Reviewed on Jul 13, 2026(Enrolled 2023)
What Students Say
Likes
- Community is diverse and there always new you'll find and get to explore.
- Facilities, lab facilities are nice, they had top of the line GPUs for training models
- Safety was never a concern, did not have a single incident where I question my safety
Dislikes
- Course can be found intense for beginners
- Some modules could be more hands on than just theory
- High living cost in Guildford
Course Curriculum
8
- The difficulty of the course can vary according to the optional modules you select. People with no prior experience in the field can struggle initially if they don't put in the work. Winter intakes start with the second semester so you are learning about application before learning the fundamentals so you can find it extra difficult.
- Some modules are designed well with both theory and practical while some are just theory, which is not so beneficial. The course is designed in a way that you learn about the theory, and sometimes later in the day/week you have a lab scheduled to apply what you learn. The lectures can 1 - 3 hrs and labs are always 2 hrs, and they are distributed throughout the week.
- The classes are packed and big halls do get crowded. It is mostly Indian, then Chinese and then Arabs only a small part is from other countries or local.
Admission Experience
- I chose the University of Surrey because the people I was around had a good opinion about it. They are also number 1 in the country in Computer Vision and in the top 5 in Artificial Intelligence. The process was straightforward. It was an online application where you had to create an account, fill in the personal details, academic history and course preference. I submitted SOP, Bachelor's degree transcript, CV, 2 academic references, and IELTS.
- The qualification you need is that you need a bachelor's degree with a minimum UK 2:2 or equivalent international grade, and the course should be in a related field like Maths, CS or IT. If English is not the applicant's first language, then they must take IELTS with min of 6.5 overall score.
- I took the Winter Intake since I only got my B.Tech certificate in November, and I did not want to wait for another year to start my Master's. I looked at my options, and I was limited. Most of the universities just started the new sem in september and I did not want to wait another year to join the summer intake. I looked at Universities that started in the winter, which is was right around the corner. The admission process took 3-4 weeks.
- I applied for the winter program, so I had limited options to start with. Two universities I liked were the time was University of Surrey, ranked number 1, and the University of Northumbria. I got rejected by Northumbria, still do not find the proper reason, the only area I can find that may have affected the decision was the SOP. They might not have found it appealing. However, Surrey accepted and confirmed admission.
Faculty
8
- It can vary from 1:20 to 1:30 depending on the module. Core lecture can have 2:100, labs will have 6:30. Teaching methods are usually lectures for foundational theory, hands-on labs for Python, TensorFlow and PyTorch. then there is coursework basted assessments instead of heavy exams. tehre a group projects to develop teamwork and real-world problem-solving skills.
- Faculty did not assist in getting or finding PT or FT jobs. I liked the core professor, and I admired their passion towards the field.
Campus Life
10
- There are 3 campuses, Stag Hill campus, Manor Park and Hazel Farm, all located in Guildford.
- Facilities include: Library, Surrey Sports Park, Medical and Health Services, cafe, shops, Food courts, study areas and Employability Hub.
- There are many celebrations from Freshers ' Week, Varsity Sports Day, One World Culture Festival, Winter and Summer Balls, Career and Industry Fair, Diwali, Christmas, etc. There are many clubs, from academics Societies to cultural societies to Artistic and creative clubs, sport clubs and any student can start one. There are many extracurricular activities, such as sports and fitness, cultural celebrations, workshops, Volunteering, Student Union Engagement, etc.
Part Time Jobs
- TA jobs are limited and competitive, only 5-10 % Msc student manage to secure these; most of them go for PhD students. The pay for these positions ranges from 11 to 18 GBP per hour. There are other on-campus jobs like Student Ambassador, Library Assistant, Barista, Sport Park Jobs and Student Union Jobs. Their wages vary from 10 -12 per hour. Maximum work hours allowed us 20 hrs per week during term time, full time allowed during holidays and breaks.
- Most indian students prefer to work in places that are flexible with shifts and close to campus. I have seen a high number of them working in Retail stores, restaurants, takeaways, Customer Service and Warehouses. The challenge is the high competition; there are a lot of students and a small town with so many opportunities. Student who apply early with a good CV finds a job within 4-8 weeks. The process in simple you apply online, like through Indeed and sometimes have to apply on the company's portal. Then the call for an interview through phone, once that is cleared, you sign the offer letter along with documents like passport copy, BRP card, University enrollment letter, Visa details confirming 20 hours of work limit.
Placement
6
- Around 70-80% of my batch secured employment within 6 months. Most students secure jobs through self-driven applications rather than traditional campus placements. The average salary is 28000 to 40000 GBP, depending on experience and skills.
- They can find a job through online job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, networking, internships and career fairs rather than campus placements.
- Batchmates secure roles such as Data Scientist, ML Engineer, Data Analyst and AI engineering companies like AI startups, NHS Digital, BT, etc. The university have strong industry links and graduates frequently enter tech, consulting and analytic roles
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I chose off-campus accommodation. I found them on the university portal, there was no challenge in finding one. There are accommodations near the university building, like Band A or B. These were quite old, They have another set of building 10 mins walk away. These are newer and offer studio room and also ensuite rooms. I went with these, but I had to walk 10 to 15 mins everyday for lectures and labs.
- They also support private companies like Scape for student accommodation. These places are expensive but very modern.
Exams
- The required IELTS score of 6.5 minimum. Other exams with high scores can help you land the offer but in my case, I did not have the time and IELTS just worked for me. Along with IELTS you have to submit a CV, Two Letter of recommendations, and a Statement of Purpose. There was no interview process for me although I was told to prepare for an interview regarding the admission process.
Fees
- Tuition fee is 24,900 GBP for a 1-year MSc AI program, you can pay in full or 50% in the beginning and the other 50% midway through the program. Accommodation fee can vary, according to the band. Band A is shared and can cost up to 110 GBP per week. I took Band D (ensuite) comes around 220 GBP per week. Most choose Band C or D en-suites. These are charges term-wise on a monthly basis, depending on the contract. All payments are done through the Surrey portal.
- Other charges for international student is the visa, coming around 500 GBP, IHS (Health) 800 GBP, flight 400 - 800 GBP. Monthly cost expect it to be around 1000 - 1300 GBP.
Scholarship
- I got the early payment discount, for around 2000GBP reduced form the total. This is for students who pay the deposit within a short period after getting the offer.
- There are other scholarships like the International Excellence Award which is merit-based, it gives 5000 tuition fee waiver and a GREAT scholarship for Indian applicant, with a minimum waiver of 10000 GBP
