Don't Worry Surrey:
Exam Support Hub

Don't Worry Surrey, in collaboration with your Students' Union, is here to support you through your exams.

From study spaces to revision guides, we've got it all here. You can also find a range of wellbeing events and budget-friendly food and drink offers.

We know exams can be stressful, but remember that there is plenty of support available at Surrey.

Study spaces

Looking for somewhere to revise? Whether you need somewhere quiet to study uninterrupted, or you prefer other people around to keep you on track, we've got a range of study spaces to suit your needs.

Four students study together in the library

Library

Open 24 hours a day during semester, the Library offers a range of study spaces and resources to suit your working style, and dedicated specialist staff to support you when you need it.

Throughout the exam period, a display of advice and suggestions regarding revision, preparation and exam techniques is available on Level 1 of the Library building.

My Surrey Dot Space

MySurrey Dot

Located in various places across campus, there are five MySurrey Dot spaces to choose from. These are dedicated spaces for studying, revising and group work.

MySurrey Hive

MySurrey Hive

With flexible seating, booths with TV screens and bookable rooms, MySurrey Hive Stag Hill and Manor Park are open seven days a week between 8.30am – 11.30pm. You can also speak to our friendly assistants for advice and support related to any aspect of your student life.

IT Labs

There are hundreds of PCs across campus and they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Check availability using our live PC finder below.

A view of the family study room in the library

Family study room

The Family Study Room in the Library is a dedicated study space designed for University of Surrey students with children. Here you can work and study in a family-friendly, secure space alongside your children.

Your wellbeing during exams

The exam period is a busy time, which can lead to stress, anxiety and put additional pressure on existing mental health conditions. If you need support throughout the exam season, there are a number of services to help you.

Immediate Support

There are a number of on and off-campus services available to those who need immediate help.

Centre for Wellbeing

The Centre for Wellbeing is there if you would like to talk to a mental health professional about a personal, emotional or psychological issue.

Support from the Students' Union

The Students’ Union Support Zone, led by the VP Support, can assist you with your mental and physical wellbeing, as well as offering academic support.

ThriveWell

Through one-on-one support, workshops, and outreach activities, ThriveWell empowers students to develop coping strategies, build resilience, and access appropriate support services.

Health Assured

Health Assured is a Student Assistance Programme designed to help you deal with personal or student-related problems. They offer a free 24/7 phoneline and the Wisdom App.

Let's Talk

Your space for wellbeing support and connection. Find professional help, peer-led support, or discover other people's stories to help you have meaningful conversations about wellbeing.

Samaritans

Samaritans is a charity that focuses on reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection.

As well as having a permanent location in Guildford you can call free on 116 123 or volunteers will be on campus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

two person's arms
A shadow of two people making a heart shape with their arms

Samaritans

Samaritans is a charity that focuses on reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection. The volunteers make sure that there is someone available 24/7 for anyone in need.

As well as having a permanent location in Guildford and 24/7 support (call free on 116 123) the Samaritans will be on campus for anyone who needs support during this time.

Tuesday 6 May - 12pm-2pm - Vet School (VSM), Manor Park
Wednesday 7 May - 12pm-2pm - GSA, Stag Hill
Thursday 8 May - 12pm-2pm - MySurrey Hive Stag Hill
Tuesday 13 May - 12pm-2pm - Kate Granger Building (HSM), Manor Park
Thursday 15 May - 12pm-2pm - MySurrey Hive Stag Hill
Tuesday 20 May - 12pm-2pm - Vet School (VSM), Manor Park
Wednesday 21 May  - 12pm-2pm - GSA, Stag Hill
Thursday 22 May - 12pm-2pm - MySurrey Hive Stag Hill
Tuesday 27 May - 12pm-2pm - Kate Granger Building (HSM), Manor Park
Thursday 29 May - 12pm-2pm - MySurrey Hive Stag Hill
Tuesday 3 June - 12pm-2pm - Vet School (VSM), Manor Park
Wednesday 4 June  - 12pm-2pm - GSA, Stag Hill
Thursday 5 June - 12pm-2pm - MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

What's on

Whether you need a bit of help with revision, or need a break from studying, check out our range of events aimed at supporting you through the revision and exam period.

Academic advice and support

Four students sit around a laptop in the library

Academic Skills and Development

Mondays 12 - 1pm
Wednesdays 12 - 1pm
Learning Development Zone, Library Level 1

Whether you feel unsure about how to approach your assignment, or just need confidence to make sure you’re on the right track with your exam and revision strategies, the drop-in can help you to develop your learning. Chat with the Academic Skills and Development team (Learning Development Advisor and Learning Development Librarian) to help you develop your skills and confidence.

