Why study at Surrey?

Best research in key areas

Our researchers are changing the world in vital fields such as safe water, sustainable energy, telecommunications, disease control and health. We are proud to have won three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes in recognition of this groundbreaking research.   

Best graduate employment record  

We have an unrivalled track record for graduate employability, dating back over a decade. The latest available figures show that 94.8%* of our recent graduates were in employment or further study. This is the highest figure for any English chartered university (including Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton and Warwick). 

Best placement programme  

Our Professional Training placement programme is admired by other universities all around the world, with over 850 partner organisations working with us to provide students from all parts of the University with vital experience of the professional environment. What makes our Professional Training placements so good? They’re built into your degree programme, not bolted onto it.  

Best sports facilities

Our Surrey Sports Park is a world-class £36m development that will excite any fitness fanatic. It’s so good, it was named an Official Pre- Games Training Centre for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, hosting several nations including some of Team GB. With a satisfaction rate of 93%, we were ranked number one out of the 15 universities in the Domestic Student Barometer, summer 2011.   

Best welcome for new students

We are the most welcoming university in the UK. Who says so? Our students: the 2010 i-graduate survey named us best UK university for ‘Overall Satisfaction With Arrival Experience’, based on marks awarded by students themselves. (1st out of 20 universities in the Domestic Student Barometer, Autumn 2010)

Graduate employment track record

We have an unrivalled track record for graduate employability, dating back over a decade.

The latest available figures show that 94.8% of our recent graduates were in employment or further study. This is the highest figure for any English chartered university (including Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton and Warwick).

Here’s how we compare with other universities that you may be considering and with others in our region. (Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.)

Selected Universities

The University of Surrey 94.8%
The University of Cambridge 93.6%
The University of Bath 92.6%
The University of Exeter 92.5%
The University of Southampton 91.4%
Imperial College 90.9%
Loughborough University 90.2%
The University of Oxford 90.2%
The University of Warwick 90.1%  

Regional Universities

The University of Surrey 94.8%
The University of Reading 93.0%
The University of Sussex 92.2%
The University of Southampton 91.4%
Brunel University 91.0%
Bournemouth University 90.1%
The University of Portsmouth 89.7%
The University of Brighton 88.5%
Southampton Solent University 86.0%  

What our students say about us

National Student Survey 2011

Our students gave us a strong vote of confidence in the 2011 National Student Survey, with an 87 per cent overall-satisfaction score. This is a 5 per cent improvement from the previous year that puts us on course to achieve our ambition of being the best university in the country for student satisfaction.

Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey

The University of Surrey rocketed up from 43rd among UK universities to 15th in the latest Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.

The survey gathered the views of more than 14,000 undergraduate students across the country who rated their institution's performance in 21 categories in various categories from the quality of staff and lectures to social life and accommodation.

WhatUni? Student Choice Awards

We secured top-ten positions for eight different categories in the 2011 WhatUni? Student Choice Awards, including Overall Rating, Accommodation, University Facilities, and Courses and Lectures. As you would expect, we won top spot for Job Prospects.  

Surrey in the league tables

In the last few years we have been steadily moving up the league tables. Our current overall positions are:

• 12th in the Guardian University Guide 2013
• 21st in the Sunday Times University Guide 2012
• 22nd in the Complete University Guide 2013

In particular subject areas we are rated very highly, holding the number one spots in some cases. For a full list of our top rated subjects visit our page on Surrey in the league tables.

120 years: A history of shaping the future

We recently celebrated the 120th anniversary of our foundation. The institution has evolved significantly in that time, but some things have remained constant. We strongly believe that we should turn the new knowledge we generate into practical innovations that improve people’s lives, and we strongly believe that our students and academics should make a real impact on the world, for their own benefit as well as the great advances they can help bring about. These are the attitudes that most clearly define us, and have done so for over 120 years. Find out more about the history of the University.

International experiences

Why should you seek an international experience?

Evidence shows that students with international experience are more flexible and adaptable. They understand other cultures from a period of sustained exposure to new ways of thinking, and have enhanced their language skills. Whilst it is estimated that some 19,000 students study abroad each year as part of a UK degree, these numbers are small compared with our European competitors. You could be part of this distinctive group of graduates.

For more information, contact the International Relations Office.

University Global Partnership Network

As part of our international strategy, new and deep partnerships have been formed with a few select universities that form the University Global Partnership Network – including Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil) and North Carolina State University (USA).   

These research-led institutions provide you with wonderful opportunities for student exchange, placement links and summer internships (in specific disciplines).

SII-DUFE

Surrey International Institute-DUFE (SII-DUFE) is a joint academic partnership institution between the University of Surrey and Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) in Dalian, China. SII-DUFE is the third-largest British higher education programme in China.

Promising a new type of transnational approach, students from both the UK and China have the opportunity to experience student life in different cultures, which broadens their horizons and offers a new edge to graduates in exploring their future careers.

Study exchange

We have partner institutions in many parts of the world where you can take part in a student exchange, spending a semester or a year (depending on your particular degree programme), with the credits counting towards your degree.

You can study abroad in Europe within the Erasmus programme and receive grant support whilst you are away. Other opportunities for study abroad include the United States, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Thailand and China (Hong Kong).

In addition, we provide further opportunities to work abroad as part of your Professional Training placement.

Summer Schools

Our exchange agreements could allow you to participate in Summer Schools at a reduced cost. These are extracurricular and do not carry credit, but they are recorded as part of your Higher Education Achievement Record.

Forever part of our alumni network

Choosing to enrol at the University of Surrey is just the start of your lifelong relationship with us. From the moment you complete your programme, you will automatically become part of Forever Surrey – our network of almost 85,000 alumni all around the world.

The Forever Surrey network provides free access to a host of services carefully selected to help you get a head start in the job market. From networking evenings to careers support, the Forever Surrey service is dedicated to offering our graduates all the help they need in their professional lives.

Through the Forever Surrey network and website you will be able to:

• Take advantage of the advice and experience of our alumni.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest happenings here at Surrey through the website, Forever Surrey magazine and quarterly email news bulletins, tailored to your area of study
• Access exclusive content and services, such as the ability to find an old classmate or register for access at our Library & Learning Centre.
• Interact with alumni through social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn
• Attend events, from honorary graduations and guest lectures to reunions and dinners
• Take part in our regular overseas alumni reunions and networking sessions

For further information visit the Forever Surrey website.