Don't Worry Surrey:
Exam Support Hub

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

Study spaces

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 Hive 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.

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 December 2024 and January 2025, a display of advice and suggestions regarding revision, preparation and exam techniques is available on Level 1 of the Library building.


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, we empower 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.

two person's arms

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. Inside you'll find a teabag, mindful colouring, an origami activity, mindful puzzles - perfect for a quick wellbeing break.

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

Find suggestions for refreshing Study Break Ideas across campus or join an origami workshop at lunchtime.

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, or head to Surrey Sports Park to help you de-stress, recharge and stay focused! Every day, courts and pitches and studios have been made available for you to play for free.

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 all-day breakfast at Wates House to unlimited coffee refills at Hillside Coffee, discover our catering offers.

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.

Four students sit around a laptop in the library

Lunchtime Learning drop-ins

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.

Photo of a pen, pair of glasses and calculator on top of papers containing statistics

Maths and Statistics Advice extended drop-ins

Wednesday 8 January, 1pm-5pm
Wednesday 15 January, 1pm-5pm
Maths and Statistics Hub, 11LB01, Level 1 Library

The Maths and Statistics Advice (MASA) team will be running two extended 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

Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays 2pm-4pm
MySurrey Hive Stag Hill

Tuesdays, 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

A female student meditates in front of a laptop

Pause, Breathe, Succeed: Exam relaxation practice

Mondays, 10.30am-11am
Online (MS Teams)

Wednesdays, 4pm-4.30pm
Online (MS Teams)

Join the Centre for Wellbeing for an online relaxation practice to help calm those pre-exam nerves.

Two hands fold a yellow square of paper making origami

Origami workshops

Thursday 9, 16 and 23 January
12pm-2pm
Library Level 1

Library and Learning Services will be supporting student wellbeing throughout the exam period. To help encourage healthy study habits, there will be daily origami workshops on Thursday lunchtimes - a perfect wellbeing break.

Three postgraduate students walk by the lake in the winter sunshine on Stag Hill campus

Mindful Moves walk

Thursday 9, 16, 23 and 30 January
12pm-1pm
Meet at The Library

Step away from your routines, promote mental health, and improve overall wellbeing by joining our weekly Mindful Moves walk.

Each walk will start at 12pm at The Library and finish around 1 pm at The Hideout, where Surrey Moves+ app users will be able to grab 50% off a hot drink afterwards.

Dog Therapy

Tuesday 14 January
1.30pm-3pm
Hari's Bar

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

Students play badminton at Surrey Sports Park

Free sports sessions

Every day
Selected times
Surrey Sports Park

To help you beat exam stress, Surrey Sports Park have opened up courts, arenas and studios every day. Even if you aren't a member you can simply turn up and play for free to help you re-energise. For more information, follow Surrey Sports Park on Instagram.

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 Monday 6 January to Thursday 30 January.

Hillside Food Court Study Space

Open Monday - Friday 10.30am – 8pm

Fresh Smoothies (2.30pm-5pm)

Blend your own smoothie on our smoothie bikes, exercise your body and fuel your brain £1 each.

Fish and Chip Bar (5pm-7.30pm)

Retail range available to purchase all day, including energy drinks, confectionery, crisps, snacks and fresh fruit.

Hillside Coffee Study Space 

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

£2 filter coffee with free refills all day, every day, at Hillside Coffee during revision season.

Wates House

All day breakfast with a free Americano coffee - £8.
Fried eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and baked beans.

Available Monday-Friday 11am - 5pm.

Grab a free healthy snack to fuel your study sessions. Available from The Library every weekday morning and afternoon from Monday 6 January to Friday 24 January.

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