About your personal and professional development

We’ll make sure your studies are enjoyably challenging, but we know that’s only half the story. We recognise that you don’t go to university just to study, and we know that you want to leave here with more than just another good grade to add to your CV. That’s why we push you to take all the opportunities we offer, both academic and non-academic.

Want to show your maturity and learn how to negotiate? We’ll train you to act as a mentor to your fellow students, or to speak for them as an academic representative.

Want to prove you can handle responsibility and manage a budget? Stand for election at the Students’ Union, or take on the running of a society. Need experience of leadership and public speaking? Get involved with the Union’s own training programme by learning new skills and then becoming a trainer to pass them on.

Initiative is important, so why not put on a play in our brand-new Arts Centre? Want to develop your confidence? Become a presenter on the students’ own TV station or get on the airwaves with GU2 Student Radio.

As a Surrey student there’s no real limit to what you can do when you put your mind to it. But it’s up to you to make it all happen.  

Professional Training placements

We are extremely proud of our Professional Training placement programme.

Not just because we’ve been doing it for a very long time. Not just because it’s world-famous. Not just because it’s still one of the best programmes of its kind in the world.

It’s also because of the transformational effect it has on the people who take part in it – people like you.

Our prestigious placement partners tell us that Surrey students stand out among their peers. These organisations recognise Surrey students as the ones who are well prepared, professionally aware, passionate about their own development and eager to show what they can do.
Unlike other universities, we don’t just leave you to fend for yourself for a year when you’re on placement.

Whether your placement is in England, Australia or Spain, you will be visited several times by a current member of the teaching staff from your department.

Almost every Surrey undergraduate can choose to do a Professional Training placement, regardless of degree subject. That’s unique.

No other university anywhere in the world has a placement programme like this. As a result, no other university has professional, experienced, seriously impressive graduates like ours.

That’s the difference Surrey can give you. That’s what really makes us proud.

Entrepreneurship

At Surrey, we have an enterprising attitude to knowledge. It’s an attitude we encourage all our students to share, because we know it will help you to stand out from the crowd.

We have two different student enterprise societies (Surrey Entrepreneurs and Students In Free Enterprise) with 2,000 members between them. We run an annual Enterprise Academy, where teams run mini-businesses for a day (and keep the money they make). We also run a Social Enterprise Academy, where teams come up with ideas for social enterprises that can help charities and other community organisations.

In addition, we have a student enterprise centre, which is the base for our unique student-run business called The Surrey Enterprise Company Ltd.

Why do we do all this? Because we know that being an entrepreneur is truly learning by doing. And because we know that enterprising graduates are always in high demand.

“The students at Surrey are enthusiastic, energetic and keen to push themselves. Academic ability is crucial but it is also these qualities we look for when hiring onto our graduate programmes.” 
Jodie Rudd, J.P. Morgan

Volunteering

Students' Union volunteering schemes

Our students are passionate about volunteering, whether it’s getting together with the community to spruce up a local playground or taking on more ambitious fundraising projects for charity.

Whatever your talents, and whatever time you can give, the Students’ Union will help you get involved with local, national and international volunteering opportunities. There are dedicated Union officers, and also two student-run societies: RAG and Do>More.

It’s hard work, but you’ll be practising the organisation, resourcefulness and people skills that you’ll need in later life. Most importantly, it’s fun, rewarding and helps you meet loads of different people.

Sports volunteering

If you have a passion for sport and would like to put it to good use, the Sports Volunteering programme gives you the opportunity to help out at local sports events or to assist a local school with their sports activities. Like all our volunteering programmes, it’s an enjoyable way to meet new people, practise vital skills and show you have that extra get-up and- go that sets you apart.  

Student Media

Surrey students always have plenty to say for themselves. There are lots of ways to make your voice heard right here on campus, whether you want to gain specific skills and experience for a career in the media, learn about organising teams and how projects work, or just get together with fellow students in a creative atmosphere.  

The Stag

The Stag is the University’s own newspaper, written by students for students. Published every two weeks, it’s packed with campus news, national headlines, sports and societies roundups, features, reviews and much more. The team always welcomes new writers, designers, editors, photographers and other creative people, and you don’t need any previous experience.

MADTV

MADTV is the University of Surrey’s own student-run news and entertainment television channel. Anyone with an enthusiasm for broadcast is welcome to get involved, either on camera or behind the scenes. You could become a researcher, writer, presenter, director, camera operator, editor… or try a little bit of everything.

GU2

GU2 is the University’s student radio station. It broadcasts the best news, music and chat online and on the airwaves at 1350AM. Whether you want to become a DJ, a producer or to help run the station, there are always opportunities to get involved with marketing, production, presenting, technical support and music selection.

Learning a foreign language

At Surrey you can learn a foreign language completely free of charge in our brand-new language-learning facilities. The range includes many European languages as well as Japanese, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese.  

You have the option to start a language from scratch or to improve one you already know. This can be particularly important if you wish to do your professional placement abroad or to work overseas after you graduate.

All language courses award credits for undergraduate students. While these credits do not count towards your degree, they are recorded on your transcript as the ‘Global Graduate Award in Languages’.

Students' Union training

The Students’ Union runs its own training sessions in professional, social and employability skills. These enjoyable group sessions help you to develop the personal, interpersonal and professional talents that you’ll need to get ahead in your career, and they’ll also help you to get more out of your time at Surrey.

Many of the programmes are devised and led by experienced students themselves. Become a trainer, and you’ll be able to pass on what you have learned. You’ll also get training and impressive experience in giving presentations, leading workshops and organising a programme of events.