University of Reading

The University of Reading is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world and enjoys a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise.

Established as an extension college of Christ Church, Oxford in 1892, we received a Royal Charter in 1926. Campus life at the University of Reading has much to offer our 16,000 students. Our diverse student population offers a cosmopolitan experience, with 20% of our students coming from over 125 countries.

Areas of academic excellence

The University has strengths in most of the traditional subjects (Law, English, Mathematics etc.) but also offers teaching in areas with few national providers. Its Meteorology Department has been described by the former head of the Met Office as the best in Western Europe; only one university can rival it in Real Estate and Planning and only two in Construction Management. The School of Biological Sciences is also closely involved with the renowned Eden Project in Cornwall. The Henley Business School is a leading international business school and one of few business schools to hold triple accredited status.

Our institution is highly regarded, nationally and internationally, for the quality of our research, and we are committed to ensuring that our postgraduate research students benefit from our outstanding research environment. We are also committed to ensuring that our students have good supervision and support, and this is reflected in our very high submission rates and subsequent post-graduate employment rates. Our research excellence extends across a broad range of disciplines in the life sciences, environmental & physical sciences, economics, business & social sciences, and arts & humanities. In the outcomes of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) over 87% of the University's research rated as of international standing. We are home to several centres of excellence and conduct world-class research across a broad range of disciplines.

Funding opportunities

The University of Reading offers a range of funding opportunities for taught and research students in all disciplines. The extent of these awards varies, from payment of fees paid and a stipend for each year of study, to smaller awards to support fieldwork and attendance at conferences. These funding opportunities are awarded via an application process. Applications are reviewed by a board of academic members of staff, looking at academic merit, research aims and academic references. More information can be found by contacting our Student Financial Support office.

The Reading experience

Our magnificent setting is one of the University's greatest attractions. Many hectares of mature parkland provide the backdrop to an interesting mix of traditional and modern architecture to create a unique campus atmosphere. Facilities include extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including pitches, courts, playing fields and a fully equipped sports centre, a Student Union's Union ranked as one of the top UK university entertainment venues, and one of the highest proportions of residential student accommodation among UK universities, with over 4000 rooms available. Alongside all this we have a full range of services in place to care for students' health and wellbeing, including support for those from overseas or with special needs, housed in our dedicated Student Services Building.

All this is close to the centre of Reading with its lively mix of culture, nightlife, shops and eating-places. For those preferring country pursuits, the Chiltern Hills and the River Thames are close by. Excellent transport links put Oxford, London and Heathrow within easy reach.

Ambitious for your future

In order to ensure you have the very best environment in which to develop both within and beyond the lecture theatre, we are continuing to invest £250 million in our main campus over the next 6 years. The University's Henley Business School is one of the largest full-scale business schools in Europe, housed in an impressive state-of-the-art building on the heart of campus. In 2011, the Minghella Building opened with fantastic new facilities for the Department of Film, Theatre and Television. £21 million has recently been invested in our London Road campus to house our leading Institute of Education. For more information on how we can support you to achieve your ambitions for the future, visit our Careers, Placement and Experience Centre.

Further information

If you would like more information about our courses, please visit our website to either view our interactive online prospectus or to order your own copy. www.reading.ac.uk/Study/study-prospectus.aspx