Fee-paying study abroad
Explore the world, and experience life and studying in another country
Students from higher education institutions outside the UK can come and study at the University of Surrey on a fee-paying basis for one or two semesters and transfer the credits back to your degree. Whilst here, you can use the fantastic transport links to other parts of the UK and Europe to explore and become a truly global citizen.
Why study abroad?
The University of Surrey is a welcoming and supportive place to come to as a study abroad student, and we seek to provide an outstanding experience for all students.
Study abroad is an opportunity to:
- experience a different educational system and new cultures
- improve your interpersonal, communication and language skills
- challenge yourself and increase your resilience
- enhance your employability.
Study and life at Surrey
Check out this section for details of who is eligible for study abroad at Surrey, what you can study, how much it will cost and where you can live.
To be eligible to study abroad for one or two semesters at the University of Surrey, you must:
- be registered on a full-time higher education degree programme outside the UK. Study abroad agreement students must be enrolled at one of our study abroad partner institutions.
- have a minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0 on the 4.0-point scale, 3.75 on the 5.0-point scale, 5.25 on the 7.0-point scale, or the equivalent.
- non-native English speakers: must meet the English language requirement for your degree programme at Surrey. Requirements vary between courses - see the Entry Requirements section of the relevant undergraduate (bachelor's) or postgraduate (master's) course overview.
- Students who need to apply for a Student visa (stays of over 6 months, or working AND studying for 6 months or less) must submit with your application one of our accepted English language qualifications at the required level for your Surrey course.
- Students applying for a Standard Visitor visa or obtaining entry permission as a Visitor at the UK border (stays of 6 months or less; no work) can either submit one of our accepted English language qualifications or a letter from your home institution confirming that you meet the English language requirement of your chosen Surrey course and providing your CEFR level.
- be studying in an appropriate subject area and at an appropriate level. For study abroad agreement students, the subject(s) and level(s) are usually specified in the agreement with Surrey (undergraduate/postgraduate/doctoral) - your study abroad/international office will be able to provide guidance on eligible subject areas and levels.
- be able to identify a suitable, full-time study programme for your stay at Surrey. For taught courses, full-time study means taking 60 Surrey credits/30 ECTS credits per semester - typically 4 modules of 7.5 ECTS each.
- be able to pay the tuition fee for your chosen course at Surrey. Some study abroad agreements stipulate a discounted tuition fee.
Your academic department or study abroad/international office at your home institution will be able to give you guidance on your programme and module options and any requirements.
- Some students will need to identify similar modules (course units) to those you will be missing at your home institution ('matched modules') and get them approved by your home institution.
- Others will have some flexibility to choose your own study programme ('mobility window' or 'free electives').
- Study abroad agreements often specify pre-approved programmes or modules that you can take at Surrey.
Our searchable Programme and Module Catalogue provides detailed descriptions of each undergraduate and postgraduate degree programme and each module that we offer.
You must choose modules
- at an appropriate level for your study background, and
- from one Surrey degree programme and one year of study.
Note that our
- undergraduate programmes are three-year subject-specific courses, with students taking eight modules/60 ECTS of credits in their chosen subject each year (no electives)
- postgraduate programmes are one-year intensive courses so study abroad students can only come for one semester.
Study abroad students must study full-time at Surrey, which typically means taking 4 modules per semester, totalling 60 Surrey credits/30 ECTS credits.
The academic year at Surrey is divided into two semesters:
- Semester 1 (autumn semester): September-late January.
- Semester 2 (spring semester): late January/early February-June.
The orientation, semester and vacation dates for study abroad students are available on our Key dates page.
UK bank holidays and University office closure dates are available here.
Annual tuition fees for UK and Overseas students are detailed here and in the Fees and Funding section of each course overview for the relevant academic year:
Students coming to Surrey for just one semester, pay half the annual tuition fee.
Some study abroad agreements include a tuition fee discount - your home institution can give you details.
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees, you also will need to cover all your living costs, including accommodation, clothes, transport, books, food and entertainment, plus your travel to the UK, any visa fee, healthcare surcharge for stays of over 6 months, and travel insurance with some health cover.
There may be some additional costs associated with your specific course - for details see here.
