Kayal

Why did you choose to study your course at Surrey?

I chose to study my course at Surrey because it closely aligned with the kind of impact I want to make in healthcare and AI. The combination of research-led teaching, a strong focus on real-world application, and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines felt like the right foundation for my work as both a scientist, educator and as a founder. 

What stood out to me was how supportive and forward‑thinking the environment is, how every professor I met actively encourages me to turn ideas into practice and to think about my future career from day one. When I spoke to staff and visited campus, it felt like a place where my background, my ambitions, and my curiosity would all be welcomed, and where I’d have the confidence and support to grow.

What are the best things about Surrey and your course?

One of the best things about Surrey is how practical and career‑focused it is. The University puts a lot of emphasis on real‑world application, collaborations, and helping you think about your future from the start, which really supported my development as a entrepreneur as my background and expertise is in biomedical sciences. 

On my course, the teaching feels genuinely collaborative. Lecturers are approachable, they bring current research and real practice into the classroom, and they encourage you to connect what you’re learning to your own professional context. The flexibility of the course for someone who is from completely different background has also been a huge positive for me, as it has allowed me to balance study with my work and startup commitments.

What are the best things about life here as a postgraduate student?         

As a postgraduate student, the best things about Surrey for me are the combination of research led teaching, personalised support, and a genuinely welcoming community. The staff treat you like a developing professional, not just a student, and there are so many opportunities to build skills and experience around your studies. Having a beautiful, well‑equipped campus in Guildford with quick access to London makes it a great place to balance study, work, and life as the proximity to London opens up a lot more opportunities for founder communities and startups.

What are your career plans?

My career plans centre on building a meaningful career at the intersection of healthcare, education and AI. In the short term, I’m focused on growing my tutoring business, health‑tech startup, developing evidence‑based tools to support people’s stress and mental health, and applying what I’m learning at Surrey directly into real‑world projects. Over the next few years, I hope to combine this with roles in healthcare, education and innovation, so that I can help shape the future of young adults. Ultimately, I want my work to make it easier for people to access timely support, and to show that it is possible to come from a non‑traditional background and still create positive change in healthcare.     

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

My advice for students thinking of doing this course is to be really clear on why you’re choosing it, and then be prepared to throw yourself into the experience. Postgraduate study can be intense, especially if you’re balancing other commitments, so knowing your ‘why’ matters, the right motivation matters. Make use of the support available and don’t be afraid to ask questions, you’re not expected to have everything figured out on your own. And finally, engage beyond the lectures, talk to your lecturers, connect with your course mates, and get involved in opportunities that link to your interests. That’s where a lot of the growth and confidence comes from. I personally believe that is in fact the best part.