University of Surrey

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

The University of Surrey is a public research university located in Guildford, Surrey, England. It traces its origins to the Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1891 to provide higher education opportunities, particularly for London’s working-class population. Initially offering evening and day classes in science, technology, languages, music, and domestic economy, the institution grew steadily and began teaching University of London students in the 1920s, awarding external degrees. In 1956, it was granted the status of College of Advanced Technology and renamed Battersea College of Technology. By the early 1960s, the college had outgrown its London premises, and following the Robbins Report of 1963, which recommended expanding such colleges into degree-awarding universities, plans were made to relocate. In 1965, land was acquired in Guildford, and the university received its royal charter in 1966, officially becoming the University of Surrey.Today, the university has its main campus on Stag Hill, near Guildford Cathedral, and a secondary campus at Manor Park, home to the Surrey Sports Park. It is a member of the Association of MBAs, the University Global Partnership Network, and the SETsquared partnership alongside several other leading universities. Surrey maintains international links, including a partnership with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics through the Surrey International Institute. The university also owns Surrey Research Park, which hosts over 110 research-driven companies. Surrey has achieved recognition for its contributions to research, winning three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, and in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 41% of its research outputs were rated as world-leading. It has also been recognized in The Sunday Times University of the Year awards for both overall excellence and graduate employment.The university is led by Chancellor Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and counts among its staff numerous Fellows of prestigious academic societies. Its alumni include Olympic champions, prominent politicians, and leaders in arts, sciences, and other fields, making it a notable institution in both national and international higher education.