University of Surrey Guide: Reviews, Rankings, Fees and More

The University of Surrey is based in Guildford, Surrey, England. Since receiving the royal charter in 1966, it has been regarded as one of the UK’s leading research universities. The university was originally in London then moved to Guildford in 1962. The university’s main campus is at Stag Hill and has since expanded to Manor Park.

Summary of University

university of surrey review

Table of Contents

University of Surrey Overview

According to the Complete University Guide 2024, the University of Surrey tops the UK league tables in two subjects: Information Technology Systems; and Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies. The university’s courses in Food Science and Paramedic Science are ranked second in the country for the respective subjects. Meanwhile, Nursing and Veterinary Medicine were ranked among the top three in the UK in its respective subject league tables. Particularly in Hospitality and leisure management courses, the university is the best in the UK and the 14th in the world according to QS World University Subject Rankings of 2024. 

Most Surrey graduates work in the Healthcare, Education, Finance, Computing and Veterinary industries in various roles related to nursing, sales and marketing, engineering, finance, and IT. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 95% of graduates from the university are in work or further education within 15 months after graduation. Meanwhile, for international students, the number of working or studying graduates post-graduation is at 93%. As for income, the average salary for Surrey graduates is £28,516, which is above the national median of £24,291.

Over the years, the University of Surrey has educated approximately 120,000 graduates from over 170 countries, many of whom are from Malaysia. At the time of publication, there are more than 70 Malaysian students currently studying in the university. Some famous alumni from Surrey include: 

  • Dzulkefly Ahmad – Member of the Parliament of Malaysia
  • Arief Yahya – Indonesian Cabinet Minister 
  • Kay Swinburne (MBA) – Conservative Member of the European Parliament 
  • Sara Arber (PhD, 1991) – President of the British Sociological Association
  • Wahid Omar (BSc) – Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

University of Surrey Courses and Programmes

The University of Surrey offers five types of courses to best cater to all studying needs: 

  • A three-year degree, 
  • A four-year degree with a professional training placement year to garner first-hand experience of working in one’s chosen industry, 
  • An integrated masters degree course which is a shorter pathway to a masters degree,
  • A three-year degree combined with a foundation year which offers a direct pathway to university,
  • An international foundation year which is tailored for international students to prepare them for undergraduate studies .

Computing and Information Technology BSc (Hons)

Computer science is one of the University of Surrey’s top programmes, ranking first in the UK for the subject in the Complete University Guide 2024. The high teaching standards in this programme has led to it being ranked third in the UK in the National Student Survey 2024 which is a measure of student satisfaction rates. Students of this course will learn a combination of computing, business, and technical knowledge related to business consultancy. 

There are many  reasons to choose this course at the University of Surrey.  Their computer science programmes offer well-crafted courses in its areas of research, such as cyber security, distributed systems, machine learning and AI, and computational neuroscience. The course content are also relevant and up-to-date with topics such as AI, the Internet of Things, machine learning, cryptography, distributed systems, blockchain, and more. Students can also gain valuable work experience from external research projects funded by industry and government, industry-sponsored hackathons, and many other prestigious competitions. Surrey also has an excellent career support service that extends three years post-graduation.

International Hospitality and Tourism Management BSc (Hons)

This is among the best courses in tourism, transport, travel and heritage studies in the UK according to the Complete University Guide 2024. It has consistently placed among the top five universities in four other reputable university rankings: Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024 (1st in the UK, 2nd in the world), QS World University Rankings by Subjects 2024 (1st in the UK, 14th in the world), The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 (4th in the UK) and the Guardian University Guide 2024 (5th in the UK). 

There are a few reasons why this course is the best choice for tourism students – it offers training placements in both international and domestic destinations including the Lakeside Restaurant and Coffee Shop on campus, and the school has many industrial connections that includes companies outside of the UK.

The course content has been designed such that it prepares students well for the hospitality industry, yet imparts highly transferable skills for use in virtually any field. Some graduates enter the workforce in operational management roles, while others have ventured into marketing, human resources, and IT in various industries.  Some alumni have built successful multimillion-pound companies such as Caper & Berry, Grazing, Planet Hollywood, and TRI Hospitality Consulting. 

