menu icon
Book your open day visit nowClick to book open day
/
All university listing
/
University of Surrey

University of Surrey

(4.5)340 reviews
VIEW ALL COURSESright
Compare
University of Surrey
University of Surrey
MORE
Interaction button close icon
  • VISIT WEBSITE
  • REQUEST INFO
video thumbnail - click to play
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image
featured image

Key stats

Postgraduate student body breakdown
Source: HESA, 2021

  • Study mode: This university
    22%
    Part Time
    78%
    Full Time
  • Study mode: All universities (avg)
    44%
    Part Time
    56%
    Full Time
  • Student nationality
    53%
    UK
    47%
    International
  • Study level
    13,485
    Undergraduate
    3,495
    Postgraduate
  • New students
    50%
    School leavers
    50%
    Mature students
  • 30 th/ 129

    Source: Complete University Guide 2025

    CUG research quality ranking

Overview

The University of Surrey was established in 1891, and has a rich history of education and innovation. Surrey welcomes more than 3,500 postgraduate students to its campus annually, and the university is home to an academic community which is represented by over 120 countries from around the world. Surrey is renowned for celebrating diversity, with cultural inclusivity is at the centre of all its activities.

Surrey is a research-driven university which is at the forefront of tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society today. The university’s taught and research courses are organised across three academic faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

The university is located just half an hour outside of London, in the historical market town of Guildford. There are two modern campus sites at the University of Surrey. The Stag Hill campus is built around a beautiful lake and a lively students’ union, while the Manor Park campus boasts a range of student accommodation and the university’s state-of-the-art Surrey Sports Park. Both sites are within walking distance to the centre of Guildford, where students will find an array of shops, restaurants, bars, pubs, and cultural attractions.

University of Surrey students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Good ambience and friendly environment.”

“Surrey has good people and beautiful campus.”

“Cool campus, interesting faculty and lots of experience.”

Postgraduate

The University of Surrey offers a diverse range of taught courses and research degrees at postgraduate level. Full and part-time study options are available across a variety of subject areas, while flexible start dates are available for some courses of study. 

NEXT
Course and lecturers

Course and lecturers

VIEW ALL COURSES

The University of Surrey prides itself on delivering excellence across both taught and research courses at postgraduate level. Surrey offers full and part-time taught postgraduate courses, as well as independent research degrees (PhD, MD or EngD). The university’s teaching staff and research supervisors include award-winning academics from around the world who have a wealth of experience in both academia and industry.

Taught postgraduate courses at Surrey are based across the university’s three faculties. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is dedicated to subjects across the arts, humanities and social sciences, while the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences oversees core engineering disciplines, alongside subject areas such as chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics. The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is made up of five specialist schools that facilitate interdisciplinary teaching in human and animal health. For taught postgraduate courses at the university, class sizes are kept small to optimise contact time.

Research programmes, meanwhile, are overseen by the university’s dedicated Doctoral College, with 40+ research degree courses available to researchers in a diverse array of subject areas.

Surrey’s courses are designed to deliver the transferable skills and knowledge necessary to ensure the professional future success of its students. As part of the university’s postgraduate portfolio, Surrey also offers its postgraduate students the option to study a two-year Euromasters in various subjects. Euromasters are specialist courses designed for students who wish to gain further qualifications in a selected pathway and for those students who want to take up an industrial placement in either the UK or abroad.

University of Surrey students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Professors are very flexible and are always ready help and support.”

“The course is interesting and lecturers are also friendly.”

“Great academic staff and lecturers.”

BACK
Overview
NEXT
Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for postgraduate courses at the University of Surrey vary on a course-by-course-basis. Full entry requirements for individual courses can be found on specific course pages.

For most postgraduate taught courses at Surrey, students are required to have a minimum 2:2 UK Honours degree in a relevant subject. As part of the application process for PhD programmes, applicants are required to connect with a potential supervisor at the university, provide two referees, and submit a research proposal with their application. For both taught and research programmes, applicants may be required to attend interviews.

Surrey also accepts postgraduate applications from students who do not possess an undergraduate degree, providing they can demonstrate that they possess the relevant skills, experience, and knowledge necessary to undertake postgraduate study. For students that fall into this category, a process called recognition of prior learning (RPL) may enable students to join a course at a specific point (relevant to their previous learning), or allow them to be accepted onto a course without attaining the formal entry requirements.

Got a question?

Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.

REQUEST INFO
BACK
Course and lecturers
NEXT
Academic strengths

Academic strengths

In addition to its exceptional teaching, fantastic graduate outcomes, welcoming community vibe and high student satisfaction rates, the University of Surrey is well-known for its academic strengths in a diverse array of subject areas.

Notably, Surrey’s celebrated MSc in Biomedical Engineering course has been running for over 50 years, and is one of the longest-established of its kind at a global level. Students enrolled on this course will benefit from access to world-leading experts and teaching in state-of-the-art facilities, which includes the university’s new £12 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory.

Surrey’s Hospitality and Tourism department is also renowned for its strong connections with leading figures in the industry. Graduates from postgraduate programmes in the department have gone on to work in areas such as strategic planning and development in local and national government. Hospitality and Tourism taught courses combine a mixture of theory-based study with independent research, incorporating field trips and practical study to prepare students for work in the industry.

BACK
Entry requirements
NEXT
Job prospects

Job prospects

Surrey’s employability and careers centre is accessible at all times to help postgraduate students with any career related advice they may need. Careers services available at the university include drop-in guidance appointments – offering interview practice, application writing and help with CVs.

Surrey has a fantastic record for graduate employability. Aided by the university’s expert career services, 97% of postgraduates from the university reported being in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).

