Editing University of Surrey (section)

===Foundation and early period===

[[File:University of Surrey at Battersea.jpg|thumb|The university's original [[Battersea]] campus, including its Great Hall]]

The University of Surrey was preceded by the Battersea Polytechnic Institute which was founded in 1891 and admitted its first students in 1894. Its aim was to provide greater access to further and [[higher education]] for Londoners, including some of the city's  "poorer inhabitants". In 1901, evening classes provided instruction in  subjects such as Mechanical Engineering and Building, Electrical Engineering, Chemical and other trades, Physics and Natural Science, Maths, Languages, Commercial subjects, Music and special classes for women including Domestic Economy subjects. Day classes consisted of Art, Science, Women's Subjects and Gymnastics, and classes were also offered in preparation for university and professional examinations. The institute focused on science and technology subjects, and from about 1920 taught [[University of London]] students,<ref name=Pick1>{{cite book |last=Pick |first=Christopher |title=Understanding the Real World |year=2002 |publisher=University of Surrey Press |isbn=1-85237-246-X |url=http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=764,128643&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |access-date=24 July 2008 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609220923/http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=764,128643&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |url-status=live }}</ref> awarding University of London external degrees.<ref>{{cite web| title=University of London graduates list| url=http://www.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections/historic-collections/archives-manuscripts/university-of-london-student-records-1836-1931/| access-date=4 April 2013| publisher=University of London| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914105055/http://www.shl.lon.ac.uk/specialcollections/archives/studentrecords.shtml| archive-date=14 September 2010}}</ref>

In 1956, the institute was among the first to receive the designation "College of Advanced Technology" and was renamed Battersea College of Technology. By the beginning of the sixties, the college had virtually outgrown its building in Battersea and had decided to move to Guildford. In addition to this, the [[Robbins Report]] of 1963 proposed that the Colleges of Advanced Technology, including Battersea, should expand and become degree-awarding universities.<ref name="Pick1" /> In 1965, the university-designate acquired a greenfield site in Guildford from Guildford Cathedral, [[Guildford (borough)|Guildford Borough]] Council and the [[Onslow Village]] Trust.