A member of library staff gives maths and statistics advice

Maths and Statistics Advice drop-ins

Mondays 11am - 1pm
Wednesdays 3pm - 5pm
Maths and Statistics Hub, 11LB01, Level 1 Library

The Maths and Statistics Advice (MASA) team will be running their regular drop-in sessions to support you with revision techniques, exam advice and any maths or statistics concepts.

Normal Maths and Statistics Advice (MASA) drop-ins continue to take place on Mondays 11am-1pm and Wednesdays 3pm-5pm or you can book an appointment.

Two students talking in MySurrey Hive

Disability and Neuroinclusion drop-ins

Tuesdays, Thursdays 2pm - 4pm
MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm
MySurrey Hive Manor Park

The Disability and Neuroinclusion team are here to provide advice and support to ensure you achieve your potential. Attending one of the daily term-time drop-in sessions is normally the quickest way to speak to a member of the team

Two students chat in MySurrey Hive

Student Union academic advice drop-ins

Tuesdays (until 27 May)
1pm - 3pm
MySurrey Hive Manor Park

Thursdays (until 22 May)
1pm - 3pm
MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Got a question or concern? Pop in and speak to your Students' Union Support Zone.

Overcoming ADHD Exam Stress: Tools and Techniques for effective studying

ThriveWell, in collaboration with the Centre for Wellbeing, are running a series of three online workshops for students with ADHD to help equip you with the tools and techniques for effective studying

A head flatlay made up of coloured shapes

Understanding ADHD and how it affects learning

Tuesday 6 May
2pm - 2.45pm
Online

Understand how ADHD influences attention, memory, motivation and executive functioning.

a fidget toy

Study strategies for ADHD brains

Tuesday 13 May
2pm - 2.45pm
Online

Discover study strategies that work with ADHD tendencies rather than against them and build your own study toolkit.

Flatlay of a notebook, pens and highlighters

Sustaining focus, motivation and self-compassion

Tuesday 20 May
2pm - 2.45pm
Online

Join us for an online workshop focusing on integrating strategies into your daily lives, prevent burnout and manage setbacks with resilience.

Wellbeing events

Taking some time out from revision is essential, both to improve focus and your ability to retain information, but more importantly for your wellbeing. Our take a break section has a range of ideas for taking some time out, or check out the events below.

A red apple with a bite taken out in the shape of a heart

Hive and Healthy

Wednesday 7 May
12pm - 4pm
MySurrey Hive Manor Park

Join the Events and Communities team in MySurrey Hive Manor Park for free healthy snacks, a chance to win free merchandise and chat to our dedicated Hive team.

Squash at Surrey Sports Park

Squash

Friday 9 May
4pm - 6pm

Surrey Sports Park

Head down to Surrey Sports Park and beat the exam stress with Team Surrey's free* Playsport sessions. For more information, follow Surrey Sports Park on Instagram.

Students play badminton at Surrey Sports Park

Badminton

Sunday 11 May
10am - 12pm

Surrey Sports Park

Head down to Surrey Sports Park and beat the exam stress with Team Surrey's free* Playsport sessions. For more information, follow Surrey Sports Park on Instagram.

A small plant in a pot on a windowsill

Plants and pots

Monday 12 May
2pm - 3pm
Library, Level 1

Did you know that indoor plants can improve your mood and reduce stress levels? Head to the Library, where staff will be on hand giving out small plants and potting-up tips.

Two students share a joke in MySurrey Hive

Wellbeing café

Monday 12 May
4pm - 6pm

MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Join the ThriveWell team for free drinks and biscuits, mindful colouring, board games and a chance to connect with fellow students. No need to book.

A hand with purple nail polish holds a fizzing purple bath bomb

Remind and Rewind with Lush

Tuesday 13 May
2pm - 3.30pm

LTB, Lecture Theatre Block

Get to know Lush products with hands-on demos and an opportunity to try out skincare products tailored to your skin type. Learn about the importance of your microbiome and the benefits fresh and handmade products have for you and the environment. You will take home a mini pamper pack to continue relaxing at home and a little treat on us!! 

A therapy dog holds out its paw at Dog Therapy event

Boost your Brand

Wednesday 14 May
12pm - 4pm
MySurrey Hive Manor Park

Join the Events and Communities team in MySurrey Hive Manor Park for drop-ins with your careers consultants and free LinkedIn checks and advice.

Two students share a joke in MySurrey Hive

Wellbeing café

Monday 19 May
4pm - 6pm

MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Join the ThriveWell team for free drinks and biscuits, mindful colouring, board games and a chance to connect with fellow students. No need to book.

