Entry and Application
UCAS Scheme
Your application for entry to full-time first degree programmes must be made online through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). This applies to all UK universities (except the Open University) and certain colleges of Higher Education.
You can seek advice on the application process from your teacher or career adviser. If you are not at a school or college, you should apply independently via the UCAS website. Independent UK applicants can seek advice from various careers organisations (such as Connexions). If you are an international applicant from outside the UK, you can seek advice from a British Council office.
All our programmes are listed on the UCAS website with their UCAS course code. The University of Surrey UCAS number is S85. Our code name is SURR. We do not use campus codes. Full instructions on how to fill out your application are available on the UCAS website.
UCAS contact details
T: +44 (0)870 112 2200
www.ucas.com
You may apply for up to five programmes, formed in any combination of institution/programme listed in the UCAS Directory or website. For example, you may wish to apply to the same institution for more than one programme. (You will have to make a separate entry for each choice to do this.) You may also wish to mix both degree and non-degree programmes if appropriate.
When to apply
UCAS can start to receive applications for entry in Autumn 2011 from 1 September 2010 and all applicants are advised to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and degree programmes.
The normal closing date for receipt of applications is 15 January 2011 for students applying from UK or EU addresses. Applications are accepted by UCAS after this date, but the majority of these will be considered at the discretion of institutions and there is no guarantee that they will be given the same level of consideration as applications received before 15 January 2011.
When to apply – students applying from outside the EU
If you are a student (including an EU national) applying from a non-EU country, UCAS will accept and process your application from 1 September 2010 to 30 June 2011. Please note, however, that most applicants will apply well before 30 June 2011, and if you want to be sure that a place is available on your chosen programme, you should not wait until then to apply. All applications received at UCAS after 30 June 2011 are considered through the clearing process.
Deferred entry
In general, the University is willing to consider deferring an application for one year, if it is felt that this time will be beneficial to your studies. If you are considering deferred entry, we recommend that you discuss this with the admissions tutor for your chosen subject.
Occasional students
If you are from an overseas university and you wish to undertake part of your degree programme at the University, or if you wish to follow specific modules or parts of a programme, you may apply as an ‘occasional’ student directly to the University and not through UCAS, on a form obtainable from the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Employed in industry
If you are employed in industry and hope to be sponsored by your employer to study on a programme listed in the UCAS Directory, you must apply through UCAS in the normal way.
Admissions Policy and Selection
The University of Surrey offers a high-quality learning environment which supports you to achieve your full potential in your academic discipline and prepares you for your career and lifelong learning.
It is University policy that all applicants are considered primarily on merit and their academic potential. We welcome applications from people who, in addition to any formal qualifications, can demonstrate:
• Intellectual ability (sufficient to profit from the rigorous demands of a degree programme)
• Suitability for their chosen programme of study
• Motivation to study
• Interest in their chosen subject
Applications will be considered on the basis of:
• Your prior academic achievement, or experiential learning
• Any expected results in formal examinations
• Your personal statement in support of your application
• Your referee’s assessment of your academic abilities
• Your performance at interview (where an interview is part of the admissions process)
If an offer is made without interview, you can still visit the University on our UCAS days before confirming your choice. It is usual for mature students to be interviewed to assess academic potential and suitability for the programme.
Please contact the Undergraduate Enquiries Team if you are uncertain whether you meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements. Compliance with the General and Programme Entrance Requirements does not in itself entitle any student to admission.
Admission to the University is subject to your acceptance and observance of the University’s rules and regulations. Our full Admissions Policy, including information on the Contract of Admission and complaints procedure, can be found on our website:
General Entrance Requirements
For individual programme requirements, please see programme entries.
Entry requirements
The usual minimum entry requirements for degree programmes are shown below. The Factfile section of each programme entry details grade requirements, subject prerequisites and any other additional, specific requirements.
General Certificate of Education
You should have at least two full A levels; however, most programmes require three specific A level subjects for admission, which is stated in the Factfile under each subject entry. If you have A levels in applied subjects, you should have a minimum of two single awards or a double award qualification.
If you have other combinations of GCE and A levels in applied subjects, you should check with the relevant admissions tutor about the suitability and acceptability of your qualifications before applying.
Special requirements for Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedic Practice and Operating Department Practice programmes
Admission to these programmes is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) Section 4 (2) (Exemptions) Order 1975 and DHSS Circular HC (88)9 guidelines regarding police checks and child protection. Offers are conditional upon satisfactory health and fitness for practice screening, references, successful Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance and eligibility for the NHS bursary.
International students should contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences to check their eligibility for the NHS bursary. Candidates should have the ability to follow a shift pattern covering 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and be able to meet travel requirements.
Access courses
Access courses are designed for students who have the aptitude to succeed at university but lack entry qualifications of an appropriate level or standard. They are good preparation for studying in Higher Education, but it is important to check that the course taken is suitable for your chosen degree programme.
