University of Reading

We have two campuses in Reading. Our main campus, Whiteknights, is the real hub of University of Reading life, offering plenty of places to eat, shop, study and socialise. The campus is a thriving community and features the students’ union, the Library, fantastic study areas, two on-site museums, shops and a nightclub run by the Students’ Union. A short walk down the road, closer to town, is our smaller London Road campus - home to our Institute of Education and School of Architecture. Our students love the more relaxed pace of life there and the beautiful buildings and green space it offers.

The facilities on Whiteknights campus include our Students’ Union - home to the onsite 360 events space, Korean food store, hairdresser, bubble tea bar, printing service and The BagelMan, a favourite of our students. The SportsPark, just by the campus entrance, features a well-equipped gym, plus air-conditioned fitness studios and a sports hall for volleyball and badminton. Our impressive tennis dome, with three indoor courts, adds to the 5 outdoor courts alongside it. We also have a range of synthetic and grass-based pitches if you’re interested in playing rugby, hockey, football or lacrosse. 

Following a £40m refurbishment, our impressive university library in the centre of the Whiteknights campus features 24-hour, term-time access (except Saturday nights) to a wide variety of study spaces, access to more than one million books and a fully equipped computer suite with online access to thousands of e-journals, academic e-books and databases. Our library staff are on-hand to help you navigate your way to the resources you need for your studies.

At the University of Reading, you’ll be guided by expert lecturers who are determined to help you to succeed. Some of the world’s leading academics choose to work with us here at the University.

You’ll enjoy a high-quality education, delivered by staff with a real passion for their subject and backed by a range of outstanding resources.

Our flexible courses enable you to study the areas you’re most passionate about, and you’ll receive a range of accessible academic support.

The University’s degree courses are designed to give you more choice in what you study and how you study it. We offer more than 250 courses, in arts, social sciences, humanities, business and sciences. Most courses offer core and optional modules, allowing you to specialise in the areas that interest you most while building on your core subject knowledge.

Choosing between your favourite subjects can be difficult for some students, especially when you know that the career you want requires a variety of skills. A joint honours course allows you to study two subjects in detail. We offer a wide range of joint honours courses, carefully designed so you can study core modules from both areas. You will feel equally at home in both departments, and you will be supported by an academic tutor throughout your degree.

If you don’t have the typical entry requirements needed for our degree programmes, you might want to consider one of our foundation programmes. A foundation programme prepares you for undergraduate study in a university environment. You’ll study subject-specific modules as well as core skills such as academic writing and research skills.

And It’s possible to discover the world whilst studying with the University of Reading. Depending on your course, you could spend a few weeks, a semester, or an academic year abroad at one of our international partner institutions. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity to study at our campus in Malaysia, which provides the same high-quality learning experience as our UK campuses in an exciting global environment. As a Study Abroad participant, we’ll support you before, during and after your time abroad.

Fees and Funding

The University of Reading understands that finances are an even more important factor in your decision about where to study at the moment.

We firmly believe that money concerns shouldn’t be a barrier to accessing education and make every effort to ensure that you can study here, whatever your financial circumstances. A range of loans and bursaries are available, and these services are available to you whether you’re applying for support before you start at the University or managing your money while you’re here.

If you have any questions about money, don’t hesitate to ask. The University is here to help you succeed during your time with us and we will support you all the way.

Universi

University accommodation at Reading is safe and secure, and close to our beautiful Whiteknights and London Road campuses.

With a variety of options available, you can choose to live in an en-suite, a traditional hall around a courtyard, or a shared flat in a modern residential block. Accommodation prices are all-inclusive, so utility bills, wi-fi, communal cleaning and basic contents insurance are included, giving you peace of mind and helping you to keep within your budget.

The halls are in a great location, either on the main Whiteknights campus or within a 15-minute walk. There are nearly 5,000 student bedrooms available, with catered, self-catered, en-suite or shared bathroom options available. All bedrooms are furnished, as a minimum, with a bed and mattress, a desk, desk light, desk chair, set of shelves and a wardrobe.

The University offers flexibility with a limited number of 38-week accommodation contracts alongside standard 40-week and 51-week contracts. There are quieter-lifestyle areas, single-gender flats and a number of adapted rooms for students with disabilities and special requirements. Some accommodation is also available for families, couples and mature students.