A therapy dog holds out its paw at Dog Therapy event

Dog Therapy

Wednesday 14 May
1.30pm - 3pm
Hari's Bar

Pet the stress away with some cuddly, furry friends with your Students' Union Support Zone.

A student holds a takeaway coffee in one hand and her phone in the other outside Hillside Coffee

Morning Boost

Tuesday 20 May
10.30am - 11.30am
MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Make a positive start to the day during the exam period. Swing by MySurrey Hive Stag Hill for a free grab-and-go breakfast to help you stay nourished and focused. The ThriveWell team will be handing out wellbeing resources such as grounding techniques to support you manage stress and anxiety during exams.

Craft materials including coloured card, pens and scissors

Crafternoon with your Students' Union

Tuesday 20 May
3.30pm - 5pm
MySurrey Nest

Take your mind off studying for a few hours and head down to MySurrey Nest for an afternoon of crafting.

A cup of tea

Time for tea (and me)

Wednesday 21 May
12pm - 4pm

MySurrey Hive Manor Park

Join the Events and Communities team in MySurrey Hive Manor Park for free herbal tea, journaling corner and check-in with your dedicated ThriveWell team.

A hand holding a pen makes notes with a mug on a desk in the background

Exam power-up

Wednesday 28 May
12pm - 4pm

MySurrey Hive Manor Park

Join the Events and Communities team in MySurrey Hive Manor Park for brain-boosting snacks, revision techniques and stress management sessions with the ThriveWell team.

A pair of hands hold an outline of a silhoutte with the brain depicted as a tree in muted colours

Managing Anxiety workshop

Thursday 29 May
2pm - 2.30pm
Online

Join ThriveWell for an online workshop designed to help you gain a better understanding of anxiety and how you can manage it.

Two students share a joke in MySurrey Hive

Wellbeing café

Monday 2 June
4pm - 6pm

MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Join the ThriveWell team for free drinks and biscuits, mindful colouring, board games and a chance to connect with fellow students. No need to book.

Craft materials including coloured card, pens and scissors

Crafternoon with your Students' Union

Tuesday 3 June
3.30pm - 5pm

MySurrey Nest

Take your mind off studying for a few hours and head down to MySurrey Nest for an afternoon of crafting.

A person with a duvet over their eyes in a bed

Improving your sleep

Thursday 5 June
2pm - 2.30pm
Online

Join ThriveWell for an online workshop designed to help you get a better night's sleep.

Tennis at Surrey Sports Park

Tennis

Sunday 8 June
3pm - 5pm

Surrey Sports Park

Head down to Surrey Sports Park and beat the exam stress with Team Surrey's free* Playsport sessions. For more information, follow Surrey Sports Park on Instagram.

Take a break

Taking breaks during revision is crucial for maintaining focus and preventing burnout, allowing the brain to recharge and process information more effectively. Regular pauses can improve retention and productivity, making study sessions more efficient and sustainable.

Mindful colouring - a hand holds an orange colouring pencil and colours in a flower on a sheet of white paper with other colouring pencils laid beside

Brain breaks

If you're studying in The Library, grab one of their Take a Break Envelopes from Tuesday 6 May. Inside you'll find a teabag, mindful colouring, an origami activity, mindful puzzles - perfect for a quick wellbeing break.

Be sure to check out the Give and Take Wall - with free sweets and a board that encourages you to take what you need, give what you can - take a positive message away or write one for someone else.

Why not take a break from studying with some leisure reading? Explore our SurreyReads leisure reading collection for a mental getaway.

Two females run on the grass outside Surrey Sports Park

Stay active

As well as having a number of physical benefits, exercise is hugely beneficial to your mental wellbeing. As you exercise, your body releases endorphins – a hormone described as nature’s antidepressant – which triggers a positive feeling in the body, increasing happiness and boosting energy levels.

Boost your mind and body this exam season. Get outside for a walk in nature; grab a map from the Library Welcome desk and head out on a guided campus tree walk.

Or head to Surrey Sports Park to help you de-stress, recharge and stay focused! A Gold SSP membership includes gym access, fitness and wellbeing classes, an Olympic sized pool and the annual membership features access to over 150 gyms across the country with BUCS UNIversal. Sign up via the Surrey SP app or contact sales@surreysportspark.co.uk.

SurreyMoves+ is the free-to-use physical activity tracker app for Surrey students. Earn points for walking, running, swimming and cycling and redeem your points on a range of rewards including food and drink at University catering outlets and SurreyMoves+ branded merchandise.

