# University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a public research university in [Guildford](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildford), Surrey, England, established on 9 September 1966 by the grant of its Royal Charter. Its roots reach back to Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded in south-west London in 1891 to provide further and higher education for poorer London inhabitants, and the modern university grew directly out of that institution.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 9 September 1966, by Royal Charter; the University of Surrey Act received royal assent on 3 August 1966[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history) • [2](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/university-of-surrey-charter-1966.pdf) |
| Forerunner | Battersea Polytechnic Institute, founded 1891; first students admitted 1894, 2,406 of them, mostly from the "poorer and artisan classes"[3](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf) |
| Location | Stag Hill campus beside Guildford Cathedral; the move from Battersea was completed in 1970[4](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/alumni/our-alumni/battersea-network) |
| Students | 17,974 in 2025/26, including 5,406 international students; 160,000 graduates in 186 countries[5](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/student-numbers) |
| Research assessment | REF 2021: 33rd in the UK for overall research quality, up 12 places; 41% of submitted research rated world-leading, up from 22% in 2014[6](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/university-surrey-celebrates-research-excellence-accolades-uk-rankings) |
| Teaching assessment | Teaching Excellence Framework 2023: Silver overall, Silver for student experience and Silver for student outcomes[7](https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/_entity/sharepointdocumentlocation/4e9af948-e7c4-ee11-9079-0022481b5c9c/c9f0b614-2d1f-ee11-9967-000d3a8729d5?file=The+University+of+Surrey+summary+TEF+2023+panel+statement.pdf) |
| Leadership | Professor Stephen Jarvis became the sixth President and Vice-Chancellor on 15 September 2025, succeeding Professor Max Lu[8](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/professor-stephen-jarvis-new-president-and-vice-chancellor-university-surrey) |
| Finances | 2024/25 total consolidated income £346.8m; underlying operating surplus of £12.6m after an £11.2m underlying deficit in 2023/24[9](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2425.pdf) |
## History
**Battersea Polytechnic, 1891 to 1966.** The Battersea Polytechnic Institute was founded by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners approved on 23 June 1891 under the City of London Parochial Charities Act 1883, with [Queen Victoria](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-victoria) giving royal approval to the scheme that day.[2](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/university-of-surrey-charter-1966.pdf) • [10](https://blogs.surrey.ac.uk/archives/2017/07/06/a-tale-of-two-charters/) In 1894 the institution welcomed its initial intake, who enrolled in 115 classes covering 64 subjects ranging from the natural sciences, mechanical engineering, and building to art, commerce, and languages.[3](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf) From around 1920 the institute concentrated on science and technology, teaching students for degrees of the [University of London](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-london).[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
In February 1956 [Battersea](https://www.edgepedia.org/battersea) was one of the first eight polytechnics designated a "college of advanced technology", created to teach advanced technology to university standard, and it was renamed Battersea College of Technology in 1957.[3](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf) By the early 1960s the college had outgrown its main building on Battersea Park Road. In 1962, after considering sites including Crystal Palace, Harrow, Stevenage, Hammersmith, Epsom and Barnes, a development advisory committee settled on Guildford, citing the town's countryside, single site and proximity to south-west London and several research institutes.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history) • [11](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2011.pdf) The Robbins Report of 1963 then proposed that Battersea College should expand into a university awarding its own degrees.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
**Charter and the move to Guildford.** The governing body petitioned the Queen in March 1965 for a charter, and the University of Surrey Act, passed on 3 August 1966, dissolved Battersea College of Technology and transferred all its rights, property and liabilities to the new university.[2](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/university-of-surrey-charter-1966.pdf) • [11](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2011.pdf) The Royal Charter formally established the University of Surrey on 9 September 1966, ending the 72-year existence of Battersea College of Technology.[11](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2011.pdf) Dr Peter Leggett, the last Principal of the college, became the university's first Vice-[Chancellor](https://www.edgepedia.org/chancellor).[3](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf) Construction began on a purpose-built campus next to [Guildford Cathedral](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildford-cathedral), students arrived in 1968, and the final departments transferred from Battersea by 1969–70.[12](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/annual-report-and-financial-statements-2020-21.pdf) • [13](https://stories.surrey.ac.uk/celebrating-60-years-of-excellence/) Since July 1970, degree ceremonies have been held in Guildford Cathedral.[14](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-07/UoS%20April%20graduation%20programmes%20FASS%202024%20RGB.pdf)
**Later milestones.** In 1971 Daphne Jackson became the first female Professor of Physics in the UK while at Surrey, and she later helped establish the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) initiative.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history) In 1980 Surrey became the first UK university to offer a single honors degree in Dance.