As well as career workshops, there are numerous careers fairs at Surrey where students can meet companies and industry experts from specialised fields. Many courses at the university also feature regular talks from inspirational guest lecturers who offer specialist employment advice.

Surrey offers an outstanding level of career development support to its postgraduate students. The university invests heavily in its Student Enterprise programme, an innovative programme which helps students develop and progress new and exciting start-up business ideas.

BACK
Academic strengths
NEXT
Student life

Student life

IN THIS SECTION

The University of Surrey Students' Union (SU) is run by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated elected student officers who ensure that all students at Surrey have the best possible university experience. The SU hosts a range of social events and organises a number of activities throughout the year.

Joining a club or society is a great way for students to explore new or current interests while meeting people from outside of their course or department. Surrey has 140+ societies and over 40 clubs which span a wide range of interests and sports. 

The beautiful town of Guildford is the University of Surrey's home. The university’s two campuses are within walking distance from the centre of Guildford, and they are both serviced by frequent bus services which run late into the night. Guildford has a range of attractions, including a cinema, a lido, three theatres and a number of music venues. There are also plenty of bars, restaurants, cafes, traditional pubs, and a variety of shops in the historic market town.

Guilford is served by great transport links and central London is only 35-mintes away via a regular train service.

University of Surrey students on Postgraduate Search say:

“It’s a great place to study, has great student union.”

“Huge campus, perfect town for students and loads of student events and activities.”

“Location and scenery are great.”

BACK
Job prospects
NEXT
Accommodation & facilities

Accommodation & facilities

Accommodation

The University of Surrey has over 6,000 rooms available in self-catered housing to suit different preferences and budgets across its two campus sites.

Postgraduate students can also opt to live in accommodation independent from the university. If a postgraduate student chooses to live in non-university managed accommodation, the university’s dedicated accommodation team will support them as they search and secure the perfect place to live.

Facilities

The University of Surrey invests heavily in its facilities. Over the past 10 years, the university has spent £88 million on improving student accommodation, £36 million on the world-class Surrey Sports Park, and £16 million on its new library and learning centre. Surrey Sports Park has a £500,000 gym, an indoor climbing centre, a 50-metre swimming pool and 10 grass pitches. The library and learning centre, meanwhile, are open 24/7 during term time.

Each academic department boasts impressive state-of-the-art facilities, ranging from industry-standard laboratories and high-tech TV studios to diamond detectors and modern lecture theatres.

University of Surrey students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Best aspect is the world renowned research centres and facilities like the Surrey Space Centre and 5/6G Innovation Centre.”

“The accommodation is really well maintained.”

“Spacious and good value for money.”

BACK
Student life
NEXT
Student support

Student support

The University of Surrey’s support staff do everything they can to make students feel safe, settled, and happy during their time at the university. Should students' need it, Surrey offers a range of academic and personal support services. The university has a dedicated student advice and support hub at the MySurrey Hive, as well as a friendly international student support team and a multi-faith chaplaincy.

Surrey’s university health centre provides many of the same services as other NHS surgeries in the area, and there is an extensive selection of support services available through the Centre for Wellbeing. The centre offers a range of counselling services, as well as specialist workshops and events to promote wellbeing. In addition to its pastoral care and mental health support services, the Centre for Wellbeing also oversees a range of physical support services.

Students can also access financial advice and support services via Surrey’s student money team. Specialist advisors offer support on a range of financial issues, from tax related queries and money management to access to university hardship funds.

University of Surrey students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Everything form mental health support to tech support is available.”

“The best part was the student support.”

“ fantastic mental health and neurodiversity support on campus.”

BACK
Accommodation & facilities
NEXT
Scholarships/Bursaries

Scholarships/Bursaries

The University of Surrey offers a number of financial support packages to its postgraduate students. Prospective students can also apply for a variety of scholarships and bursaries through external providers. Applicants can view the full up-to-date list of financial awards currently available to students at the university on Surrey’s bursaries and scholarships information page.

If a postgraduate applicant is a fully self-funded UK, EU, or international student who previously completed an undergraduate degree at the university, they may also be eligible for a 20%discount on fees if they continue at Surrey with a taught postgraduate master’s programme.

Interested in scholarships?

Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.

VIEW SCHOLARSHIPS
BACK
Student support
NEXT
Study options

Study options

IN THIS SECTION

The University of Surrey has a wide variety of taught postgraduate courses which span its three academic faculties. Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars and tutorials, with laboratory work and field trips also part of some courses. Assessment methods will vary on a course-by-course basis.

Postgraduate research at Surrey is overseen by the university’s Doctoral College. Surrey’s Doctoral College facilitates a rich inter-disciplinary learning environment which is built around its community of innovative researchers, supervisors, and staff. The Doctoral College provides an array of postgraduate support services and functions as a hub for all the key research groups at the university. Researchers receive skill training and are invited to the Doctoral College’s numerous employment and networking events throughout the year.

Research students are assigned to subject specific research groups on enrolment to Surrey. These research groups are networks where students are can share their knowledge and exchange ideas with likeminded researchers and academics.

Some postgraduate courses may be available to study with flexible or distance learning options using the university’s e-learning platform SurreyLearn. Prospective students should consult individual course pages to see which courses are offered with distance learning options.

Surrey currently offers six distance learning MSc courses in civil and environmental engineering. Students on these courses study eight modules from a choice of over 30 and complete a specialist dissertation. Distance learning courses in civil and environmental engineering can be completed over the course of five years.

Sound interesting?

Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.

REQUEST PROSPECTUS
BACK
Scholarships/Bursaries