Spotlight on postgraduate student support

What does student support look like at Surrey?

We’re a one-stop shop for all student enquiries. That could be helping with letters and documents, opening a student bank account, sorting council tax exemption or providing more specialist advice when you need it – from financial hardship and international support, to careers and accommodation advice.

If you’re not too sure of what you’re supposed to be doing, we always recommend coming in to have a chat with our team – we’re based right in the middle of campus in the Hive.

Where should students go if they’re not sure of the best place for their query?

Definitely start with a visit to the Hive. We probably will know the answer but in those rare events where we don’t, we will know who you should speak to instead.

There's also the University of Surrey social media channels (Facebook, Twitter). Anyone can send a direct message on those as well. 

If you’d like to hear from current Surrey students, you can follow our Instagram account @surreystudent. Run exclusively by students, they regularly share updates about life at Surrey and host Instagram Lives to answer your questions. 

Do you have any advice for new postgraduate students?

As a postgraduate student, you’ll already have a good understanding about university life – but anything could happen and it’s important to remember that it’s not embarrassing to ask for help.

Don’t feel like you have to 100 per cent rely on yourself because you’ve been through the university system before. Support is always available to postgraduates the same as it is to undergraduates – there’s nothing wrong in asking for help.

Do you have any advice for international students coming to Surrey?

We have a specialist International Support team who are here specifically to support you with any queries about visas, BRPs, etc.

When you first get here, the International team can arrange to pick you up from the airport so you don’t have to worry about how to get here. We recommend participating in the international orientation programme before all the other students join in September. It’s a really good chance for you to experience not only the University campus but also the wider Guildford area when it’s a bit quieter, and is also a great opportunity to register early.

Do you have any top tips for students to make the most of their time at Surrey?

Yes! Here are a few:

• Ask questions, ask for help if you need it and remember you don’t need to do everything yourself. It’s a great way to build resilience but we have support teams here for a reason.
• If you’re interested in something particular, whether a sport or hobby, the Students’ Union will most likely have a society or sports club for it, so join it! Make sure you join the postgraduate society, too.
• If you’re living in campus halls of residence, make really good use of your Student Life Mentor. They’re current students here who have a wealth of knowledge, so ask them anything, however silly you may think it is. Again, they are here to help and support you.

Overall, try to enjoy your time here. University is more than just getting a degree, it’s everything that goes with it – the whole student experience – that is unique. University has a lot of safety nets and support mechanisms in place – you’re not going through it alone.

Get involved with things that interest you, and have fun! While there is work to be done, there’s also a lot of enjoyment to be had outside of writing essays and exams. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and gain skills for life.

Discover more about student support at Surrey.