Reuben Sambells

Choosing Surrey

Surrey was always my number one pick for university. The Tonmeister course is a perfect mix of the creative and technical sides of music. Surrey offers a number of scholarships to students, I was lucky enough to receive one from AIR Studios which has really helped me through my first year. I’d definitely recommend having a look at the Surrey website to see what support you are eligible for.

I was blown away by the facilities offered by the Music and Media Department and the opportunities available for a placement year. The huge amount of green space by the lake made me feel really at home and the number of cafes, bars, and restaurants on campus means there was always something to do.

Why are you passionate about your subject?

I’ve always had a love of both music and engineering, so the Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) course is the best of both worlds. You get to be completely immersed in the world of music while simultaneously learning about the interesting technological side of how sound is produced, manipulated and recorded.

Choosing your course

"The Tonmeister course is one of the best in the world in part due to its connections to the music and sound recording industry."

The Tonmeister course is one of the best in the world in part due to its connections to the music and sound recording industry. The department maintain relationships with loads of companies in the industry, like Abbey Road and AIR Studios. Surrey students regularly find work at these companies in their placement year and the roster of graduates that go on to work either for companies or in freelance work and have really fulfilling careers related to the degree is really inspiring.

Surrey staff and facilties

"The facilities are brilliant and open to students 24/7. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable with very impressive careers and the lecturers are always happy to help with any questions or issues you have, whether they are related to the course or otherwise."

Enjoying campus

There's loads to do on campus. The Hideout is a personal favourite. It’s a great place to grab a cup of coffee and relax in between lectures. There’s so many bars and restaurants, Wates do amazing food and it’s a great place to grab a drink and play some pool. The bar by the lake is great to sit and enjoy the sun in summer as well.

Surrey best bit so far

As part of my scholarship, I was invited for a tour of AIR Studios which was really incredible. The music for so many great films, as well as my favourite TV show Doctor Who, was recorded there. It’s amazing to think that a job at AIR is well within the realms of any Tonmeister graduate.

Discover more about our courses in the Department of Music and Media.