What Students Say
Likes
- The student community in the college is diverse and inclusive.
- There are multiple study spaces available across campus for students to work individually as well as in a group.
- Student Union is present to handle all student queries, with dedicated departments for different concerns. The student union is appointed by the student with election held on campus.
Dislikes
- The College is located in the outskirts of London which makes the accommodation cost comparatively low.
- College ensuite accommodation is a little expensive with prices comparable to London accommodation.
- There is no in-house student grocery store that offers student discounts; there is on-campus Co-op store which has the same pricing as regular Co-op branches.
Course Curriculum
- With a diverse batch profile that brings together students from different countries and backgrounds, the University of Surrey's academics are well-structured and industry-focused, making class discussions extremely interesting. With case studies, presentations, Seminars, and group projects, the module delivers a balanced combination of theoretical concepts and practical applications.
- In my experience, for the assessments, even though the instructions were detailed and backed by excellent facilities(library, learning space, etc) and resources, group work experiences might differ, and the effort can feel overwhelming during moments of high assignment volume- this happened with me in seminar 1. Students typically attend one to three two-hour classes each day, which are scheduled from 9 AM to 6 PM. I had 1 subject per day, whereas my other batchmates had 3 subjects a day for just two days a week.
- A typical class size is of 30 to 50 students, with 8 to 15 Indian students (for marketing), which gave me a balance of diversity and also has that indian bond with indians.
Admission Experience
- I had applied to several colleges. i haven't received any rejection. The ones i remember are:
- University of Exeter- Confirmed
- Abirdeen University- Confirmed
- Brunel University- confirmed
- Bradford University- confirmed
- University of Greenwich- confirmed
- University of Westminster- confirmed
- I had applied to only selective colleges considering my requirements for the modules and course. I wanted a February admission, and hence I had limited options as well.
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I chose the college because:
- My cousin is an alumnus of the university, and their positive experience influenced my decision.
- The university holds a strong academic ranking and reputation.
- The campus offers excellent amenities and facilities for students.
- It provides the specific course I wanted to pursue.
- The admission process was easy, and one of the agents helped me. Eligibility criteria: work experience/ percentage in previous education. There were no challenges in the overall process. The updates were received via email.
- I had the February 2025 intake. I made the decision to pursue this course on October 24, and hence the next intake was in February. It took me 2months from scratch. I had appointed a gent for the process, and they took care of everything. For my visa, I had to keep the funds for 28 days and hence the additional 1month.
- By January first week, I had the visa.
Faculty
- The lecturers at UOS are very knowledgeable, helpful, and bring loads of academic and professional expertise to the classroom. Smaller class size provides improved interaction, personalised feedback, and easier access to lecturers both during and after classes, resulting in a well-balanced faculty-to-student ratio.
- Through the use of case studies, real-world business examples, company visits, and group activities, their teaching approach has a theory and practical application to assist students in developing the abilities necessary to get jobs in the industry.
- Although they don't explicitly offer placements, faculty members frequently offer students career guidance, project insights, and even casual industry connections or chances. I personally like the faculty members who make lessons personal and interactive by relating ideas to actual marketing situations; their method not only makes classes interesting but also boosts our confidence and prepares us for positions in the future.
Campus Life
- The University of Surrey offers a variety of events, festivals, clubs, societies, and extracurricular activities all year long, which have made my time on campus lively and interactive. The university's two main accommodation spaces are the Manor Park Campus, which has extra housing, the Surrey Sports Park, and several life sciences facilities, and the Stag Hill Campus, which is the primary academic and administrative focus close to Guildford town centre.
- We also had a third campus, but that would be demolished this year (2025) called the Hazel Farm. The University Library (open 24x7), several study areas, the Surrey Sports Park which has a top-notch gym and personal favourite the swimming pool, gaming courts, and fitness classes, as well as on-campus medical services, a health centre, and committed student support teams, are just a few of the best amenities available to students on these campuses some of which are at an affordable price.
- The institution organizes a number of significant events, including seasonal celebrations, Diwali, Christmas events, Halloween, One World Week, Freshers' Week, and so on.
- The Student’s Union also oversees a large number of student-run clubs and organizations, from sports teams and volunteer organizations to cultural, intellectual, and hobby-based societies. As of today, we have 47 societies, and the list keeps growing. There are several extracurricular activities available to students. They can join cultural societies that represent many nations and hobbies or play sports, including basketball, football, cricket, badminton, and swimming.
- Along with chances for leadership positions through student committees and event planning teams, there are also creative clubs for dance, drama, singing, photography, and media production. All things considered, the campus offers a well-rounded setting where extracurricular activities, academics, and community involvement come together to produce a fulfilled student experience.
Part Time Jobs
- The University of Surrey offers a respectable variety of part-time options both on and off campus on their app Unitemps. Since these positions are typically offered to individuals with good academic backgrounds or relevant expertise, only a small percentage of students can land Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), or Departmental Assistant (DA) posts. Depending on the department and duties, TA/RA/DA positions usually pay between £14 and £17 per hour.
