Spotlight on the Chinese Society

How did the society come about and who runs it?
The Chinese Society became a registered society of the Students’ Union in early 2018. Our society focuses on enriching the daily life of Chinese students while establishing connections to other student groups and universities. We also aim to make a positive impact within the local community.
Three signatory members run our society with help from a committee that consists of five different departments: 

• The Department of Activity
• The Department of Media
• The Department of Liaison
• The Department of Support
• The Volunteer Team.

We make plans for our events and activities, marketing strategies and external sponsorships for the upcoming academic year. Each department head will action these plans. We welcome ideas and feedback from society members and offer support to help turn ideas into a reality. 

How can students get involved in the society?
You can join for free on the Students’ Union website. Every year we recruit 30 committee members to help organise the events.  

What sort of events happen?
To enrich your university experience, we organise a variety of events including sports, performances, literature and arts, such as:

• Surrey Idol
• Chinese New Year Gala and Celebration
• Subject interviews with professors and students
• Welcome talks and social activities
• Chinese Teaching Experience with University Widening Participation.

How does the society interact with and support the students?
We advertise upcoming events on our society’s social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, Weibo and Bilibili. We actively approach and encourage members to participate in the society’s events and social activities.
You can also contact us by email: cssasurrey@outlook.com.

In your own words, why is the society important to the university and students? 
The society provides a wide range of new experiences to establish social connections with other university students and local groups. As a committee member I can gain knowledge and skills which makes me more attractive to employers. For example: 

• Organisation and planning 
• Creating a plan and implementing it
• Committing to deadlines
• Working in a team
• Managing budgets
• Anticipating needs and managing expectations.

These transferable skills are useful for our future careers and our development as professionals.

What do you find the most rewarding aspect of the society?

We are proud to have received awards from the Students’ Union (Society of the Year, The Community Cup and Gold Star Award) for the wide variety of activities that we organised last year.

Why do you think a prospective student should come to the University of Surrey?

Surrey is highly-ranked in the university league tables. It has a strong reputation for research and offers a wide range of courses. The University’s overall ranking also indicates good future employment prospects for graduates.



We have the opportunity to study abroad or work in industry as part of the Professional Training placement scheme, which can widen our insights. The course structure and teaching materials are reviewed every year, so the latest industrial developments and research topics are covered in the syllabus. 



Surrey has a large international student population which enables us to work in multi-cultural teams through projects and activities. 

What are your tips for getting the most out of being at University of Surrey?

Embrace every moment of it as it is one of the most memorable parts of your life. You will learn about yourself and broaden your horizons. 



Work hard and play hard (but stay on track and organise your time wisely). 



Step out of your comfort zone to experience more and figure out what you really want to achieve during your time at university and in the future.

Discover more of our student clubs and societies, including the Chinese Society.