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University of Reading

Reading, United Kingdom

  • Cost of Living£ 15,696
  • Tuition Fee From£ 13,733
  • Country Rank#31
  • Batch Strength15,433
  • Global Diversity25%
  • Gender Ratio46:54

Overview

About

The University of Reading is a public university located in Reading, Berkshire, England. As an extension college of the University of Oxford, it was established in 1892 as University College, Reading. King George V granted the university a royal charter in 1926 that gave it the authority to award its own degrees; it was the only university to do so between the two World Wars. Because of its original foundation in the 19th century, the university is typically categorised as a red-brick university.

 

More than 150 nations are represented in the vast international network of the university’s alumni. Reading’s alumni have many advantages for the students. Richard Wilson (Installation Artist), Paul Barnes (Designer and Photographer), Linda Bennett (Founder of LK Bennett), Richard Adam (Former Finance Director of Carillion), Nick Candy (Co-Founder of Property Development Company in London) and others are part of the alumni.

 

Acceptance Rate

The University of Reading’s acceptance rate stands at 86% with around more than 23,000 students enrolled at the university from all over the world. The four main campuses of Reading are located on London Road and Whiteknights are in Reading, while Greenlands is situated in Buckinghamshire along the banks of the River Thames. Additionally, it has a campus at Malaysia's Iskandar Puteri. Since 2016, the university has been divided into 16 academic schools. The organisation brought in £275.3 million a year in 2016 - 2017, of which £35.4 million came from grants and contracts for research while spending £297.5 million.

University Name University of Reading
Official Website https://www.reading.ac.uk/
Year of Establishment 1892
Average Living Cost £15,346 - £15,846
Total International Students 19,390
Country Rank 31
University Type Public
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Ranking

US News & World Report 2024:

University of Reading achieved a notable position on the global stage, securing #333 position.


QS World University Ranking 2024:

University of Reading has shown excellence by securing 201–250 spot on the global scale.


According to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, Reading was placed 28th for its Research Power and 35th for its research quality (GPA) among multi-faculty universities in the UK. The university's research is categorised as "internationally recognised" in 98% of cases, "internationally good" in 78% of cases, and "world-leading" in 27% of cases. According to the QS classification of universities by subject, the School of Agriculture Policy and Development was placed first in the United Kingdom and eleventh in the entire world. Take a look at the University of Reading rankings by top-ranking platforms based on its academic excellence, quality of education, etc -

  • 31st in the Complete University Guide National Rankings 2023
  • 61st in Guardian University Guide National Rankings 2023
  • 34th in the Good University Guide by Sunday Times 2022
  •  101st - 200th in Times Higher Education World Impact Rankings 2022
  • 201st - 300th in the ARWU Global Rankings 2022
  • 201st - 250th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

 

Course Rankings:

The university's departments have received the biannual Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education five times: in 1998 for work on Shakespeare in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law category; in 2005 in the Environment category; in 2008 again in those same categories; in 2011 for "teaching and design applications in typography, through print and technological innovations" in Typography & Graphic Communication; and in 2021 for "teaching and design applications in typography, through print and new technologies."

 

According to the Financial Times Master in Finance ranking for 2020, Reading is placed 36th overall. Reading was ranked by QS (Top Universities) at positions 151 - 200 in its Accounting & Finance rankings for 2020 and at positions 151 - 200 in its Global MBA rankings for 2018 and 2019. While Reading was ranked 151 - 175 for 2020 in THE's PG Business and Economics ranking, it has moved up to 101 - 125 for 2021, a notable increase. Since 2017, Reading has been listed among the top 50 universities in the UK for business and management studies and accounting. 

 

The university has also been ranked by The Guardian in the bottom 50 spots for accounting and finance and business, management, and marketing. For computer science in 2021, Reading is ranked 59th in The Complete University Guide. While THE's PG Computers ranking has continuously placed Reading between positions 401 and 500 since 2019. The information above reveals that the business and accounting programmes offered by the university are well-liked in the UK. Here are some of the University of Reading courses rankings in 2022 -

 

Business Courses

  • Times Higher Education - PG Business & Economics: #126 - 150
  • The Complete University Guide - Accounting & Finance: #29
  • The Complete University Guide - Business & Management Studies (UK): #29
  • The Guardian - Accounting & Finance: #25
  • The Guardian - Business, Management & Marketing: #29
  • The Guardian - Economics: #51

 

Engineering Courses

  • The Complete University Guide - Architecture: #20
  • The Guardian - Architecture: #42

 

Computers Courses

  • The Complete University Guide - Computer Science: #46
  • Times Higher Education - PG Computer Science: #301 - 400

 

Science Courses

  • Times Higher Education - Life Sciences: #126 - 500
  • Times Higher Education - Psychology: #126 - 500
  • The Complete University Guide - Biological Sciences: #47
  • The Complete University Guide - Psychology: #37

 

Humanities Courses

  • Times Higher Education - Arts & Humanities: #101 - 125
  • The Complete University Guide - Art & Design: #6
  • The Guardian - Art: #28
  • The Guardian - Politics: #66

 

Law Courses

  • Times Higher Education - Law: #151 - 175
  • The Complete University Guide - Law: #33
  • The Guardian - Law: #49

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2023

#229

#333

2022

#202

#333

2021

#202

#330

Facilities

The Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) is a connected student organisation that serves the interests of the students. Several Junior Common Rooms at the university are connected to the Students' Union. Many great careers have begun at the Students' Union, including Penny Mordaunt (MP for Portsmouth North), who served as president from 1994 to 1995. The student radio station Junction11 Radio is run by the Students' Union. It regularly transmits locally from the Whiteknights campus to college shops and via a live internet stream. The station was established in 1997 and began broadcasting in 2001 at 1287AM, then switched to only being available online in 2007. 

