Leaping ten places in our league table and into the top 25 this year, Reading brings academic clout to match its sustainability credentials, and the number of applications has climbed for the past four years running. The university is ranked top in the UK for its environmental and ethical performance by People and Planet 2023-24 and is our Sustainable University of the Year 2025 for the impressive headway it has made towards its ambition of being one of the greenest universities in the world. It has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60 per cent since 2009 and reduced waste by 35 per cent against baselines. In addition, funding has been secured for the next phase of decarbonising the Whiteknights campus heating infrastructure. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that Reading is also one of the leading universities for the study of climate change, holding a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research and teaching in the area. Students enrolled on its renowned agricultural degrees have access to 2,000 acres of farmland in nearby Sonning and Arborfield. 

What is the University of Reading’s reputation? 

King George V granted Reading its royal charter in 1926, after its foundation in the 19th century as an extension college of the University of Oxford. Archaeology, art and design, and earth systems and environmental sciences contributed some of the university’s best results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Overall, however, Reading fell ten places in our research quality index since the last REF in 2014, to 39=, because gains were greater at other institutions. Reading is ranked at 172 in the QS World University Rankings 2025 — an impressive step up from 229 only two years ago. 

The university has silver ratings in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023); assessors commended its “use of research in relevant disciplines, scholarship, professional practice and employer engagement”.

Reading’s progress up our league table has benefitted from a sharp uplift in student satisfaction. In our analysis of the National Student Survey, undergraduates’ evaluations rank the university 15th for broad experience (up from 31=) and 46th for teaching quality (a 23-place gain). The shift to a two-semester year from 2024, rather than three terms, has been made with a view to boosting the student experience. Undergraduates receive 12 weeks of teaching, including a half-term break, and three weeks of assessment each semester. 

Study abroad is encouraged and the university’s list of worldwide partners is long. Students can sign up for summer school or for a longer stint at its branch campus in Malaysia or at a partner institution in Nanjing in eastern China. Some courses allow students to study single-term modules abroad, which count towards their degree.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

A large-scale review of the course portfolio is under way to keep in step with demand. Several degrees have been withdrawn: mathematics and meteorology (three and four-year courses, with and without a placement year), nutrition with food consumer sciences (with and without professional training), food science with business (with and without a year in industry), and LLB law with international foundation year (January entry). New for 2024 are: a four-year law programme; business and management (human resources and organisational behaviour), with options of a year abroad or a placement year; accounting and management with a year abroad; and accounting and finance with a year abroad. In 2025 it is launching courses in biomedical engineering with professional experience, and international development with a study year abroad.

What are the University of Reading’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

The lowest requirements of CCD apply to Reading’s agriculture with foundation course, rising to AAA for its integrated master's in applied psychology. Contextual offers – typically two grades lower – made up 37 per cent of all offers made in 2023. Reading attracted almost 24,800 applications for 2023 entry, and nearly 5,000 undergraduates were accepted on to courses – an enrolment record for the university. Nearly one in five (19 per cent) gained their place through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

An internship scheme provides paid professional work experience of four to 12 weeks, and Reading has industry connections with employers including Bristol Zoo, Amazon, BBC and Clifford Chance. Its efforts to boost employability are paying off: the university moves into the top 40 this year in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, based on 80.4 per cent of Reading graduates being employed in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after finishing a degree.

What is the University of Reading campus like?

The 300-acre Whiteknights campus has a lake, a meadow and woodlands, and has won 14 consecutive Green Flag awards for the quality of its outdoor spaces. Students can ditch the instant noodles for nutritious, sustainable options in the canteen, such as reduced-meat burgers made with 20 per cent mushrooms and beef from the university’s farm as part of Reading’s involvement in the Menus of Change research initiative. 

A £200 million development programme has included refurbishing study spaces, adding free charging points to lecture theatres and increasing storage space for sports equipment. The new £55 million Health & Life Sciences Building has one of the largest teaching labs in the UK, while the £40 million library renovation between 2016 and 2019 increased seating capacity. Reading’s renowned Centre for Dairy Research at its Arborfield site has a herd of 550 cows. And its second riverside campus is home to the Henley Business School, which runs postgraduate programmes.  

Everything you need to know about the University of Reading’s student life and wellbeing support

The popular 3sixty venue in the students’ union runs regular club nights, and the town itself has plenty to offer in the way of nightlife. It’s also within easy reach of London — especially since the opening of the Elizabeth Line, which runs straight into the heart of the capital.

Three on-campus museums have collections relating to Greek archaeology, zoology and English rural life. Musical students have their pick of groups, choirs and orchestras to join, and everyone has the chance to learn a new language as an optional 20-credit module or for personal development. More than 150 sports teams, clubs and societies are available, and the Reading Experience and Development (RED) awards promote one-off and long-term volunteering. The SportsPark has extensive indoor and outdoor facilities for activities including dance, yoga, badminton, squash and tennis. There are also three five-a-side football pitches, plus boathouses on the Thames and a sailing and canoeing club.

A number of new diversity and inclusion initiatives includes active bystander training and an LGBTQ+ allies course, and the university has added breastfeeding rooms on campus. The student wellbeing service provides access to counsellors, social workers, mental health nurses and counselling volunteers. Reading also runs psychoeducational “life tools” programmes to help students to build resilience, and offers budgeting advice and a student support fund. 

What do the students say?

"Going to University in Reading was the best choice I could have made, especially since I joined through clearing. Being a member of the SU allowed me to be part of the thriving community, where we have access to free advice services, over 180 societies, spaces to eat and drink and a 2500+ capacity venue. There’s plenty of opportunities at Reading to create a home away from home and build a community on campus and beyond."
James Haxell, Reading Student Union president, and accounting and finance with year abroad student

What about student accommodation at the University of Reading?

Undergraduates who apply before the deadline and choose Reading as their firm choice are guaranteed accommodation. Almost all residential places are on the Whiteknights campus, or within easy walking distance.

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Reading? More than a third of its students are from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. Reading ranks in the top half of UK universities for the diversity of its intake, although its non-selective state schools contingent is at the lower end of the spectrum (78.7 per cent).

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Reading

The Reading Bursary is worth up to £1,100 and offered to students from low-income households. For international students there are 100 Vice Chancellor Global Scholarships handed out every year, each of which is worth £4,000, as well as subject-specific financial help.