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University of Surrey
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of Surrey
 Surrey began life as Battersea Polytechnic in 1891, where it aimed to give a rounded, vocational training to young people in London. In 1966 it became the University of Surrey, and today it has somehow retained much of its original character, even if it has moved from educating the poor in Battersea to educating the middle classes in leafy Surrey. What makes Surrey different to other universities is its focus on getting you a job. Most students (80% was the last figure I heard) go on a placement year between years 2 and 3, which gives them vital experience and employability, and the University maintains lots of industry links for sponsorship, awards and prizes. The careers service is strong and helpful, and many employers come to give careers talks here for final years and placement-seeking second years. Surrey is big on Entrepreneurship, with their own spin out companies (Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, a pioneer in the microsatellite world is their biggest achievement) and a Research Park which fosters small companies. The students at Surrey are a mixture of middle class British (majority of undergrads) and various international students (majority of postgrads). You can see the diversity if you turn up on a Thursday, as there is a fruit and veg market held in the union building, right next to chinese and korean stalls. For undergrads, life is mostly about spending time with the friends you make - you will, when you share a fridge and a sink, if you dare to venture out of your room. There are various societies on campus which cater to people's interests, but don't come here looking for a hotbed of political debate. Most people are here to get a degree in order to start their career, and to enjoy it while they're here. FacilitiesLibrariesThe George Edwards building, or the Library, is in a fairly central position within the campus. It is open until either 12.30am or 1.30am Sun-Thurs, shutting earlier on Friday and Saturday. In the evenings you will have to use the self- service book lending services, which are straightforward. There are group work and silent- study areas, as well as areas where you can eat or drink and wireless internet zones. The University printshop is situated on the ground floor. IT and ComputingUniS has two seperate networks for standard Computer access. There is ResNet for your own machines in Uni Accomodation, and the University network everywhere else on campus. These networks are not interlinked, and are only crossable via intermediatary servers Tweek and Butters. ResNet is generally very fast and capable, however has been known to slow down during peak times. There are heavy restrictions on the use of P2P technologies (for ANY purpose), which may lead to the suspension of your access. We do have DC++ though which is capable of downloading a 750mb film in about 1 1/2 minutes and will cover any of your downloading needs. This is only available through ResNet though. Direct downloads seem to average at around 1 mbit/s, whereas anything over SSL can peak at around 8000 KB/s (yes, 62.5 mbit by common DSL marketing). ResNet automatically bans users which send echo request packets to a large number of peers. This makes common gaming systems such as Steam unusable. However connecting directly to a gameserver is not a problem, and no known ban list is in place. ResNet requires that all systems which connect it, register their physical location and owner. They must also run AntiVirus software which is regulary patched. This is checked upon registration. The University Campus computer systems are well placed throughout the University. Many faculties offer their own IT Rooms, however a student only 24/7 building is available with good machines and printing access. The library also offers IT services in the forms of standard campus machines, and anonymous WinCE terminals. The student union has a limited area of computers, which is of use should you be in the vacinity.
SportsThe Unviersity currently has a sports centre on campus (UniSport), with a main hall (badminton, basketball, indoor football), a climbing facility called Vertex (190 ft traverse, longest in Surrey/somewhere), squash courts and the Quantum gym. There is a second facility known as The Varsity, with more focus on outdoor sports (archery, astroturf football pitch, etc), more squash courts and vitally a bar. Plans have apparently been approved to create a new sports facility on the second campus near the Varsity, which will have a 50m swimming pool, several sports halls etc. It's great that they're spending £33 million quid on sport, but it won't be ready for a few years yet. WelfareHealthcareThe university has a health centre on site that runs on a "drop in" basis. The centre is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Drop in appointments are usually with the nurses at the centre but you can be referred to a doctor for an arranged appointment. The only negative point about the health centre is that prescriptions cannot be collected on site. You have to go to either Boots, or Tescos to pick anything up, both of which are about a 15 minute walk away. ShopsThe campus has a number of shops including a One Stop for all the bits you forgot to get at Tescos, the Union shop which currently specialises in more exotic foods particularly chinese cooking ingredients, an Endsleigh Insurance office (all rooms are covered for free byt the uni policy but you may need extra insurance for laptops etc) and a bookshop. RestaurantsThe university has a number of different places to eat/drink on site. The most popular is the Chancellors bar, affectionately known as 'channies'. It serves food from breakfast time to about 7pm in the evening and is relatively cheap. At night time its one of the most popular places to 'start off the night' in and drinks are about £1.90 for a single vodka and mixer. It hosts events during the week such as the chancellors challenge (the pub quiz), comedy night and the very popular open mike night, the