The Complete Guide To The University of Reading

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

The University of Reading UK was established in 1926 but has over 150 years of ongoing academic history. Back in 1892, University College Reading was born. Its School of Art and Science was the first to be formed.

Follow us as we go through explore how this institution became the

• 1st UK university to integrate an industrial Research and Development group on campus in 1972
• 1st university to win the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1989
• 1st university in Europe to join the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative
  – an initiative to provide healthy and sustainable meals to students
• Number #1 in the People and Planet University League 23/24
  – UK’s largest student network for campaigning social and environmental justice
• Winner of the THE environmental leadership award in 2023

Total Student Population	32,000 students
Percentage of International Students	19%
Teaching Faculty-to-Student Ratio	1:14
Graduate Employability Rate	88%

1.2 University of Reading UK Rankings 2025

The University of Reading ranks #172 globally on the QS World Universities Ranking and many of its course subjects are ranked within the Top 20 to Top 150 of QS’s Subject Ranking shown below:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Agriculture and Forestry	#20
Archaeology	#49
Earth and Marine Sciences	#49
Development Studies	#51 – 100
Library and Information Management	#51 – 100
Classics and Ancient History	#51 – 150
Arts and Humanities	#92
Accounting and Finance	#101 – 150
Architecture and Built Environment	#101 – 150
English Language and Literature	#101 – 150
Geography	#101 – 150
Environmental Sciences	#108
Business and Management Studies	#131
Economics and Econometrics	#137

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University Of Reading Campuses

The University of Reading UK is beautiful and tranquil inside out. All 3 of its campuses sit among lush green parklands. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by award-winning green spaces, historical architecture and modern buildings.

Whiteknights Campus

If you are a foodie, you might love the Whiteknights Campus.

Key Highlights

• University of Reading UK’s main campus.
• It is a picturesque location with a lake, woodlands and the famous Harris Garden.
• Received 13 Green Flag awards and is one of the UK’s top green spaces.

How To Get Around?
🗺️Located 5 km from Reading town.

• Travel by rail, car, bus, bike or on foot.
• The Earley Station is a 15-minute walk away from campus. 
• Buses run at 10-minute intervals to nearby train stations and stop at the main entrances (Shinfield Road and Earley Gate)

London Road Campus

Let’s dive into the traditions and modern actions of the London Road Campus.

Key Highlights

• A historical campus with a beautiful cloister and refreshing green spaces.
• Houses the School of Architecture and the Institute of Education.
• It has a Great Hall that hosts many university concerts.

How To Get Around?
🗺️2 km from Reading town and a 15-minute walk from the Whitenights campus.

• Travel by rail, car, bus, bike or on foot.
• The Reading Station is about a 20-minute walk from campus.
• Buses services connect you to the Reading station.

Greenlands Campus

Looking for somewhere tranquillity for studying and self-reflection?
Check out the Greenlands Campus!

Key Highlights

• A beautiful campus that sits on the banks of the River Thames.
• Offers a diverse range of business programmes
• Houses open social spaces for networking and cosy spots for studying.

How To Get Around?
🗺️Located 5 km north of Henley-on-Thames.

• Travel by car, bus or train.
• The nearest train stations are Henley-on-Thames and Henley.
• Buses run around every 20 minutes.

2.2 Learning Facilities

2.3 Recreational Facilities

2.4 Student Activities

Campus life at the University of Reading UK is jam-packed with fun activities. Firstly, it has 100 clubs and societies. Secondly, it hosts regular events that cover art, dance, sports, music, culture, and cuisine. Thirdly, it opens job and volunteer opportunities for all to experience.

If you are in for university action, join one of these activities.

• Reading Students’ Union 
• International Street Food Market
• Reading Festival
• STAR Mentors
• Campus Jobs 
• Live music
• Comedy Nights
• Club Nights
• Quizzes

2.5 Student Services

At the University of Reading UK, supporting you makes your time more worthwhile. Hence, it offers various services to help you in dire times. You will connect with specialised teams for specific queries and concerns too.  

