University of Surrey
University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey
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Overview
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology before gaining university status. Its roots however go back to the Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1891 to provide further and higher education for London's poorer inhabitants.
The University of Surrey is a member of the 1994 Russell Group. The University of Surrey conducts extensive research on small satellites and has a high number of staff who are members of learned societies. The most recent Research Assessment Exercise awarded nine departments at the university 5 or 5* ratings. The university has recently expanded into China by launching the Surrey International Institute with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics.
The University of Surrey’s main campus is located on Stag Hill close to the centre of Guildford and adjacent to Guildford Cathedral. A second campus, at Manor Park, is located a short distance away and has been developed to expand upon existing accommodation, academic buildings and sporting facilities.
University of Surrey Ranking
For 2012, the university was ranked 19th overall by the Guardian while The Times placed the university 29th overall. Its highest ranked subject is Tourism and Hospitality (1st). In world rankings, Times Higher Education ranked the university 190th in 2007.
The University of Surrey has a long history of welcoming international students from all around the world. The University of Surrey currently has over 145 different nationalities represented so you will be certain to get a truly international education. The University of Surrey’s beautiful safe campus is situated in Guildford which is just 40 minutes by train from London and close to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
The International Office Team
The International Office team promotes the University of Surrey overseas and helps support international students before, during and after their time at Surrey. The University of Surrey’s promotional staff travel all over the world for exhibitions, presentations and interviews. At these events you will be able to find out more about the University of Surrey, ask course related questions and even apply. To find out when the University of Surrey will next be visiting your area, click here to go to your country page for full details.
English Language Programmes
The Department of Languages and Translation Studies at the University of Surrey has been offering English courses to international students since 1982.
- Improve your confidence in English
- Increase your chances of academic and professional success
- Experience campus life in a safe, pleasant environment with great transport links - just 35 minutes from London and 45 minutes from airports
- Choose from a range of high quality accommodation on campus
- Individual attention for rapid progress
- Up-to-date study skills classes
- Discussion and presentation techniques
- Assignment research and practice
- Listening and note-taking strategies
- Introduction to current UK study methods
- Full access to all university facilities
- Use of multi-media Language Resource Centres
- Courses offered by The University of Surrey:
- English for University study: During the academic year
- Pre-sessional English: during the summer
- General English: during the summer
- English Language Support Programme (for current students)
- IELTS preparation and tests
Accommodation at the University of Surrey
When you are choosing a university, the choice, quality, location and cost of accommodation on offer are important factors. The University of Surrey Accommodation Office will help you find the right place to live, on or off campus, at affordable rents throughout your time at Surrey.
Guaranteed accommodation for first-year students
All first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Surrey (overseas fee and UK/EU fee) are guaranteed a place in University accommodation provided they accept a place and pay programme fees by 1 August. Applicants paying fees after 1 August continue to be offered accommodation, subject to availability, and we are normally able to offer accommodation throughout August.
Accommodation for continuing students
Overseas fee students
Continuing overseas fee full-time research postgraduates are guaranteed a place in accommodation for up to the normal duration of their programme, provided they apply for a place by 1 February. In addition taught overseas fee postgraduates on two-year programmes are guaranteed a place in accommodation for their second year, provided they apply by 1 February.
UK/EU fee students
Continuing postgraduate students paying UK/EU fees may seek the assistance of the University Accommodation Office to find places in the private sector. The accommodation allocation policy is reviewed annually and may be subject to change.
Accommodation for couples and families
Flats and houses are available on campus, at Hazel Farm and at Manor Park. Please see the Accommodation Office web pages for more information.
Accommodation for students with disabilities
Specially adapted rooms are available for students with physical impairments. Please see the Accommodation Office web pages for more information.
Residential facilities
University of Surrey accommodation is arranged in groups of self-catered housing called Courts of Residence and has been designed to meet your needs and provide you with a living space of your own. All University of Surrey student bedrooms have fast, unlimited, free broadband, and a telephone service is available. To help with day-to-day living, there are modern launderettes, a post office, bank, bookshop, grocery store and newsagent on the Stag Hill campus close to student residences. Large supermarkets and a halal grocery store are nearby and a weekly fruit and vegetable market is held on campus.
A place to be proud of:
- Over 1800 rooms in the newest courts have en suite shower and toilet facilities
- All Manor Park accommodation has en suite facilities
- Groups of students share a kitchen-breakfast room
- All communal areas (kitchens, bathrooms, toilets and corridors) are non-smoking
- Most of the accommodation is mixed-sex, but we do reserve areas for those who prefer single-sex accommodation
Rooms to suit any budget
Accommodation at the University of Surrey is reasonably priced. The University of Surrey offers low-cost duplex rooms, mid-range rents that compare with national averages, and even the rooms at the top end of our scale look affordable for those with a bit more cash to spend. In 2011-12 rents will range from £63 to £136 per week and the average is £90.
There is a variety of housing in the Guildford area let privately or through the University of Surrey's own Property Management Scheme. Rents start at about £68 per week and we have a range of letting periods.
Campus
The University of Surrey moved in 1968 to a new 30 ha (74-acre) site on Stag Hill in Guildford, Surrey, adjacent to Guildford Cathedral. A further 90 ha (222 acres) allocated to the university remained undeveloped until 2005. The new University of Surrey Manor Park campus, designed as a car-free village, is 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) from the Stag Hill campus and on the other side of the A3 trunk road. It combines residences for students and staff, buildings for research and teaching, and sporting facilities. The Surrey branch of the BBC’s Southern Counties Radio has its studios on the University of Surrey campus. In addition the university has a student-run medium wave radio station, GU2 Radio (GU2 is the local postcode prefix).
In November 2007, the University of Surrey was given planning permission to build the Surrey Multifaith Centre at the University of Surrey. This will be the first building in Britain to have a Synagogue, Muslim Prayer Hall, Gurdwara and Chapel built separately under one roof.
In 2010, a £36 million sports centre, Surrey Sports Park has been completed. It is one of Europe’s premier sites for elite sport, physical activity, well being and leisure. The main features include a 50 meter pool, 120-station health and fitness centre, multi-purpose exercise studios, indoor climbing centre, 350-seat Starbucks and the Bench bar and café.
Health Centre
There is a full range of on-campus Health facilities with doctors and nurses. All students have full access to the health centre and all health care fees are fully covered by the National Health Service for full time students on a programme of six months or more.
Location
Location is a top priority for event organisers, and the University of Surrey is particularly well placed. Our enviable location on the edge of Guildford town centre, directly off the A3 and only 9 miles from the M25 proves highly desirable for organisers when attracting delegates and speakers.
The University of Surrey campus is set in landscaped grounds which feature two lakes and a sports field. The main line station is just ten minutes walk and there are frequent bus services between the University of Surrey campus and the town centre and rail station.