Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.

SCORE

GRADE

FIX

REVIEW

PASS

INFO

Checks

7 PASS 2 REVIEW 4 FIX

Link & Button Quality

Action

6 issue(s) across 224 links and 8 buttons

FIX

6 issue(s) across 224 links and 8 buttons

6 link(s) with no accessible text

Links without text are announced as raw URLs by screen readers.

Got: a.js-course-link (#510 on page); http://; #; #; #; #

5 image-only link(s) without alt text

Image-only links need alt text on the image (or aria-label on the link) so screen readers can announce them.

Got: a[href="/news/rolls-royce-chief-executive-and-global-pharmaceutical-leader-are-among-…"]; a[href="/news/our-pee-underutilised-human-urine-could-help-tackle-global-fertiliser-a…"]; a[href="/research"]; a[href="/about"]; a[href="/alumni"]

3 link(s) open in new tab without warning

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

Got: https://app.geckoform.com/public/?_gl=1*1ytdsgx*_ga*NTA5MjQ1Nzc1LjE3MjQ4MzYyM…; https://pg-prospectus.surrey.ac.uk/; https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/UoS-Modern-Slavery-State…

210 link(s) with descriptive text

224 links

6 empty

0 generic text

3 new tab

0 empty buttons

Element	Text	Issue	Suggested Fix
	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
http://	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
#	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
#	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
#	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
#	(empty)	empty	Add link text or aria-label
https://app.geckoform.com/public/?_gl=1*…	Book onto our campus tours	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://pg-prospectus.surrey.ac.uk/	Create your prospectus	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
/news/rolls-royce-chief-executive-and-gl…	Rolls-Royce chief executive an…	img no alt	Add alt attribute to the image
/news/our-pee-underutilised-human-urine-…	Our pee is underutilised: Huma…	img no alt	Add alt attribute to the image
/research	Research	img no alt	Add alt attribute to the image
/about	About	img no alt	Add alt attribute to the image
/alumni	Alumni	img no alt	Add alt attribute to the image
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/f…	Modern Slavery Statement (PDF)	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text

218 links and buttons have descriptive text

Links without text are announced as raw URLs by screen readers.

a.js-course-link (#510 on page); http://; #; #; #; #

Why this matters

Links with no accessible text (empty <a></a>, image-only no alt, icon-only no aria-label) are unidentifiable to screen readers.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 2.4.4

Image-only links need alt text on the image (or aria-label on the link) so screen readers can announce them.

a[href="/news/rolls-royce-chief-executive-and-global-pharmaceutical-leader-are-among-…"]; a[href="/news/our-pee-underutilised-human-urine-could-help-tackle-global-fertiliser-a…"]; a[href="/research"]; a[href="/about"]; a[href="/alumni"]

Why this matters

Image-only links with no alt are unidentifiable to screen-reader users — link's destination is invisible.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 2.4.4

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

https://app.geckoform.com/public/?_gl=1*1ytdsgx*_ga*NTA5MjQ1Nzc1LjE3MjQ4MzYyM…; https://pg-prospectus.surrey.ac.uk/; https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/UoS-Modern-Slavery-State…

Why this matters

Links with target="_blank" without rel="noopener" leak the originating page's window context — security and UX issue.

Learn more ▾

Without rel="noopener", the new tab can navigate the original tab via window.opener (tab-nabbing attack). Modern browsers default to noopener for target=_blank but only since recent versions. Always set rel="noopener noreferrer" explicitly.

Source: MDN target / OWASP

Dark Mode Support

Action

Theme color only

FIX

Theme color only

Theme-color present but no dark variant

A theme-color is set but no dark-specific variant was found. The browser toolbar may not adapt for dark mode users.

Got: #25384a

No dark mode signals detected

Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles

External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.

Dark ModePartial Dark Mode

color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

Print Stylesheet

Action

No print styles

FIX

No print styles

No print-specific styles detected

When users print this page, they get the screen layout including navigation and non-essential elements. Add @media print rules to hide navigation and optimize layout for paper.

Print Stylesheet No Print Styles

Print stylesheet Not found ✗Inline @media print Not detected ✗

Heading Hierarchy

34 headings

REVIEW

34 headings

Single H1 present

6 empty heading(s)

Empty headings appear in the document outline but provide no information.

H2 This website uses cookies
H3 Necessary
H3 Analytics
H3 Personalisation
H3 Marketing
H2 Secondary navigation
H2 Global main menu
H1 University of Surrey
H2 Open days 2026
H3 (empty)
H3 (empty)
H3 (empty)
H3 News
H4 Top 3 for student experience *
H3 (empty)
H3 (empty)
H2 (empty)
H2 Featured content
H2 Campus tours
H2 Open days 2026
H2 Personalised postgraduate prospectus
H2 Latest news
H3 Exposing security loopholes in modern contactless payments
H3 Rolls-Royce chief executive and global pharmaceutical leader are among Surrey's honorary graduates
H3 Our pee is underutilised: Human urine could help tackle global fertiliser and wastewater challenges, study finds
H3 Recordings of local forest soundscapes help to improve wellbeing
H2 Discover Surrey
H2 Let's connect
H2 User preferences
H2 Footer menu
H3 Study
H3 About
H3 Information for
H3 Contact us

Empty headings appear in the document outline but provide no information.

Why this matters

Empty <hN> tags break the document outline — screen-reader users navigating by heading hit dead silence.