• Support Centres 
• The Disability Advisory Service
• University support and adjustments 
• STAR Mentors 
• Peer Assisted Learning
• Wardens and Hall Mentors
• Emergency and Urgent Help 
• Placement Coordinators
• International Student Advice
• Student Financial Support

2.6 University of Reading UK Accommodation and Cost

Reading University (UK) Accommodations

Before you decide, check out the surroundings!

On-campus

• Stenton Hall (GBP 233 /week)
• Childs Hall (GBP 224 – 233/week)
• Stenton Townhouses (GBP 194 – 200/week)
• Windsor Hall (GBP 206 – 330/week)
• Mackinder Hall (GBP 231/week)
• Wessex Hall (GBP 164 – 259/week)
• Bridges Hall (GBP 177 – 231/week)
• Dunsden Crescent (GBP 252/week)
• St George’s Hall (GBP 164week)
• Benyon Hall (GBP 197 – 264/week)

Off-campus

Nearby towns/ villages/ suburbs: Newton, Reading, Earley, Woodley, Whitley Wood, Mill End, Hambleden, Remenham, Henley

Cost of Living in Reading

Are you thinking about studying in Reading? Then, you may need around GBP 278 – 290 per week for rent, food, travel, study materials, personal care and entertainment.

*Note: Your lifestyle will change your weekly expenses. So, plan your budget accordingly.

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study At The University of Reading

Fields Of Study	Courses
Accounting	Accounting & Finance
Agriculture	Agriculture Business Management, Agriculture
Architecture	Architecture, Architecture Business
Art	Fine Art, Art, Art & Film, Art & Psychology, History of Art
Biological Sciences	Biochemistry
Biomedical Sciences	Biomedical Sciences, Medical Science, Physician Association Studies
Business & Management	Data Analytics & Digital Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, HR & Organisation Behaviour, International Business & Management
Chemistry	Chemistry, Chemistry with Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Economics	Business Economics, Economics & Finance, Economics, Mathematics & Economics
Environment	Environmental Management & Sustainable, Environmental Science
Finance	Finance, FinTech, Sustainable Finance
Food Science	Food Science, Food Bioprocessing, Food Technology
Law	Law
Marketing	Consumer Behavior, Food Business, Marketing
Pharmacy	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology
Psychology	Psychology with Neuroscience
Politics & International Relations	Politics & International Relations, War, Peace & International Relations
Surveying & Construction	Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Reading

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of the university’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Reading Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by the University of Reading to international students. Check out the full list here. (Coming Soon)

Scholarships	Details
Vice Chancellor Global Scholarship	– GBP 4,000 will be deducted for each year of your Undergraduate studies. – Applicants must receive an admission offer to an Undergraduate degree. – Has a specific quota for every region listed. – The scholarship will be awarded based on previous academic accomplishments.

3.4 Popular Courses At The University Of Reading

Environment Sciences

“Helping The Planet” is the core of the University of Reading UK. To empower its students, it created an environment that reflects its goals. Some of its inspiring efforts include

• introducing refillable drink bottle and coffee cup schemes
• adding eco-friendly, plant-based recipes to the campus menus
• creating and maintaining open green spaces
• using renewable energy for electricity supply since 2009

In addition, the University enhances the sustainability movement through education and student experience. It designs its subjects with a focus on tackling global challenges. If you want to practise what you learned and do #UoRBit, Reading has related

• volunteer works with NGOs like ZSL Instant Wild and Zooniverse
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP)
• student-led societies like the Reading Environment Crisis Community

(For animal lovers, the University houses over 1,000 animal species.)

By committing to environmental sustainability, Reading became 

• joint-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2007
• THE Environmental Leadership Award recipient in 2023
• QS #61 for Sustainability in 2024

The nation’s #3 for its Earth Systems and Environment Sciences research

Business Courses

Are environmental subjects the only leading areas at the University of Reading UK? Let’s get down to its business studies to find out.

Reading’s Henley Business School has 40 years of teaching experience. Throughout the years, it developed top-notch facilities and studies to support its students. Take its teamwork with the ICMA Center for example. Together, the powerful duo

• designed unique banking and finance-related courses
• combined its courses with financial training by recognised industry practitioners, academics and consultants
• developed 3 dealing rooms with the latest industry-simulated software, and Refinitiv and Bloomberg Terminals for support.