Your home department needs to approve your module choices and should be able to help you choose your modules. Study abroad partner institutions may already have a list of pre-approved modules for Surrey but you will need to check that the modules are still available and are running in the semester of your stay at Surrey. Once you have identified your modules preferences, you can add them to Surrey's learning agreement form to submit with your application.
Programme Overviews
Check out overviews of our degree programmes, including their English language requirements and tuition fees, and select the programme equivalent to your own:
Programme and Module Catalogue
For more detailed programme and module descriptions, see our searchable Programme and Module Catalogue - ensure you select the relevant academic year at the top first.
Each Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree programme description includes:
- the programme content and learning outcomes
- a list of the compulsory and optional modules available in each year and each semester, with a link to each module description.
Each Module description includes:
- module department and leader
- number of Surrey/ECTS credits
- module FHEQ level (undergraduate FHEQ Level 4 (Year 1), Level 5 (Year 2) or Level 6 (Year 3); postgraduate/master's FHEQ Level 7 (Year M))
- semester in which it is offered
- module content
- study/contact hours
- any module cap (maximum number of students)
- any prerequisites (study of previous module(s) required - or the equivalent module at your home institution)
- the semester in which each module is available (usually only once a year in either semester 1 or 2)
- the method(s) of assessment (e.g. coursework/written assignment/individual or group presentation/online multiple-choice test/online exam/in-person exam).
- module aim and learning outcomes
- the programme(s) in which it appears - if no programmes are listed at the bottom of the module description it is unlikely to run.
Selecting modules from the Modules section
If you select modules using the searchable Modules section of the Catalogue, it is important that you check that they all belong to one programme, year and semester by cross-checking the programme description. A link to the programme(s) the module appears in is at the bottom of the module description.
Also, check that you have chosen the prescribed combination of compulsory and optional modules as this will ensure you don't have timetable clashes.
Note that the first three characters in each module code indicate the broad subject area and the fourth character indicates the year/level of study: e.g. SOC2046 is a Year 2 module offered by the sociology team; ENGM247 is a master's-level/level-M engineering module. Undergraduate students may not choose master's-level/level-M modules.
Integrated master's degrees
We offer a number of integrated master’s degrees – eg. MMaths, MEng, MChem. If you are an advanced-level undergraduate student in your own system, we may be able to consider you for certain M-level modules – please consult the relevant Academic Exchange Coordinator at Surrey before listing these on your learning agreement. You must have a subject-specific cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent and a minimum of 3 years of subject-specific study.
Taking electives
Students who need to take an elective at Surrey and who have little or no background in the subject should select Year 1/FHEQ level 4 modules only. For electives in more technical subjects and modern languages, students will need to provide evidence of previous study in the subject, even for Year 1 modules, and students taking a language module will be tested in their first week at Surrey to ascertain the appropriate level for them.
Taught courses are normally assessed by a mix of in-person and online tests and examinations, coursework and assignments - check out the module descriptions in the Programme and Module Catalogue for details.
You will be assessed at the same time and in the same way as the other students on your course, so if assessment is by in-person examination, you must be able to stay at Surrey until the end of our exam period in January or May-June (see our key dates). In-person exams can not be taken early or at a student's home institution. If you need to leave Surrey early to resume classes at your home institution or to do an internship, you must select modules assessed by coursework/assignment and provide alternatives in case your top choices are not possible.
Students who have a January semester start date at their home institution are advised to come to Surrey either for the full year or for our semester 2 (February-June).
Students on taught courses receive a formal Surrey transcript of records 5 weeks after the end of the semester, which their home institution uses to transfer their credits to their home degree.
We run English Language Support Programme (ELSP) courses completely free of charge and you can register online for up to 3 courses per semester.
Our courses for non-native English speakers include grammar, pronunciation, speaking and academic writing.
We also offer subject-specific courses for electronic engineering students and students who need to write laboratory reports.
In addition, we have courses suitable for native speakers who wish to improve their academic writing, presentation or employability skills.
Weekly classes last between 50 minutes and 2 hours, and courses last between 4-9 weeks.
There is no homework or exams. At the end of each course you can download an attendance certificate as evidence that you have completed the course.