Other qualifications
A range of other qualifications are acceptable as meeting the minimum entry requirements:
• BTEC National Diploma or Certificate
• Scottish qualifications
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• European Baccalaureate
• Irish Leaving Certificate
• Access Diplomas and Foundation courses
• Cambridge Pre-U
General notes
i) The entry requirements listed apply to degree programmes. Applicants for diploma programmes should refer to the relevant programme entries.
ii) No subject may be counted at more than one level and passes in subjects which contain a high proportion of common material will not be counted separately.
Advanced diplomas
The University is committed to working in partnership with providers of the new diplomas developed as part of the reforms to the 14-19 curriculum. As more details of the new diplomas are released, specific information on entry requirements and progression routes will be available via the University and UCAS websites.
Key skills
The University is at the forefront of the incorporation of key skills into all degree programmes and welcomes evidence of competence in key skills.
Overseas qualifications
We recognise the value of the international dimension in education and welcome applications from overseas. International students may be able to meet the General Entrance Requirements through their own country’s matriculation certificate. You should contact the Undergraduate Enquiries Team about the acceptability of your qualifications.
English language
If your first language is not English, and you have not been taught in English or studied to A level standard in the UK, you will need to demonstrate a minimum level of competence through one of the following:
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Band 6.5)
• UCLES Certificate of Proficiency in English (Grade C)
• GCSE/GCE Ordinary Level in English Language (Grade C)
• NEAB University Entrance Test in English
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (score 550 in the paper-based test, 79 in the Internet-based test)
• TEEP Test in English for Educational Purposes (6.0)
• Oxford Examination in English as a Foreign Language (Higher Distinction)
• UCLES Business English Certificate (Level III)
However, the standard of English required varies depending on the intended programme of study, and you should consult the relevant factfile of your chosen subject for details.
Students with an IELTS score 0.5 below the minimum for their programme (and no less than 1.0 below the minimum in each paper) will also meet our entry standard upon successful completion of the University of Surrey's pre-sessional English programme PS10.
www.surrey.ac.uk/languages/english
Mature Students
We believe that mature students make an important contribution to university life through their range of experience and non-traditional qualifications. We are very aware that mature students are usually highly motivated and often very successful on the programmes they undertake. The University therefore welcomes applications from mature candidates.
Mature applicants may satisfy the entry requirements through standard academic qualifications. However, the University is also willing to give careful consideration to those who can provide evidence of their commitment to academic study through a range of other awards and experience. These include but are not limited to: credits with the Open University, Special Certificate courses, NVQ awards or other courses specially designed to assist mature students to restart academic study. The University also has links with a number of Access programmes.
Applications from mature candidates are considered on an individual basis. You will therefore need to contact the relevant admissions tutor before submitting a formal application. The admissions tutor can advise as to whether you are suitably qualified for entry to the programme.
Credit accumulation and transfer or recognition of prior learning
Sometimes the skills, knowledge and abilities obtained through life, work and study can be equivalent to those obtained by students following traditional programmes of study. The University sees credit accumulation and transfer, coupled with the rigorous assessment of prior learning, as an important means of entry for many students. The Undergraduate Enquiries Team can advise you if you have any questions.
Students with Disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties
The University welcomes applications from students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties. The University’s policy of equal opportunity means that all applicants will be considered primarily on merit and their academic potential. However, occasionally, other criteria may need to be considered, such as the requirements of professional bodies. For example, applicants to Nursing programmes must undergo an occupational health check. It is also essential in some cases for the University to know the nature of a disability in advance, so that we may advise an applicant on what facilities and arrangements may be available.
If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) or mental health difficulty, you are encouraged to disclose this on the application form. Following this disclosure, an admissions questionnaire will be sent to you by the Undergraduate Admissions Office and it should be returned to Additional Learning Support (ALS). The questionnaire will allow ALS to forward appropriate information. The questionnaire is not part of the selection criteria.
You may be invited to an informal interview with ALS to discuss your support needs. These interviews are separate from academic interviews though usually include the disability advisor and admissions tutor, so that support within the Department can also be explored. All disclosures of a disability will be handled sensitively by admissions staff. If you have concerns about disclosure, the disability advisors in ALS will be pleased to discuss your needs in confidence.
If you require personal support, such as care workers or adaptations to accommodation, you are asked to write to ALS before submitting a formal application, so that particular consideration may be given to the individual needs existing in your case. You should indicate the programme or programmes in which you are interested and the nature of your disability; this information will be used in confidence and positively to assess the University’s ability to arrange effective support or make adaptations.
Applicants will be given the opportunity to make a realistic assessment of the University’s ability to meet their needs. Where necessary a visit to the campus is normally arranged as part of the admissions procedure and in every case where mobility is a difficulty, because of the nature of the site. The University will be honest about those exceptional situations where the level of support necessary in individual cases cannot be met or competence standards cannot be achieved even with reasonable adjustments, or where there are serious health and safety issues.
The University has a policy on the admission of students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties and it is available on our website:
