Life in Reading

Hello!

I have been accepted in Oxford and I have to move from my beloved Scotland... I am thinking of renting a flat in Reading and commuting, has anyone had this experience? I would appreciate any opinions and advice about the city. Also, being from the EU, are there any possible negatives of living in Reading/England in these times? What about finding a part-time job?
Do not get me wrong, but the uncertainty is making me anxious :frown:

Reply 1

unprinted

19

The person I know who lived in Reading and got a job in Oxford ended up moving there pretty quickly. It's obviously possible to commute - there's a good number of trains between the two - but the costs in money and time add up.

Reply 2

ihatereg

OP

Original post by unprinted

The person I know who lived in Reading and got a job in Oxford ended up moving there pretty quickly. It's obviously possible to commute - there's a good number of trains between the two - but the costs in money and time add up.

Thank you! I am generally thinking about Reading, as it seems that the rents are generally more affordable.

Reply 3

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by ihatereg

Hello!

I have been accepted in Oxford and I have to move from my beloved Scotland... I am thinking of renting a flat in Reading and commuting, has anyone had this experience? I would appreciate any opinions and advice about the city. Also, being from the EU, are there any possible negatives of living in Reading/England in these times? What about finding a part-time job?
Do not get me wrong, but the uncertainty is making me anxious :frown:

Looking at your other posts is it right to assume you're talking about getting a PhD from Oxford? (just to pre-empt the responses saying you can't live out as an undergraduate :wink:

)

Reply 4

Glushko

7

You ought to be aware that students (both undergraduates and graduates) are required by university regulations to live within a certain distance of Oxford city centre. It's relatively easy to dodge this obligation in practice, but if you do live in Reading you might want to be careful who you tell about it....

Reply 5

BJack

19

Original post by ihatereg

Thank you! I am generally thinking about Reading, as it seems that the rents are generally more affordable.

Once you factor in rail prices (c. £50 a week for a 12 month season ticket), how much cheaper is Reading?

Reply 6

nexttime

22

Original post by ihatereg

Thank you! I am generally thinking about Reading, as it seems that the rents are generally more affordable.

I lived in Oxford and worked in Reading for a year.

Firstly, you would require special permission to live so far away from the city centre. The limit is 25 miles for graduates, which I think Reading will fall just outside of: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/why-oxford/accommodation?wssl=1

The train is ridiculously expensive and one of the most crowded services in the UK in rush hour. The train station is not near most departments either (except the Said Business school) so you'll be faced with another commute on top of that. If you're thinking of driving, traffic is not any better and parking in Oxford is a nightmare.

Its also of note that whilst Reading is a much bigger city than Oxford, it seems to have a lot less going on. A big shopping centre and that's about it. At least that was my perception.

Reading also not exactly the cheapest in and around the train station is it?

It also makes socialising awkward.

Your choice. Factor in all the costs and see what you come up with.

Reply 7

unprinted

19

Original post by nexttime

Its also of note that whilst Reading is a much bigger city than Oxford, it seems to have a lot less going on.

It's the way it's so close to London, I think - a lot people in Reading 'go out' in London. Weekends can be particularly quiet there.

Reply 8

ihatereg

OP

Thank you all for the replies!

I am aware of the 25 miles limit, but it is a good idea to look for the special permission to work away from Oxford. The thing is that I am not living by myself, and the other person has to commute to London to work. Living in Reading seems like a working solution.

Reply 9

nexttime

22

Original post by ihatereg

Thank you all for the replies!

I am aware of the 25 miles limit, but it is a good idea to look for the special permission to work away from Oxford. The thing is that I am not living by myself, and the other person has to commute to London to work. Living in Reading seems like a working solution.

Well you gotta do what you gotta do then. I did it for similar reasons, and it cost me thousands of pounds, gave me a sweaty horrible commute, eroded my free time to almost 0... but yes it is possible.

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