Source: WCAG 2.4.6

Color Contrast (Screenshot)

Action

20 text elements analyzed, 20 fail WCAG AA

REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

0 pass 20 fail WCAG AA

h1 University of Surrey

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

32px · bottom of viewport

h2 This website uses cookies

1.06:1

#000000

#070A0E

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · top of page (header area)

h2 Secondary navigation

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Global main menu

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Open days 2026

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Featured content

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Campus tours

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Open days 2026

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Personalised postgraduate prospectus

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Latest news

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Discover Surrey

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Let's connect

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 User preferences

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h2 Footer menu

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

24px · bottom of viewport

h3 Necessary

1.02:1

#000000

#020306

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · above the fold

h3 Analytics

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · above the fold

h3 Personalisation

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · above the fold

h3 Marketing

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · mid-page

h3 Exposing security loopholes in modern co…

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · bottom of viewport

h3 Rolls-Royce chief executive and global p…

1.59:1

#000000

#303030

needs 3.0:1 (large text)

19px · bottom of viewport

Show all checked elements (20)

Element	Ratio	Required	FG	BG	Result
h1 University of Surrey	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 This website uses co…	1.06:1	3.0:1	#000000	#070A0E	Fail
h2 Secondary navigation	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Global main menu	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Open days 2026	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Featured content	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Campus tours	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Open days 2026	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Personalised postgra…	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Latest news	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Discover Surrey	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Let's connect	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 User preferences	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h2 Footer menu	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h3 Necessary	1.02:1	3.0:1	#000000	#020306	Fail
h3 Analytics	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h3 Personalisation	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h3 Marketing	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h3 Exposing security lo…	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail
h3 Rolls-Royce chief ex…	1.59:1	3.0:1	#000000	#303030	Fail

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A+

Landmark Structure

9 landmarks

PASS

9 landmarks

<main> landmark present

4 <nav> landmark(s) found

All <nav> elements are properly labeled

Skip navigation link present

Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it

A+

Alt Text Quality

All 15 images OK

PASS

All 15 images OK

9 decorative image(s) correctly marked

6 image(s) with good alt text

15 images 6 good alt text 9 decorative

All images have appropriate alt text.

Form Accessibility

1 of 7 controls have issues

PASS

1 of 7 controls have issues

1 control(s) without accessible label

Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.

Got: <input type="checkbox" name="personalisation" id="personalisation-pref-checkbox">

6 control(s) properly labeled

7 controls

6 labeled

0 placeholder only

1 unlabeled

Control	Type	Label	Method
input	checkbox	Necessary	none
#analytics-consent-checkbox	checkbox	Analytics	none
#personalization-consent-checkbox	checkbox	Personalisation	none
#marketing-consent-checkbox	checkbox	Marketing	none
#dropdownSearchTermInput	text	Search the University of Surrey website (required)	for/id
#course-level-list	select	Choose a course Level:	for/id
#personalisation-pref-checkbox	checkbox	(none)	none

Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.

Why this matters

Form controls without labels — assistive tech announces 'edit text' with no context; users can't complete forms.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 3.3.2

404 Error Page

HTTP 404, custom page

PASS

HTTP 404, custom page

Correct 404 status code returned

Got: HTTP 404

Custom styled 404 page

Navigation links present on 404 page

Homepage link present on 404 page

Search form present on 404 page

404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page

Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Page Title 404 error | University of Surrey ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✓Homepage Link ✓Search Form ✓

Favicon & Branding

9 icon(s) detected

PASS

9 icon(s) detected

favicon.ico present at site root

HTML icon links detected

Apple touch icon present

SVG favicon detected — scales perfectly to any size

Multiple icon sizes detected

✓ favicon.ico Present

✓ PNG Icons Present

✓ Apple Touch Present

✓ SVG Favicon Present

✓ Manifest Icons Present

✓ Multiple Sizes Present

A+

Web Manifest

PWA-ready

PASS

PWA-ready

Meets PWA install criteria

Name present: University of Surrey

192x192 icon present

512x512 icon present

Display mode: standalone

PWA Install Criteria ✓ Installable

Name University of Surrey ✓192×192 icon ✓512×512 icon ✓Start URL https://www.surrey.ac.uk ✓Display Mode standalone ✓

Name University of Surrey Display Mode standalone Theme Color #25384A Background Color #25384A Icons 3 icon(s)

A+

Lighthouse Accessibility Audits

Score 100/100 — 0 failing, 19 passed

PASS

100

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable

○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state

○The page has a logical tab order

○Visual order on the page follows DOM order

○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region

○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page

○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation

○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology

○Custom controls have associated labels

○Custom controls have ARIA roles

●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`

●`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes

●`[role]` values are valid

●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values

●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled

●Buttons have an accessible name

●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.

●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role

●Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents

●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes

●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio

●Links have a discernible name

●No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0

●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.

●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order

●Deprecated ARIA roles were not used

●Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements

○`[accesskey]` values are unique

○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names

○ARIA input fields have accessible names

○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names

○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.

○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element

○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.

○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names

○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names

○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region

○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.

○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements

○Document has a `<title>` element

○ARIA IDs are unique

○No form fields have multiple labels

○`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title

○`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute

○`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute

○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.

○Image elements have `[alt]` attributes

○Input buttons have discernible text.

○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text

○Form elements have associated labels

○Links are distinguishable without relying on color.

○Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).

○List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements

○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`

○`<object>` elements have alternate text

○Select elements have associated label elements.

○Skip links are focusable.

○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.

○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.

○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value

○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`

○Document has a main landmark.

○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.

○All heading elements contain content.

○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.

○Identical links have the same purpose.

○Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.

○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.

○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.

All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.