Career and employability skills
Unlock a world of opportunity
The University of Surrey has a proven track record of producing successful, qualified, and highly employable graduates. It’s why the University was awarded the University of the Year for Graduate Employment by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Career development starts at the International Study Centre
At the International Study Centre, we support you to on your journey to a rewarding career. Career development tasks have been created with employability in mind, and puts you on the first step towards an exciting career. Our expert staff have embedded a range of highly transferrable skills in the modules you study as part of your pathway programme. As part of this innovative programme, you will create an Employability Record — an e-portfolio that tracks the engaging employability activities you’ve completed. Alongside boosting your skills, you’re able to take this record forward, and use it to evidence your learning and passion. The Employability Record is recognised by the Surrey’s Employability and Careers Centre, which will help the dedicated team tailor their advice and guidance.
Learn from experts
As part of your career development, guest speakers come to the International Study Centre and share their stories and knowledge.
Innovative lecturers, senior researchers, and a range of professionals have spoken here.
Maximise your potential at the University of Surrey
To help you graduate with all the skills you need for career success, the University of Surrey combines excellent teaching, and high-quality work placements during your degree.
Surrey's Professional Training placement scheme has been awarded the best university work placement service for four years in a row by the National University Employability Awards (2019-2021).
Top university in the UK for placements
Alongside the National University Employability award, Surrey was ranked 1st in the UK and 12th in the world for work placements by the QS World Employability Rankings 2020. A successful career awaits Surrey graduates.
95% of undergraduates
in work (or further education) within 15 months of graduating.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022
2300+
placement partners
What is the Professional Training placement?
Giving students the best possible start to a rewarding professional career is Surrey’s focus.
A Professional Training placment takes place between your second and third years of undergraduate study and can be up to 12 months long. During that time, you will complete a work placement at one of Surrey’s partners. There are opportunities for you to work abroad too.
This scheme is available on almost all undergraduate programmes — wherever you see your future, Surrey has careers support for you.
Why choose a professional placement?
- Surrey is partnered with over 2,300 national and international businesses.
- Gain valuable experience at important and prestigious companies.
- Apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to a real workplace.
- Gain and develop key professional skills for the future.
- Build connections in your chosen industry.
Some of the companies Surrey students have taken a placement with include:
Prepare for employment
As well as the Professional Training placement, Surrey’s Employability and Careers Centre is an award winning dedicated hub for boosting your employability. The National Undergraduate Employability Awards awarded Surrey’s Employability and Careers team as the Best University Careers/Employability Service in the UK for 2022. The expert staff here can provide guidance and advice to ensure you have the skills employers are looking for.
Surrey also runs a unique Employability Award. Designed to help you focus on developing useful skills, the Employability Award sees you take on a range of extra-curricular tasks that you will collect in an e-portfolio. With evidence of careers-focused activity and personal development, you’re sure to stand out from the crowd.
"The International Study Centre had a really good impact in preparing me for my undergraduate course and my placement year. I realised there's so many things I had to improve and develop. It's really important to have a positive attitude towards your studies."
Glenn from Hong Kong
Studied International Foundation Year – Business, Economics, Law and Social Sciences