chance for any budding stars to take up the mike and serenade us with their new songs or covers. Other places to eat on campus include the Harubix cafe, Young's Kitchen (korean & chinese), Rushes (for a quick sandwich) and Seasons (big canteen). Our newest addition to campus is Starbucks (the first at any university campus in the UK), adding to the three in the town centre. BanksThere is a fully fledged Natwest branch on campus (with internal and external cash machines). There is also a Barclays cash machine and another Natwest cash machine outside the entrance to the student union (Rubix, the big club). Getting to the cash machines outside Rubix after about 8pm on a big night will be impossible unless you queue and pay to get into the club (usually Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Chancellors, OneStop, and The Bookshop do accept debit/credit cards should you not fancy the 25 second walk around the corner. TransportArriva, the local bus company charge 80p for a single fare, and go from the several university bus stops into town. Guildford train station is a few minutes' walk from campus . London Waterloo station is about 40 minutes away on the fast train and a day return will cost about £7 with a student railcard. If you're coming by train, when leaving the station go up the stairs (instead of down into the tunnel) and turn left. This bridge will take you to the back entrance of the station, from which you just turn right, follow the road around for 150m and take the second right (just after Guildford Park Church). This road leads around a car park which you can cut through, and up to one campus entrance. Keep following this road into campus, and after passing the boat-shaped Duke of Kent building, you should arrive at the university's main reception, Senate House. Careers servicePart-time jobsMany people have jobs during evenings and weekends and with a bit of effort you won't find it too difficult to find a job. Religous facilitiesSocialBars, Pubs and clubsOn campus there are 4 places for a night out, namely Chancellors (alternatively Channies or Trannies), which is a bar, Rubix, the club, and HRB and Roots, which are the smaller bars. HRB does some less mainstream music events (drum and bass and dubstep for example) and has coverage of all the major sports events. Roots is a basically a big room with sofas and music and a bar, it's quite bare inside but the emphasis is on making your own fun. Entry to Rubix will cost between £3 and £5 for the themed nights (Army Night, Pole Dancing Night, Foam Party, and of course the infamous Fetish night, see more below). EventsThemed nights this year include: -Beach Party (featuring the Sheila's Wheels girls) -Haloween -School Uniform -Fetish Night (people dress up in fetish gear of various kinds and you will find many weird and wonderful people on this night) -Disney Night -Foam Party -Pyjama Party -Xmas Party -Pirate Night -Gladiators and many many more. Clubs and societiesA list of sports clubs can be found here: Sports Clubs A list of societies can be found here: Societies AccommodationAccommodation policyFacilitiesResidencesCathedral Court: There are 14 blocks (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b...7a, 7b) of 3 storey buildings in 'Cath' court, so called because Guildford cathedral is about a 2 minute walk away from it. The recption has a lounge with a pool table and TV. There are 7 people per level, with 2 showers and 2 toilets, which is ample (unless there is a sudden bout of dirheaa!) The kitchens are quite 'cosy' because Cath Court used to be catered accomodation, when the court stopped being catered for, they converted the 8th bedroom into a kitchen! Saying this, it is definitely still adequate. This is the only accomodation to offer semester only rent. The university charges you £81.20 (about £5 more) for the pleasure, but you save about £500 a year this way. However, you have to move your stuff in and out 3 times per year, exluding when you move in at the start and move out at the end of the year. Views on the 2nd and 3rd floors can be nice if your room is north facing! Surrey Court: Some are identical to Battersea Court below, others are the same layout but unrefurbished. Guildford Court: Battersea Court: Is split into houses which are effectively tower blocks. Each house has three or four floors plus a family flat on the bottom floor. There are 14 rooms on each floor, 3 showers, 3 toilets and the largest kitchens on campus with an oven and 2 sets of hobs. Each room is a fair size, newly decorated with a sink. You'll pay around £80 to live here. Twyford Court: Stag Hill: International House: University Court: Manor Park (Off Campus): Bellerby Court (Off Campus): Private sectorStudent unionPricesThe union prices here are some of the most expensive in the country, of course it's cheaper than a normal bar or club but not so much when you compare it with other unions. 4 Pint Jug of Snakebite: £8.40 Pint of Carlsberg: £2 Double Vodka Redbull: £3 Basic Shots: About £1.50 EnvironmentArchitectureLocal areaGulidford is a nice town to live in, there is a cathedral very close to campus, and Tescos, the town centre and the railway station are within 15 minutes walking distance from the library, which is in a central position on the campus. It is a fairly well off area, there is a House of Fraser and a Jack Wills (this place is rah city at lunchtime thanks to the nearby grammar school!), and unfortunately, no Poundland. If you stray out a bit from the centre you are in the countryside more or less, or so I've heard. There is a big sports centre with a swimming pool and an ice skating rink 10 minutes away by bus from the town centre, the Guildford Flames ice hockey team play here most Sundays. Some other shops in the town centre include: Woolworths, JJB Sports, Ann Summers, Fopp (similar to HMV) and HMV. Teaching qualityApplying to SurreyThinking of applying to the University of Surrey? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other Surrey ArticlesWhy not read these other University of Surrey Articles? Links | 
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