Salad bar at Hillside Food Court

Eat well

When you're busy revising it can be tempting to skip meals, but eating well is essential for maintaining energy levels and supporting brain function, which are crucial for effective learning and concentration.

Grab a free healthy snack from The Library or blend your own smoothie at Hillside Food Court for just £1.

From a filling hot meal at Wates House to free coffee refills at Hillside Coffee, discover our catering offers.

A person with a duvet over their eyes in a bed

Prioritise a good night's sleep

A late-night study session in the Library might seem like a good idea, but at what cost? Studies show that students who prioritise sleep have better cognitive performance, better decision-making skills and improved critical thinking abilities.

Read second year Gabi Hayward's tips for a good night's sleep.

orange fruit and green fruit

Food and drink offers

Bringing brain food to you during revision season

Revision and exam periods can be a stressful time of year, so it’s important to find time to stop for a hot drink or something to eat. Take a look below for locations you can grab free snacks, unlimited hot drinks, refreshing smoothies and more.

Available Tuesday 6 May to Friday 6 June.

Hillside Food Court Study Space

Open Monday - Friday 10.30am – 3pm

Feed your brain with our healthy snacks! Protein balls, fruit bars, fresh fruit and new graze protein snack pots.

Take a fun break from your studies and use our smoothie bike to make a fresh fruit smoothie.

Hillside Food Court meal deal

Grab yourself a nutritious hot meal from the chef's corner with a drink and chocolate bar for just £3.50 (available 11.30am - 3pm).

Energy drinks, confectionery, crisps, snacks and fresh fruit are available to purchase all day.

Hillside Coffee Study Space 

Opening times
Monday - Friday 7.30am - 7pm
Saturday - Sunday 10.30am - 4pm

Buy an Americano coffee and get two free refills every day during revision season.

Wates House

Relax after a hard day's studying with one of our offers, available Monday-Friday 12pm - 9pm.

Beef burger or piri-piri chicken burger and a pint of Carling or Coors £13.50

Wates rice bowl and any soft drink £7.50

Or join us for Happy Hour - Monday to Friday 6pm - 8pm

Grab a free healthy snack to fuel your study sessions. Available from The Library every week day from Monday 12 May.

Extenuating Circumstances

During the course of your studies you may experience unforeseen exceptional circumstances that temporarily impair your ability to participate in your programme, submit your assessments or attend examinations.

Surrey Students' Union Support Zone staff give their advice around Extenuating Circumstances (ECs), academic misconduct and technical issues.

Help with Extenuating Circumstances (EC) from your Students' Union

If you are worried about the EC process throughout exams or you are not sure if you need them, you can speak with one of our independent academic advisors. Your Union advisors are independent from the University and can provide advice and guidance. If you are unsure of your circumstances being considered valid, the evidence you need, or if you'll get the outcome of an EC, we can help you. It is worth noting that we do not make any decisions on your EC and cannot guarantee an outcome, but have the experience to support you and guide you.

For help, or for more information, email ussu.advice@surrey.ac.uk.

SurreyLearn help guides

If you struggle to prepare and plan for exams, and want some quick tips you can use the SurreyLearn help guides below:

Guidance for use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools

If you are considering using Gen AI - such as the text generative ChatGPT - to support your learning and assessments, the University has produced some guidance which will help you make confident, responsible and informed decisions about any potential use of Gen AI in your studies.

Since exams went online, there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of misconduct cases being investigated by the University.

Read your Students' Union's advice for avoiding academic misconduct and plagiarism.

How we mark your work

The University has a 13-step process to ensure that your work is marked fairly and consistently. This applies to every piece of summative work that you submit. To help explain this process, we have created an infographic so that you can see what happens at each step. 

Graphic showing the 13 steps to make sure your work is marked fairly and consistently. 1. Your lecturer sets your assessment, reviewed by other subject experts. 2. Your lecturer shares details of your assessment and how it will be marked. 3. Your lecturer answer questions in your seminar, discussion board or Q&A session. 4. You submit your assessment, or you sit your exam. 5. Assessment is normally marked and students provided with constructive feedback within 3 semester weeks (exams follow a slightly different timeline). 6. A sample of work is then looked at by a second lecturer for fairness and consistency. 7. Some assessments, like dissertations, are marked twice. 8. Sometimes marks are raised or lowered. 9. Your provisional (non exam) assessment marks and feedback becomes available on SurreyLearn. 10. Academics from other universities (external examiners) review samples of work. They report to and attend a Board of Examiners along with your lecturers. 11. Rarely they may find an unusual range and ask for an adjustment. 12. Your provisional marks become agreed on your student record. 13. The University reflects on outcomes across all programmes