- In addition to academic positions, the Students’ Union, the library, campus stores, caterers, student ambassadors, employability services, and event staff positions all offer a variety of on-campus employment opportunities. These positions typically pay between £11 and £13 per hour. Now the national wage has increased so it will be above £12.21, which is frequently comparable to the Living Wage or UK National Minimum. Students with Tier 4 visas are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week throughout the academic year and without limit on vacations or term breaks.
- Finding part-time work on campus can be somewhat challenging due to the high demand from students and the small number of available positions. The odds are greatly increased by applying early, keeping up with university job portals, and having a well-prepared CV. Additionally, a lot of students search for off-campus jobs in Guildford and the surrounding regions, such as retail, hospitality, restaurants, supermarkets, and event staffing, which typically have more openings but may need flexible schedules and commuting. Overall, the majority of students are able to find part-time employment while they are in uni if they are persistent and submit their applications on time.
- The majority of Indian students at the University of Surrey favour part-time jobs in customer service, retail, and hospitality because these industries typically offer flexible schedules and frequent hiring. Restaurants, cafés, retail stores, delivery services, supermarkets like Tesco or Co-op, and event staffing are examples of typical workplaces.
- Depending on the position and employer, students often make between £12.21 and £13 per hour. It can be difficult to find part-time work, particularly in the first few weeks of arriving, when competition is at its peak. I got a part-time job after a month. However, most students are able to locate suitable roles with continuous applications and a professional CV.
- Usually, the procedure includes looking for job opportunities on websites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Surrey's Unitemps portal, and local Guildford job boards. After submitting their resumes and cover letters, students who make the shortlist are asked to an interview or trial shift, which is typically the case for retail positions and informal for hospitality positions. After being chosen, students must finish right-to-work checks (passport, evisa, and visa requirements) before beginning employment. In general, the chances of landing a part-time job are significantly increased by applying early and customising the CV to UK requirements.
Placement
- Most students at the University of Surrey actively look for full-time opportunities after completing their course, but the job market in the UK is currently competitive, and a large majority of students end up either unemployed or working in restaurants and other hospitality jobs while on their PSW visa.
- Although some students do secure roles in areas related to marketing, analytics, or business, the percentage is much lower than expected, with only a small portion finding field-related employment within six months of graduation. The typical salary range for those who do secure professional roles is around £28,000–£35,000, depending on job type and experience.
- Most students search for jobs through LinkedIn, Indeed, Graduate schemes, networking, career fairs, and the university’s Employability services, but due to high competition and visa-related challenges, securing a job relevant to the course can be difficult. A few students manage to get placed in companies like local marketing agencies, consultancies, or entry-level corporate roles, but the overall trend shows that many graduates rely on hospitality, retail, or temporary roles while continuing their job search on PSW.
Accommodation
- I chose to live on campus because it provided convenience, security, and quick access to university resources. Compared to external searches on sites like Zoopla, Rightmove, Facebook groups, or student accommodation sites, I got my room through the University of Surrey's official housing page, which made the process simple. As could be expected for ensuite university housing, the monthly fee was somewhat expensive, but the price included amenities like Wi-Fi, kitchen, heating, electricity, maintenance assistance, laundry access, and close proximity to the library and other campus buildings.
- There are only a handful of desired room types, and that was one of the biggest obstacles because rooms fill up rapidly, and it was occasionally difficult to make a decision when comparing costs with off-campus options. I would advise future students to apply early, carefully compare all room types, and look into backup options from reputable student housing organisations as well as university housing. In my opinion, staying on campus as they are comparatively affordable than other options.
- The majority of Indian students typically prefer to stay either on campus or in adjacent locations like Manor Park, Ash Grove, or Guildford town centre, depending on availability and expense. My accommodation was within a short walk from the college (approximately 1 minute), which saved a lot of traveling time.
Exams
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I had answered IELTS, but it wasn't necessary. Some colleges do ask IELTS score of 6throughout. In my college, it was 60% in English and education in English.
- Documents required:
- previous educational degree
- work experience letter, if applicable
- statement of purpose
- financial documents (loan/ bank statements)
- I didn't have to give any interview as I was selected based on my documents.
Fees
- 25400GBP was my entire course fee. i had 7000GBP sponsorship. 5000GBP for the international student award and 2000GBP from the agent.
- I had chosen ensuite college accommodation and had to pay in installments. for 7months, the fees was 5480GBP.
- I used to walk to college for the initial 2 months. I got a part-time job in the third month, and I took a monthly bus pass of 50GBP. 100GBP was my grocery and other expenses per month.
Scholarship
- Yes. I had 7000GBP sponsorship. 5000GBP for the international student award and 2000GBP from the agent.
- The only eligibility criterion was being an international student. The college and the agent chose who to give this sponsorship to. I was considered based on my previous work experience.
- A few of my batchmates received 5000GBP, but I do not remember anybody receiving another 2000GBP.