 

Additionally, it runs the award-winning student television station RU: ON as well as the Spark, a fortnightly newspaper targeted to the university's student body that is only published during term time. The organisation enables more than 160 different activities for students to participate in and offers free assistance to students. A venue with a capacity for 2500 people called 3sixty is housed in the Students' Union building on the Whiteknights Campus. It was recently renovated in 2018 and has seven pubs and a number of retail stores. A Starbucks, an Asian supermarket, and a hair salon are among the retail establishments.

 

Four museums, the main campus library, a number of departmental libraries, and a botanical garden are all maintained by the university. The Museum of English Rural Life, the largest and most well-known of these museums, has recently moved from a location on Whiteknights Campus to a site closer to the town centre next to the London Road Campus. The Whiteknights Campus is home to the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, the Cole Museum of Zoology, the University of Reading Herbarium, and the Harris Garden. In its 14,000 square metres of space spread across seven levels, the University Library at Whiteknights provides access to approximately 1 million physical resources in addition to a variety of electronic online resources.

Notable Alumni

Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt
English Actor
Vincent Connare
Vincent Connare
American Designer
Alex Gregory
Alex Gregory
Rower

Courses

Admission

University of Reading Entry Requirements

The university provides admission during the fall and spring semesters, with the majority of the programmes accepting applications during the first semester. For exact deadlines, which vary each year and in some cases include rolling deadlines, graduate applicants should consult the course pages in question. The majority of the fall admission courses, however, have June deadlines. To ensure you have ample time to prepare for studying in the UK, international UG applicants are urged to submit their applications before the deadline in mid-January. Following June 30th, clearing receives all applications. Be aware that some of the courses can be filled after the January deadline, thus the institution strongly advises submitting applications as soon as possible. Students can apply through the UCAS Online Portal with an application fee of £20. International students are advised to follow the University of Reading entry requirements making an application to the university -

 

Supporting Documents:

  • Official Academic Transcripts
  • International Baccalaureate Qualification
  • Documentation of Residency
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
  • CV/Resume
  • GRE/GMAT scores
  • English Proficiency Test Scores -
    • IELTS: An overall score of 6.5 - 7.0
    • TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 88 - 100
    • Cambridge SPE/C2 Proficiency: B or C
    • Cambridge CAE/C1 Advanced: B
    • PTE: Overall score of 69 with at least a score of 59 in each section

 

University of Reading Fees

The cost of the University of Reading fees for some of the popular courses are mentioned below -

  • Accounting & Finance: £16,785 - £26,400
  • Animation & Design: £16,785 - £23,700
  • Medical & Pure Sciences: £16,785 - £24,850
  • Business Management & Entrepreneurship: £16,785 - £26,400
  • Computer Science & Technology: £16,785 - £22,850
  • Nursing & Medicine: £16,785 - £24,460
  • Engineering: £16,785
  • Law & Legal Studies: £18,650 
  • Psychology: £16,785 - £22,850 

Scholarship

Regardless of the programme you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by Worcester University as well as other organisations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can greatly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the University of Reading through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:

 

  • Merit-based scholarships
  • Need-based scholarships
  • Country-specific scholarships
  • College-specific scholarships
  • Student-specific scholarships

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the university. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

 

Accommodation

There are several student accommodations in Reading near University of Reading that are fully equipped for your needs. Student accommodation near University Of Reading offers a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from an array of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are inexpensive and fully furnished with 24/7 staff support.

Cost of Living

According to a UK survey, Reading is the sixth most costly place to rent an apartment. The city is home to some of the best universities in the world, however, the cost of living in the UK is rather high for international students. For overseas students, the annual cost of living in Reading is roughly £15,924. In order to pay for their education, students in the UK can also work part-time jobs while studying. To get an idea of the cost of living in Reading per month, take a look at the table we have curated below -

 

Particulars

Cost (Monthly)

Off-Campus Accommodation 

£ 796

On-Campus Accommodation

£ 828

Transportation

£ 66

Food Cost

£ 214

Entertainment

£ 34

Groceries

£ 128

Clothes

£ 70

Total Cost of Living with Off Campus Accommodation 

£ 1,308

Total Cost of Living with On Campus Accommodation 

£ 1,340

Annual Cost of Living

£ 15,696

University of Reading Placements

The esteemed university gives its students the opportunity to spend a year working with one of its prestigious partner firms, such as Abbott diabetic care, Bayer, GCH, IBM, IQVIA, Jaguar Land Rover, Johnson & Johnson, Travelport, and Walt Disney. The top professions for graduates and alumni from the university earn an average annual salary of £58,000 (Finance Control & Strategy) to £92,000 (Insurance Jobs). Some of the top degrees and their average salaries are -

  • Executive Masters: £1,26,000
  • Masters in Finance: £85,000 - £1,07,000
  • MBA: £82,000
  • PhD: £80,000
  • LLM: £69,000

For students and the University of Reading Placements Team to manage a student’s placement papers more effectively, the university introduced a new online system called "Pathways." Students can participate more actively in the approval process and exchange pertinent information about their placement due to Pathways. The Placement Team is made up of committed Placement Coordinators that collaborate closely with the Placement Tutor(s) at the school to make sure students have access to placement providers on campus through fairs and events, regular placement training sessions, and one-on-one consultations. 

Students can attend online training classes on “Blackboard” that provide materials and help at times that are convenient for a student to support their PPY training. Access to the university’s Peer Supporter network of former placement year students, who may share advice and insights based on their own experiences, is another service offered by the Professional Placement Year Training organisation at Reading.

FAQs