University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is an esteemed public research university located in Guildford, England. The University was founded on 9th September 1996 after receiving the royal charter. However, prior to 1996, the University received the title of ‘College of Advanced Technology. In 2016, the University was named the University of the Year in the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016.

The University has two campuses, Stag Hill Campus and Manor Park Campus with excellent accommodations and facilities. The University of Surrey is home to three faculties like the faculty of arts and social sciences, the faculty of engineering and physical sciences, and the faculty of health and medical sciences. Significant development of the University is the Surrey Research Park that accommodates more than 100 companies and 2500 staff engaging in research and development activities. Research courses include chemistry, creative writing, clinical psychology, computer science, economics, literature, law, politics, and physics. Besides research courses, the University also offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in diverse fields making sure students get the best out of the University. They do that by providing scholarships, and bursaries to aid students financially, as they continue their courses, up to the point of making them career ready. They also offer career opportunities to graduates in areas like research, teaching, operational and professional services.

• The city of Guildford offers a range of cultural sights and modern attractions that attract the students at the University. It has a vibrant atmosphere and scenic surroundings that are not only pleasing to the eye but also give a pleasant study experience for students. Besides being academically pleasant, students can explore and discover the city, the lively nightlife, entertainment venues, shops, restaurants, and more.
• The University of Surrey has academic staff who have been recognized for their passion for excellent teaching and giving quality academic support. Hence, it was awarded a Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework. This is the kind of quality education every student looks for in a University.
• The University offers activities through the Students’ Union that includes clubs and societies where students can take part in and enrich their student life. Students join hands with students from various communities and countries. The University is also proud to be ranked 7th in the Times Higher Education 2018 Student Experience Survey.
• The University of Surrey has a record for graduate employability of up to 93% in 2017, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The students were accepted into the workforce six months after they graduated which depicts the career success that follows the students from this University.
• Accommodation on campus is very affordable, comfortable, secure, and allows for a sociable life. Moreover, students can get the entire student experience by choosing to live within the campus.

Career Services:

The University of Surrey does not leave its graduates clueless after their academic life; rather it trains them for their future careers by providing career information, advice, and guidance. The University offers placements, entrepreneurial training, and extra-curricular courses to complement the students’ courses. Professional training placement follows almost every course and this provides students with the opportunity to spend a year working with one of their 2300+ partner organizations in the UK and overseas. Many of the placements are paid and support students in any course they pursue. Entrepreneurial training includes business support to students who wish to explore new ideas. The University mentors and trains them, honing their business skills so they can enter the workforce with experience or develop their own enterprise. Extra-curricular activities enhance employability prospects. The University makes sure students do not miss career opportunities and offers courses mainly in the sustainability of the world including biodiversity, climate change, energy production and corporate environmental management, and foreign languages. Besides these programs, the University also provides career support through career fairs and workshops.

Success Rate:

According to The Guardian’s News Datablog, Employment statistics of students who graduated from the University of Surrey is at 96.9%Notable Alumni:

Some notable alumni of the University include:

• Chris Benstead: British film composer, arranger, and Academy-Award-winning re-recording mixer for Gravity.
• Alison Palin: General Manager of the Waldorf Hilton in London.
• Mohan Maheswaran: Design Engineer with STC, Hewlett Packard, and Texas Instruments; President and CEO of Semtech Corporation.
• Ann Keen: British Labour Party Politician.
• Kay Swinburne: Welsh Politician and she was also a Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Wales between 2009-2019.

Student Services:

MySurrey Hive is an in-campus space that provides students with a location to study, socialise and access support on a range of academic, wellbeing and student life topics. Open 7 days a week, the Hive is a space for all of our students to connect, both with each other and with staff across the University. In addition, there is the MySurrey Nest that provides students with an informal meeting, study, and relaxation spaces, right in the heart of campus. Within the Hive is the Employability and Careers team that works towards helping students with their careers by providing advice on applications, assessments and interview techniques. The Hive is a large library of employers’ information. Many students take a Professional Training placement as part of their degree course, which gives them valuable and relevant industry experience and makes them attractive to potential employers.

Library:

The University has a dedicated Library that houses the Academic Skills and Development team, and the Disability and Neurodiversity support team. The University Library also facilitate other services such as laptops that students can borrow, over 1,200 study spaces, wireless internet throughout, printing and photocopying services, audio-visual collections adjacent to viewing and listening facilities, specialist language-learning facilities, including computers for language study, an informal learning zone for meeting up and quick access to email, a vast collection of books and journals and access to the electronic collection across campus. The University also provides all undergraduates and postgraduate taught students with free digital copies of essential textbooks. This is part of their commitment to making the University more accessible, enabling students to learn in a more digital environment. The Library is linked to a lively student concourse that includes a shop, bookshop, and a learning café. It is open seven days a week.

Arts and Culture:

Ivy Arts Centre contains a theatre, studios, workshops, dressing rooms, a large wardrobe and a costume-making room and box office. There is also the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), one of the world’s most prestigious centres for acting, musical theatre, theatre production and technical theatre.

Accommodation:

Right across the road is the train-shaped Millennium House, one of the student accommodations available on campus. All accommodation is self-catered, with a wide range of other choices including Hazel Farm, Bellerby Court and the Manor Park student village.

Sports facilities:

Surrey Sports Park offers a wide array of classes and courses ranging from water workouts to Zumba. It is also home to the Surrey Storm netball and Surrey Scorchers basketball teams. The University boast of a £36 million Sports Park, the facilities of which include a 50-metre, Olympic sized swimming pool, 8 rugby/football pitches, 13m climbing wall and bouldering centre, 350-seat café and bar social area, 120-station health and fitness centre, spinning studio, outdoor fitness trail, a sprint track, multiple badminton, basketball, squash, tennis and volleyball courts.

Medical Services:

Directly across the Millennium House is the Centre for Wellbeing, home to a dedicated team of nurses and counsellors who support and advise students on health and wellbeing.

Clubs:

Additionally, the campus has Students’ Union offices, bars and food outlets, the Front Room social space and areas for entertainment. The building is one of the largest student union venues in the country and is home to a weekly fresh produce market. Over 180 clubs and societies are run from the Students’ Union, including sports clubs. The Union also has its own newspaper, called ‘The Stag’, which is produced by and for students.