As such, the University gained The Triple Crown from the UK, Europe and the US. (Namely, AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB). It also ranked in the Top 150 on the QS Ranking for Accounting and Finance and Business and Management.

How do all these achievements reflect Reading’s aim of zero carbon and leading change? Well, it covers core disciplines that build businesses, including economics, psychology and sociology.

Developmental Studies

Before we continue, here’s a pop quiz: What drives climate change? Human-made emissions in the atmosphere. Hence, humans are also responsible for reducing it, starting with tackling complex people problems.

Reading University is among the top 150 on the QS Ranking for Development Studies. Its International Development degree touches on real-world issues, such as

• poverty and inequality
• the sustainability of the planet’s resources and food system
• economic growth
• social change
• political transformation

Once enrolled, you will be in the care of a fast-driving community. Your lecturers are members of the Global Development Division and research associates of the Walker Institute for Climate System Research and the Centre for Food Security. Your peers are keen and often encouraged through voluntary work.

(*Tip: Check out the University’s Official Skills Awards, the Reading Experience and Development Awards, a.k.a the RED Awards. They nurture essential career skills and boost your employability through extra-curricular activities. You can find 3 categories focusing on different developmental areas. Among them are personal skills, sustainability actions and global engagement.)

With that, you will gain

• transferable skills and knowledge
• exposure to real-world challenges
• a better CV from your extracurricular activities

English Language, Art and Media

After learning the causes of climate change and how the University of Reading UK addresses them, it is UoR turn to act. Thus, we added the institution’s English, Art and Media studies to the list. Together. Here are our reasons.

1. They are interrelated: No matter which you start with, you can touch on the other two. For example, you can use English to create an impactful script for a film. Or, experiment with different art forms in media production. In short, you develop new ways of delivering your message to people.
   
2. You can study with amazing facilities. The School of Art has facilities that are open 24/7 and curated to various interests. There are 3 different workshop spaces: fabrication, digital and audio-visual. Each space has essential learning resources, including a dark room, a kiln and 3D printing technology.
   
   (*Good news! We heard that there will be an upcoming 18-stage film studio coming to the University of Reading UK’s Thames Valley Science Park. So stay tuned!)
   
3. They are high on the QS Ranking. Being on the QS Ranking means the courses ticked all the boxes for excellence. In 2024, Reading is among the top 150 for
   • Art and Humanities
   • Art and Design
   • English Language and Literature

All together: Lights, Camera and ACTION!

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1 Reading Entry Requirements 2025

 Minimum entry requirements for Foundation:

• STPM: 5Cs

Minimum entry requirements for an Undergraduate Degree:

• UEC: BBBBB
• STPM: BBB
• A-Level: ABB
• IB Diploma: 32 points with 4 points in Maths and English
• Canadian Pre-U: 75%
• Foundation: Consult for more details

Minimum entry requirements for a Postgraduate Degree:
Bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.5 – 3.0/ 4.0

Minimum language proficiency requirements (IELTS):

• Foundation: 5.5 Overall
• Undergraduate: 6.5 Overall
• Postgraduate: 6.5 Overall

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2 University of Reading UK Intake Periods for 2025

The intake periods for 2025 are as follows:

• Foundation: September, January
• Degree: September, January
• Postgraduate: September, January

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process To Study In The UK

Need more information about how to further your studies in the UK? Here are some articles that will be able to help you!

• The Ultimate Study In UK Guide For Malaysian Students 
• Top 10 Benefits Of Engaging A Higher Education Consultant 
• Education Consultant: A Free Study Abroad Guide

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

6. Conclusion

As cliche as it sounds, change starts with you. Together with the University, you can make the world a better place. (For you, for me and the entire human race.) It created an eco-friendly and encouraging environment to fuel the passion for zero carbon. It designed courses and developed facilities addressing pressing global issues. AND, you will be learning with an enthusiastic community.

Go Green, Go Change, Go Reading University! #helpingtheplanet

SEE OTHER UNI GUIDES

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