Language software
If you wish to learn a modern language other than English, the University provides free access for all students to the language learning app, uTalk, where you can learn over 25 languages. The app can be used on all compatible devices - you just log in with your Surrey university details.
Film and TV in other languages
All students have access to satellite TV in the Language Study Area with foreign language channels and AV equipment to watch DVDs from our film collection. You can also access a lot of content online, including TV series and films in different languages. After your arrival, you can log in to our film and television page on SurreyLearn for more details about the channels we have available and other options for listening to film and TV in other languages.
Our Global Graduate Award (GGA) offers full-year students the opportunity to take one of two free extracurricular modules, worth 15 Surrey credits/7.5 ECTS credits.
GGA classes run from September-May, involve independent study and assessments, and on successful completion the module and credits appear on your Surrey transcript. They cannot be taken as one of your core modules.
The two courses are:
Global Graduate Award in Sustainability
Our Global Graduate Award in Sustainability will improve your understanding of the world we live in. On this course you will gain an in-depth understanding of a wide range of issues affecting the sustainability of our planet including.
Global Graduate Award in Entrepreneurship
This optional mini-module will help you develop the knowledge, skills and mindset of an entrepreneur. The Global Graduate Award in Entrepreneurship is made up of workshops and coaching, plus a fully-funded field trip, hackathon and hands-on challenges to create hype, run the campus incubator and sell your ideas.
For further details and to apply online by the September deadline, see here.
Study abroad students are eligible to apply for university accommodation and we can usually offer accommodation to all of our visiting students, although it is not guaranteed.
Where is the accommodation?
We have accommodation on the main Stag Hill campus near the academic buildings and further accommodation at our new student residential village, Manor Park, which is a 20-minute walk/5-10 minutes by bus from the main campus. See our campus map (PDF).
What is the accommodation like?
Most of our accommodation is in small blocks of flats, each flat with a shared kitchen and bedrooms for around 5-10 people. All Manor Park bedrooms are ensuite, whilst Stag Hill offers both ensuite and rooms with shared bathrooms. We have a small number of shared, duplex rooms and rooms for students with additional needs, as well as catering for lifestyle preferences such as single sex, quiet and alcohol-free, and for students with financial difficulties. For details of rooms in the different price bands, special requirements, and what is included in the rent, see here.
Prices and payment options
For the price band options and payment details, see here.
How to apply
Applicants will be sent their Surrey student number and invited to apply in June/November, listing your price band order of preference and any special requirements.
Room allocations
We will aim to offer you one of your top choices. Room allocations are made in August and late November/early December. Students pay a £250 advance fee payment to secure their room, and this is taken off the rent invoice sent to your Surrey email address around 14 days after your arrival.
For full details of our accommodation, see our Accommodation pages.
Renting in the private sector
For guidance on finding a room to rent nearby in the private sector, see our privately rented accommodation pages.
Accommodation
With over 6000 rooms to suit a range of budgets and needs, our student accommodation is set in safe, leafy grounds, close to the centre of the vibrant town of Guildford and within easy reach of the exciting world-renowned attractions of London and great transport links to the rest of the UK and Europe, making the University of Surrey an ideal choice for your studies in the UK.
Study abroad students are eligible to apply for university accommodation and we can usually offer rooms to all of our visiting students.
How to apply for study abroad
The application process consists of five stages:
- Check out our courses and tuition fees, find out about the study abroad process at your home institution in good time, apply to study abroad by your home institution's deadline, and go through any selection process at your home institution.
- Study abroad partners nominate students to Surrey. If you are an independent study abroad student, email ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk with your transcript of records to express your interest and let us know your proposed modules. Nomination/expression of interest deadline: 15 April for semester 1 / 15 September for semester 2.
- Application details sent to prospective study abroad students: April/September.
- Surrey application deadline: 15 May for semester 1 / 15 October for semester 2.
- Confirmation of acceptance: mid-June for semester 1 / mid-November for semester 2.
Independent study abroad students will need to submit a letter of recommendation by an academic at their home institution with their application.
You do not need to accept your place at Surrey as it is assumed you wish to come, but if you decide to withdraw your application at any point, please let us know straight away (ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk).