[3](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf) The Surrey Research Park, opened by the [Duke of Kent](https://www.edgepedia.org/duke-of-kent) in 1985, now accommodates more than 100 companies employing about 2,500 staff in research and development.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history) The university expanded to a second campus at Manor Park in the 2000s, merged with the Guildford School of Acting in 2009, and opened its Medical School in May 2022.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
## Campus and student life
The main Stag Hill campus sits beside Guildford Cathedral, with a second campus at Manor Park housing student accommodation, Surrey Sports Park and the School of Veterinary Medicine.[1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history) Surrey Sports Park is a £36 million facility on Manor Park campus serving gym users, elite athletes and fitness classes.[15](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/student-life/campus-life) Guildford is ranked one of the safest university towns in [England and Wales](https://www.edgepedia.org/england-and-wales) by the Complete University Guide 2025.[15](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/student-life/campus-life)
Student numbers have grown quickly in recent years: from 14,746 in 2022/23 to 16,277 in 2024/25 and 17,974 in 2025/26, of whom 13,926 are undergraduates, 2,805 postgraduate taught and 1,243 postgraduate research students.[5](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/student-numbers) The university also had 1,391 students at its campus in China in 2024/25, run with Dongbei University of Finance and [Economics](https://www.edgepedia.org/economics) in Dalian as the Surrey International Institute-DUFE partnership established in 2006.[5](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/student-numbers) • [1](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
## Research and innovation
Surrey's research retains the science, engineering and industrial strengths of its Battersea origins while extending into humanities, arts, business and the social sciences.[16](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-and-innovation-heritage-and-performance) In 1967 Rik Medlik became the first professor appointed in the UK in hospitality and tourism, and the field's first research degrees followed in 1971; Surrey ranked 11th in the world for hospitality and leisure management in the [QS World University Rankings](https://www.edgepedia.org/qs-world-university-rankings) 2021.[16](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-and-innovation-heritage-and-performance)
**Communications and space.** The Institute for Communication Systems, home of the 5G/6G Innovation Centre, is described by the university as the UK's largest academic research center in mobile and satellite communications.[17](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/institute-communication-systems) The 5G Innovation Centre opened in September 2015 with 170 researchers and more than £70 million of investment, including £12 million from HEFCE, and had demonstrated a technology enabling speeds of one terabit per second.[18](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/5g-innovation-centre-officially-opens) The Surrey Space Centre works closely with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, a company the university sold to Airbus (then Astrium) in 2009, on projects such as [RemoveDEBRIS](https://www.edgepedia.org/removedebris), which tested means of removing space debris.[16](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-and-innovation-heritage-and-performance) • [19](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/your-university-autumn-2016.pdf) The Surrey Space Institute launched in 2025, building on more than 45 years of work in small satellites and space infrastructure.[20](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/satellite-communications-engineering-msc/2026)
**Assessment results.** In REF 2021, published in May 2022, Surrey moved up 12 places to 33rd in the UK for overall research quality, with 41% of its submitted research rated world-leading, and entered the UK top 20 for the quality of its research outputs; it submitted 663 staff, 1,519 outputs and 55 impact case studies across 14 units of assessment.[6](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/university-surrey-celebrates-research-excellence-accolades-uk-rankings) • [21](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-excellence-framework-2021) Total research income over the 2014–2020 assessment period was £284 million.[21](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-excellence-framework-2021) In the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 the university received Silver overall, with panel statements citing very high quality teaching, very high continuation and completion rates, and outstanding progression rates.[7](https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/_entity/sharepointdocumentlocation/4e9af948-e7c4-ee11-9079-0022481b5c9c/c9f0b614-2d1f-ee11-9967-000d3a8729d5?file=The+University+of+Surrey+summary+TEF+2023+panel+statement.pdf)
## Rankings and reputation
Surrey was named University of the Year and University of the Year for Student Experience in [The Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-times) and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016, and University of the Year for Graduate Employment for 2022.[12](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/annual-report-and-financial-statements-2020-21.pdf) In the [Times Higher Education World University Rankings](https://www.edgepedia.org/times-higher-education-world-university-rankings) 2026 it reached 219th globally, its highest position to date.[9](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2425.pdf) The Guardian University Guide 2026 placed it 23rd overall with a score of 63.9, including a teaching satisfaction rating of 88.2 and 86% of graduates in graduate-level work or further study 15 months after graduation.[22](https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2025/sep/13/the-guardian-university-guide-2026-the-rankings) The university reports that 85% of graduates progress into highly skilled employment.[23](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/guildford-cathedral-plays-host-town-and-gown-come-together-see-formal-installation-professor-stephen)