Paramedic Science BSc (Hons)

This hands-on clinical curriculum is ranked 2nd by the Complete University Guide 2024 and 4th by the Guardian University Guide 2024 in the UK. Surrey’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences has a fully-equipped Clinical Simulation Centre which has an ambulance bay and a working ambulance for preparing students to respond to real trauma scenarios. Students of this course also get plenty of clinical placement opportunities domestically and internationally. They will also have exclusive access to the university’s independent clinical learning room to practise all the necessary techniques for the job. Lecturers for this programme are healthcare professionals with experience with the NHS. This course is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), so graduates can work as paramedics upon graduation. 

The Graduate Outcomes survey of 2021 by HESA found that 100% of this course’s graduates found a job or continued studying after graduation. The NHS is the largest employer of paramedics in the UK and Surrey’s alumni work in NHS trusts throughout the UK.

University of Surrey Entry Requirements

Students with a Malaysian qualification will need a suitable equivalent grade to apply for our undergraduate courses. Suitably qualified applicants can be considered for Year 2 entry. 

The table below shows grade equivalencies for Malaysia.

UK requirement (A-level)

Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) equivalent

A*AA

A, A-, A-

AAA

A-, A-, A-

AAB

A-, A-, B+

ABB

A-, B+, B+

BBB

B+, B+, B+

BBC

B-, B-, C+

BCC

B-, B-, C+

CCC

B-, C+, C+

 

UK requirement (A-level)

Matrikulasi equivalent

Diploma equivalent (considered on a case-by-case basis) 

A*AA

CGPA 3.75

CGPA 3.30

AAA

CGPA 3.67

CGPA 3.20

AAB

CGPA 3.50

CGPA 3.10

ABB

CGPA 3.40

CGPA 3.00

BBB

CGPA 3.30

CGPA 2.90

BBC

CGPA 3.30

CGPA 2.90

BCC

CGPA 3.20

CGPA 2.80

CCC

CGPA 3.10

CGPA 2.70

UK requirement (A-level)

Unified Examination Certificate

AAB

B3 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

ABB

B3 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

BBB

B4 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

BBC

B4 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

BCC

B5 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

CCC

B5 in five subjects (excluding Chinese and Malay)

Subject requirements

For courses that have specific subject requirements at A-level:

UK subject requirement (A-level)

Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) equivalent

Grade A

A-

Grade B

B+

 

UK subject requirement (A-level)

Matrikulasi equivalent

Grade A

3.67

Grade B

3.33

 

UK subject requirement (A-level)

Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)

Grade A

A2

Grade B

B4

Minimum standard in English and mathematics

English: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), 1119 Advanced English C.

Mathematics: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Mathematics C.

Some courses may require higher grades in English and mathematics and/or additional subjects, so please check the requirements provided on individual course pages.

University of Surrey Entry Deadline

In the UK, all university applications (including those submitted by international students like you) go through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, more commonly known as UCAS.

Most undergraduate courses will share the same deadline of 31 January of every year. Some courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge have an earlier deadline of 16 October in the year before admission.

For more information about key dates and other UCAS deadlines, take a look at our article UCAS Deadlines 2024.

University of Surrey Ranking

  • Ranked 13th among the best UK universities according to the Complete University Guide 2024.
  • Ranked 30th domestically according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024 by Shanghai Ranking.
  • Ranked 21nd according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
  • Ranked 21th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2024.
  • Ranked 244th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and 244th in the QS World University Rankings 2024
  • Awarded University of the Year for Graduate Employment in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
  • Ranked in the 10th position for highly skilled employment for UK-domiciled graduates in the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024. 
  • Got the best University Careers Service according to the National University Employability Awards 2024.

Ranked ninth in the National Student Survey 2024 with an overall satisfaction score of 84.25 out of 100.

University of Surrey Fees

The following fees are for international undergraduate students for the 2023/24 academic year. International students must note that the annual fees will increase by four per cent (rounded up to the nearest £100) for each year of study. Some of the new programmes  will not show up here. Please check the university website for the full list.

Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons)

£19,700

Acting (GSA) BA (Hons)

£19,700

Actor Musician (GSA) BA (Hons)

£19,700

Aerospace Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Applied & Contemporary Theatre (GSA) BA (Hons)

£19,700

Automotive Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Biochemistry BSc (Hons)/MSci)

£23,100

Biological Sciences BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Biomedical Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Business Economics BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management (Human Resource Management) BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management (Marketing) BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management and French BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Business Management and Spanish BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Chemical Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Chemistry BSc (Hons) and MChem 

£22,100

Chemistry with Forensic Investigation BSc (Hons) and MChem 

£22,100

Civil Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£22,100

Computer and Internet Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Computer Science BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Computing and Information Technology BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Creative Music Technology BMus (Hons) 

£19,700

Criminology BSc (Hons) 

£17,900

Criminology and Sociology BSc (Hons) 

£17,900

Economics BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Economics and Finance BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Economics and Mathematics BSc (Hons) 

£19,100

Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

Electronic Engineering with Space Systems BEng (Hons) and MEng 

£23,100

English Literature BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature and French BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature with Film Studies BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature with German BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature with Politics BA (Hons)

£17,900

English Literature with Sociology BA (Hons)

£17,900

Film and Video Production Technology BSc (Hons)

£19,700

Film Production and Broadcast Engineering BEng (Hons)

£19,700

Film Production and Broadcast Technology BEng (Hons)

£19,700

Financial Mathematics BSc (Hons)

£19,700

Food Science and Nutrition BSc (Hons)

£23,100

International Business Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

International Event Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

International Hospitality and Tourism Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

International Hospitality Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

International Relations BSc (Hons)

£17,900

International Tourism Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

International Tourism Management with Transport BSc (Hons)

£19,100

Law LLB (Hons)

£17,900

Law (Law and Technology Pathway) LLB (Hons) 

£17,900

Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons) 

£17,900

Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) 

£19,700

Law with International Relations LLB (Hons) 

£17,900

Mathematics BSc (Hons) and MMath (Hons) 

£19,700

Mathematics with Music BSc (Hons) 

£19,700

Mathematics and Physics BSc (Hons)/MMath and MPhys (Hons) 

£19,700

Mathematics with Statistics BSc (Hons) and MMath (Hons) 

£19,700

Mechanical Engineering BEng and MEng 

£23,100

Media and Communication BSc (Hons) 

£17,900

Medicinal Chemistry BSc (Hons) and MChem 

£22,100

Microbiology BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Midwifery Studies with RM BSc (Hons) 

N/A

Modern Languages (French and Spanish) BA (Hons) 

£17,900

Modern Languages (French with German) BA (Hons) 

£17,900

Modern Languages (Spanish with German) BA (Hons) 

£17,900

Music BMus (Hons) 

£19,700

Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) BMus (Hons)/BSc (Hons) 

£19,700

Musical Theatre (GSA) BA (Hons) 

£23,100

Nursing Studies (all BSc programmes – Adult, Child, Mental Health) BSc (Hons) 

N/A

Nutrition BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Nutrition and Dietetics BSc (Hons) 

£23,100

Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) 

N/A

Physics BSc (Hons) and MPhys(Hons) 

£22,100

Physics with Astronomy BSc (Hons) and MPhys(Hons) 

£22,100

Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics BSc (Hons) and MPhys(Hons) 

£22,100

Physics with Quantum Technologies BSc (Hons) and MPhys(Hons) 

£22,100

Politics BSc (Hons)

£17,900

Politics and Economics BSc (Hons)

£17,900

Politics and Sociology BSc (Hons)

£17,900

Professional International Hotel Management BSc (Hons)

£19,100

Psychology BSc (Hons)

£23,100

Public Affairs MPA

£17,900

Sociology BSc (Hons)

£17,900

Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc (Hons)

£23,100

Theatre Production (GSA) BA (Hons)

£19,700

Veterinary Biosciences BSc (Hons)

£23,100

Veterinary Medicine & Science BVMSci

£35,500

University of Surrey Accommodation

The University of Surrey offers nine types of accommodation and more than 6,000 rooms for all budgets and requirements. All residence halls are self-catered with shared kitchen facilities, except for the studio flats and Band F at Manor Park. All rooms are fully furnished and all kitchens are equipped with necessary kitchenware. While most flats are mixed-gender, there are single-sex flats as well. Students who live in resident halls away from campus will get subsidised bus passes and exclusive parking spaces.

University of Surrey Reviews

Names may be changed to protect anonymity

Juhi Chatlani Daswani – Business Management BSc (Hons) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My reasons for coming to Surrey are endless. I would rank the diversity of the entire community as my top reason. (There is a wide range) of modules you can choose to study – allowing you to truly personalise your degree. (…). (Besides that,) having 140+ clubs and societies was a big sign of diversity in my view. 

The idea of being around different people (including both students and staff) from all around the globe is what makes Surrey attractive. Not to mention the astonishing campus, with its abundant greenery and lovely lakeside area.”

Yasmine Fofana – International Tourism Development MSc ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The excellent reputation of Surrey’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management motivated me to apply to the MSc International Tourism Development course (now called MSc International Tourism Management). Moreover, at the time of my application, the School was ranked number one in the UK by both the Guardian University Guide 2017 and the Complete University Guide 2017. In addition, the University had been the first to have received the prestigious Tourism Society Award as a recognition of its sustained commitment to excellence in the tourism industry. I am a Chevening Scholar, and I wanted to study at the very best University in my field and here I am!

I enjoy learning from my lecturers, as well as the interaction and interesting discussions that take place in the classrooms. Some of my lecturers are top researchers and experts in their fields. They are helpful and always available for further guidance.”

Gloria Trasatti – Interpreting MA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Before deciding to come to the University of Surrey, I had a look at the website and the programme. I used Surrey’s virtual campus tour to have an overview of all the facilities that the University has.

The academic staff encourage and support you, and the University facilities are always open. The programme is well organised. Not only does it focus on practical skills, such as simultaneous and consecutive (interpretation), but also (taught) interpreting theory.

Students can practise in booths, and rooms provided with TVs, video conference and remote interpreting tools in the Library; they give you all you need.”

Mutale Chewe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Coming to university is a bit of a scary prospect, particularly as an international student. However, Surrey creates an optimal environment for everyone to thrive in – regardless of where you come from.”

University of Surrey Facilities

Surrey Research Park

The Surrey Research Park is a large research park developed by the university in 1985. It is designed to facilitate the growing needs of shared workspaces, university spin-outs, start-ups, SMEs, and multinational companies. Currently, more than one hundred companies are based in this park, with over 2,500 staff focused on research and development. Much of the research conducted here is done in collaboration with University of Surrey’s various departments.

The Clinical Simulation Centre

Built for the university’s healthcare students, this is an immersive learning environment with two large wards, an operating theatre, a community flat, and an ambulance bay with a working ambulance. The equipment here is industry-standard, identical to those used by the NHS. There is a virtual environment with actors for students to practise their clinical skills in realistic scenarios. 

Surrey Sports Park

Located in Manor Park, this £36 million sporting facility is one of Europe’s leading sports venues and serves as the training base for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is an accredited site for Sport England’s Talented Athlete Support Scheme and Swim England’s Performance Centre. It supports the most diverse range of sports, dance and group fitness classes of any UK university. The sports park offers great facilities including: a 50-metre swimming pool, 120-station gym, three artificial pitches, a climbing centre, eight floodlight tennis courts, six glass-backed squash courts, three arenas (sports hall) hosting 12 badminton courts and outdoor grass pitches. The park is home to three professional sports clubs: Harlequins RFC, Surrey Storm, and Surrey Scorchers. Athletic students may opt for the Dual Career Programme to best achieve their academic and sporting potentials, and there are sports scholarships of up to £2,000.

Ivy Arts Centre

This £4.5 million building is equipped with a 200-seat theatre, a 50-seat studio space, instrumental practice rooms, dance studios, and rehearsal rooms. The arts centre is always bustling as it regularly hosts events and performances such as musicals (Annie Jr., Slaves of the Kingdom, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), orchestras, comedy sketches (Rannel Theatre Company), and more.

The university also offers a diverse range of drama, performing arts, live music, and visual arts events across its campuses.

University of Surrey Student Activities and Clubs

There isn’t a dull moment at the University of Surrey, with more than 130 societies and 44 sports clubs for students to participate in.  Students can also opt to volunteer, such as with the university by helping out at events or by coaching a sports team. There is a wide range of community-led events such as One World Week, an annual celebration of culture, heritage, and traditions on campus, and Varsity, an annual sports competition between Team Surrey and Royal Holloway.

University of Surrey Contact

Official website: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/ 

Phone: +44 (0)1483 689467

Address: Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH

Apply For University Of Surrey - Contact Us

Join our UK Study newsletter and get helpful articles on UK study, admission tips, courses and more delivered to your inbox.




Apply To University Of Surrey

We provide free university application assistance and advice. Speak to one of our consultants now!