International students

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our community of students from over 140 countries around the world.  

We understand that many of you will be leaving home for the first time, and moving to an unfamiliar culture can be both exciting and difficult at the same time. Rest assured that we’re here to help you before you leave home, during your journey, when you arrive and beyond graduation. 

Here’s what you need to know now as an international offer holder. 

Applying for a visa 

Learn more about the process of applying for a visa and how to get your Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). 

Pre-departure Briefings 

We’ll be running a series of Pre-departure Briefing webinars to provide you with information about your next steps. We’ll cover confirming your place, applying for accommodation, travelling to the University and what to expect in Welcome Week. Staff from our International Student Advice Team will be on hand to answer any visa-related questions. 

We’ll share the details here as soon as the events are available to book. 

£5,000 International Excellence Award

This prestigious award recognises academic excellence and is awarded to self-funded undergraduate students starting a bachelor's degree at the University of Surrey in September 2026. 

This fee discount for international students’ first year of study is awarded through assessment of previous academic performance, predicted grades and personal statement. 

Discover the £5,000 International Excellence Award  

View all scholarships and bursaries

Preparing for your arrival

If you accept your offer, we will email you in August with details of preparing for your arrival. In the meantime, our international student arrival guide runs through some of the practicalities you might want to start thinking about.

Contact us

Email: international@surrey.ac.uk