## Leadership and finances
Professor Stephen Jarvis, a computational scientist previously Provost and Vice-Principal at the [University of Birmingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-birmingham), took office as the sixth President and Vice-Chancellor on 15 September 2025, succeeding Professor Max Lu, and is leading the university's Vision 2041 strategy, which targets a place among the UK top 15 and world top 100.[8](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/professor-stephen-jarvis-new-president-and-vice-chancellor-university-surrey) • [9](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2425.pdf)
Like much of the English sector, Surrey faced financial pressure in the mid-2020s. Its 2023/24 report recorded an underlying operating deficit of £11.2m and an energy bill that had more than doubled since 2021/22 to £15.8m, prompting a financial resilience program.[24](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2324.pdf) By 2024/25 the university reported total consolidated income of £346.8m, up 4.3%, and an underlying operating surplus of £12.6m, a £23.8m year-on-year improvement, alongside 5% growth in its Guildford student population.[9](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2425.pdf) From 2026/27, full-time undergraduate fees rise by £255 to £9,790 under the government's policy of annual inflation-linked increases.[25](https://my.surrey.ac.uk/news/important-changes-tuition-fees-202627)
In July 2026, [Times Higher Education](https://www.edgepedia.org/times-higher-education) reported that recruitment had been suspended for a number of science and engineering courses, including undergraduate programs in environment and sustainability and mathematics and physics; the university confirmed 11 programs would not run in 2026-27, while the University and College Union said it was aware of 20 courses under threat and criticized the process as covert. The university said portfolio review was a normal annual process and that a program under review is not automatically withdrawn.[26](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/course-closures-university-surrey-raise-concerns)
## References
1. [Our history, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/our-history)
2. [University of Surrey Act 1966, Ch. ix](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/university-of-surrey-charter-1966.pdf)
3. [36 / 120 Years Statement, University of Surrey Annual Review 2010](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2010.pdf)
4. [Battersea network, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/alumni/our-alumni/battersea-network)
5. [Student numbers, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/facts/student-numbers)
6. [University of Surrey celebrates research excellence accolades in UK rankings, 12 May 2022](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/university-surrey-celebrates-research-excellence-accolades-uk-rankings)
7. [The University of Surrey summary TEF 2023 panel statement, Office for Students](https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/_entity/sharepointdocumentlocation/4e9af948-e7c4-ee11-9079-0022481b5c9c/c9f0b614-2d1f-ee11-9967-000d3a8729d5?file=The+University+of+Surrey+summary+TEF+2023+panel+statement.pdf)
8. [Professor Stephen Jarvis announced as the new President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/professor-stephen-jarvis-new-president-and-vice-chancellor-university-surrey)
9. [Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2425.pdf)
10. [A Tale of Two Charters, University Archives & Special Collections Blog](https://blogs.surrey.ac.uk/archives/2017/07/06/a-tale-of-two-charters/)
11. [A brief history of Battersea, University of Surrey Annual Review 2011](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/university-of-surrey-annual-review-2011.pdf)
12. [Our story so far, Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020-21](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/annual-report-and-financial-statements-2020-21.pdf)
13. [Celebrating 60 years of excellence, University of Surrey Stories](https://stories.surrey.ac.uk/celebrating-60-years-of-excellence/)
14. [Nearly 60 years of Surrey degrees, April 2024 graduation programme](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-07/UoS%20April%20graduation%20programmes%20FASS%202024%20RGB.pdf)
15. [Campus life, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/student-life/campus-life)
16. [Research and innovation heritage and performance, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-and-innovation-heritage-and-performance)
17. [Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/institute-communication-systems)
18. [5G Innovation Centre officially opens, University of Surrey, 15 September 2015](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/5g-innovation-centre-officially-opens)
19. [The power of par, Your University autumn 2016](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/your-university-autumn-2016.pdf)
20. [Satellite Communications Engineering MSc 2026, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/satellite-communications-engineering-msc/2026)
21. [Research Excellence Framework 2021, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/research/excellence/research-excellence-framework-2021)
22. [The Guardian University Guide 2026 – the rankings](https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2025/sep/13/the-guardian-university-guide-2026-the-rankings)
23. [Guildford Cathedral plays host as town and gown come together, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/guildford-cathedral-plays-host-town-and-gown-come-together-see-formal-installation-professor-stephen)
24. [Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023/24, University of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/UoS-Annual-Report-2324.pdf)
25. [Important changes to tuition fees from 2026/27, MySurrey](https://my.surrey.ac.uk/news/important-changes-tuition-fees-202627)
26. [Course closures at University of Surrey raise concerns, Times Higher Education, 31 July 2026](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/course-closures-university-surrey-raise-concerns)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Education and knowledge institutions › Higher education › Universities and colleges in Europe › Universities in Western Europe*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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