Catered halls offer a flexible meal package at the catering outlet closest to your hall, or at selected outlets around campus, and they also feature small communal kitchenettes with a microwave, fridge, kettle and toaster, so you can still prepare drinks and snacks outside normal catering hours. Overall, 90% of students who use catering plans agree it makes their university life easier.

Our Clever Cuisine eating plans use seasonal food and a plant-forward approach, aiming to put fresh produce at the centre of your plate and using meat and fish from responsible sources.

If self-catered accommodation is your preference, you’ll find a well-equipped kitchen in your halls. It’s the ideal option if you want total flexibility, if you have special dietary requirements, or simply if you enjoy cooking.

One of the best things about the University of Reading is campus life - your chance to enjoy a safe and beautiful environment and a community atmosphere, with Reading town centre on your doorstep.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly, welcoming and supportive university. You can rely on help, not only with your studies but with any welfare issues you might encounter, too.

Three campuses make up the university - Whiteknights campus and London Road campus are within walking distance of Reading town centre.

Our Whiteknights campus is recognised as one of the top green spaces in the UK, as noted by its Green Flag award.

While the University is spread over a beautiful parkland site, the nearby town centre offers a mix of shops, restaurants, sports venues and bars.

For thousands of people, Reading is known for one thing: Reading Festival. This annual music festival will be within walking distance from your halls and presents an opportunity for you to see your favourite bands perform.

Reading Students’ Union, is independently led by five full-time student officers voted into the office each year, it aims to provide facilities, entertainment and opportunities for students.

There are more than 130 sports clubs and societies for you to join, where you can meet like-minded people who share your interests, take part in events and learn a new skill.

You could get involved by joining the Zero-waste society for students trying to live more sustainable lives, the Drama society which regularly hosts its own plays and has even sent performances to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or you could join one of the many music societies ranging from Rock, to KPop to Electronic Music to find people similar to you. There are also plenty of academic societies to help you socialise with people studying your course.

Sport clubs range from football and rugby to snow sports and yogalates. These are just a few examples of current societies on offer. 

If none of the clubs take your fancy, students can create their own.

There are also different student media streams to get involved with including the student newspaper, TV and radio station.

Other support available to students includes a free counselling service, disability support, a financial help service for any problems you might face with student loans or budgeting your money each month, childcare and a separate support service for international students. For academic support, you’ll be allocated a tutor for any queries throughout the year. Your tutor can point you in the right direction of the services available at Reading and you can always arrange to see them.

Just a short walk or bus ride from our campuses, Reading offers a welcoming and vibrant multicultural town and a hub for innovation, culture, creativity, and technology.

Sitting on the doorstep of, arguably, one of the greatest capital cities in the world, Reading boasts a huge variety of restaurants, bars and parks, along with arts and cultural spaces and events. At the weekend, you can watch professional football at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, go shopping at The Oracle shopping centre, or explore a range of independent shops. Entertainment is easily found to suit a range of budgets. Whether you’re having fun with your housemates in the clubs and bars, going to a gig or the renowned Reading Festival, watching a film at one of the nearby multi-plex cinemas, or prefer an evening by the riverside, you might be surprised by just how much Reading has to offer.

There is no shortage of places to unwind in Reading either. Relax with your friends in the many parks or take in the leafy riverside walks. The river Thames flows through the centre of town, close to the Victorian Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins.  Go for a hike along the Thames Path or take a trip to a nearby National Trust property or local heritage site.  There really is something for everyone here.

If sport is more your thing, Reading has no shortage there either. From the nearby water sports and climbing centres to rowing on the Thames, gyms, horse riding, swimming, golf, cycling, cricket, football and rugby, the list goes on and all topped off with a massage at the Thames Lido.

Reading is also home to the headquarters of international businesses, such as Microsoft and Oracle, in addition to the exciting new film studios, built on University land and which are bringing Hollywood directors to our doorstop. Reading is a place to make connections and develop your career, whatever your chosen field. That’s why thousands of our graduates now call Reading home.

2023/24

Welcome starts 18 September 2023

Autumn Term: 25 September 2023 - 8 December 2023

Spring Term: 8 January 2024 - 22 March 2024

Summer Term: 15 April 2024 - 7 June 2024