Address: Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Electrical Engineering, Hospitality and Tourism, Health Sciences
Guildford, in Surrey, is home to a university whose history starts in London: Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1891 to widen access to further and higher education. The institution became a university when its Royal Charter was granted on 9 September 1966, following the recommendations of the Robbins Report.
The move out of Battersea was planned early. In 1962 the college decided to relocate to Guildford because it had outgrown its main building, and the Guildford campus has been its home since.
Surrey is tied closely to industry. Surrey Research Park, formally opened by the Duke of Kent, now hosts more than a hundred companies, and the university’s 5G and 6G Innovation Centre, supported by investment from telecommunications companies, was set up to research mobile communications and future internet technologies. The university began its sixtieth anniversary year on 9 September 2026.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Electrical and Electronics, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Renowned for its Professional Training placement year. Strong links with industry across various sectors, including space (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd originated here), telecommunications, and health. Home to 5G/6G Innovation Centre.
Research:
World-leading research in areas such as satellite technology, mobile communications (5G/6G), sleep research, sustainable tourism, and health sciences.
Famous Alumnis:
Sir Martin Sweeting, Susan Greenfield, Jim Abbiss
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3500
Current students***:
17000
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
130000
Pros
Excellent graduate employability due to strong placement program, leading research in specific tech areas (satellites, 5G), attractive campus.
Cons
Guildford can be an expensive area, campus is not in a major city centre.
Best For
Students seeking a research-led university with an outstanding professional placement program, particularly strong in technology, engineering, and health.
University of Wollongong (Australia) is a public university with engineering and informatics alongside arts and business.
University of Auckland (New Zealand) combines engineering with medicine and health sciences, like Surrey.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What are the origins of the University of Surrey?
It descends from Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1891 in London.
When did it receive its charter?
The Royal Charter was granted on 9 September 1966. That date also marks the start of the university's anniversary celebrations.
Where is the university located?
The main campus is in Guildford, Surrey, which the college chose in 1962 after outgrowing its Battersea building.
What is Surrey Research Park?
It is a university-owned science park that now hosts more than a hundred companies. It gives students and researchers direct contact with technology firms.
What does the 5G and 6G Innovation Centre do?
It is a research centre for mobile communications and future internet technologies, backed by investment from industry.
How can prospective students check courses and fees?
The university's course finder lists entry requirements, placement options and fees per programme. Check the official pages for the year of entry.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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