the first instance.

Credit accumulation and transfer or recognition of prior learning

Sometimes the skills, knowledge and abilities obtained through life, work and study can be equivalent to those obtained by students following traditional programmes of study. The University sees credit accumulation and transfer, coupled with the rigorous assessment of prior learning, as an important means of entry for many students. Please contact the Admissions Department if you have any questions.

Disabled and dyslexic students

The University welcomes applications from students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties. The University’s policy of equal opportunity means that all applicants will be considered primarily on merit and their academic potential. However, occasionally, other criteria may need to be considered, such as the requirements of professional bodies. For example, applicants to Nursing Studies programmes must undergo an occupational health check. It is also essential in some cases for the University to know the nature of an impairment in advance, so that we may advise an applicant on what facilities and arrangements may be available.

If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) or mental health difficulty, you are encouraged to disclose this on the application form. Following this disclosure, you will be invited to complete an online self-referral form. This will allow Additional Learning Support (ALS) to forward appropriate information. The self-referral form is not part of the selection criteria.

You may be offered an informal interview with ALS to discuss your support needs. These interviews are separate from academic interviews, though usually include the disability advisor and admissions tutor, so that support within the department can also be explored. All disclosures of a disability will be handled sensitively by admissions staff. If you have concerns about disclosure, the disability advisors in ALS will be pleased to discuss your needs in confidence.

If you require personal support, such as care workers or adaptations to accommodation, you are asked to write to ALS before submitting a formal application, so that particular consideration may be given to the individual needs existing in your case. You should indicate the programme or programmes in which you are interested and the nature of your impairment; this information will be used in confidence and positively to assess the University’s ability to arrange effective support or make adaptations.

Applicants will be given the opportunity to make a realistic assessment of the University’s ability to meet their needs. Where necessary, a visit to the campus is normally arranged as part of the admissions procedure and in every case where mobility is a difficulty, because of the nature of the site. The University will be honest about those exceptional situations where the level of support necessary in individual cases cannot be met or competence standards cannot be achieved even with reasonable adjustments, or where there are serious health and safety issues.

For further information, including our policy on the admission of students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties visit the Additional Learning Support web pages.:

Maintaining high academic standards

The University is responsible for the standard of awards made in its name and for the arrangements to assure the quality of programmes of study or research leading to those awards.

The most recent audit by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), conducted in March 2009, expresses confidence in the soundness of the University’s current and future management of the quality of its programmes and in the University’s present and future capacity to manage effectively the academic standard of its awards.

Copies of the audit reports, together with copies of subject review reports and reports arising from major reviews of NHS-funded programmes (Nursing Studies, Midwifery Studies, Operating Department Practice and Nutrition/Dietetics), can be accessed free of charge via the Quality Assurance Agency’s website.

Further information about the University, about students’ entry qualifications, progression, awards obtained and first employment destinations, together with information on students’ views about their educational experience at the University of Surrey (obtained from the National Student Survey), can be found on the Unistats website.