The University of Reading, UK, was founded in 1892 and is currently a public university situated in Reading, Berkshire, England. The university was founded as an extension of the University of Oxford but later, in 1962, received the ability to grant its degrees by the royal charter from King George V. It was the first and only new university within the United Kingdom that received such a charter between the two world wars.
It was earlier identified as the College of Reading, but later, it was renamed to its current name after receiving the grant. In 1928, the university was included in the Combined English Universities constituency, and in 1984 it began a merger with the Bulmershe College of Higher Education, which was over in 1989.
The institution offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses and has improved academic collaborations worldwide with other organizations and institutions.
The University has affiliations with ACU and Universities UK.
Ranking
University of Reading was given the ranking position of 294th globally in the World and 30th in the UK in 2021 by EduRank. Other rankings include:
1. As per Times Higher Education, the University received the ranking of 201 in 2022.
2. According to QS World University Rankings, the University of Reading ranking holds 27 out of 84 Universities in the UK.
Infrastructure
The University of Reading has three main campuses. They are known as the WhiteNights campus, London Road campus, and Greenlands campus.
1. WhiteNights campus
This is the University's largest campus and covers 130 hectares of a beautiful park. The campus is recognized as one of the top green spaces in Britain and has even received nine Green Flag awards. It is a thriving community and is home to the main library, students’ union, eating places, and the best students club in the UK. It also features two on-site museums, namely Cole Museum and Ure Museum, including special collections related to Zoology and Greek archaeology.
2. London Road campus
This campus is recognized as one of the original campuses of the University. It is a historic site and is home to the School of Architecture and Institute of Education. The campus went through a transformation of £30 million recently. It plays host to the graduation ceremonies and concerts of the University in its Great Hall. It features a cafe/bar that provides and serves hot and cold food items.
3. Greenlands campus
The Greenlands campus was previously the home of William Henry Smith but is currently utilized by the Henley Business School of the University to base its MBA program and corporate learning. The campus is near Henley, on the banks of River Thames, and is home to one of the top business schools in Europe. It features business facilities, a dining room and accommodation, a fitness center, and conference rooms.
Apart from the three main campuses, the University also has overseas campuses, namely, Henley Business School South Africa and the University of Reading Malaysia. Other facilities include,
1. Food and drinking places
2. Library
3. Bank
4. ATMs
5. Supermarket
6. Herbarium
7. Museums
Some of the research/lab centers and facilities are:
1. Crop Research Unit
2. Archaeological Science Facilities
3. National Fruit Collection
4. Food Processing Centre
5. International Cocoa Quarantine Centre
6. Centre for Dairy Research, etc.
Language of Instruction: English
Admission
The University of Reading provides admission for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses and a master’s program, International Foundation programs, and PhD programs. The admissions of the University are operated following various policies and procedures, and candidates can apply for up to five courses. The University of Reading acceptance rate is 58%, making it moderately competitive.
University of Reading admission requirements for UG courses
Each undergraduate course has specific entry criteria. For some courses, the students must meet a certain level of knowledge under that course subject for being eligible. Entry is quite difficult, so admission is not guaranteed even if the students meet the required grades. The admission requirements are updated throughout the year, and hence interested candidates must keep an eye on the official website. If the candidate has been offered an offer letter for a specific seat, then the eligibility criteria to take up the seat will be specified in the letter.
Some accepted qualifications by the university include:
1. International Baccalaureate
2. AS levels or A levels
3. International Qualifications
4. BTES National Diplomas
University of Reading admission requirements for PG courses
The candidate needs to possess an undergraduate honours degree. Other equivalent qualifications along with work experience also make a candidate eligible for application. Apart from this, some courses have additional entry requirements that are mentioned on the official website.
English Language requirements
In the International English Language Test Score, an overall score of 7.0 is required, with no individual element having a score less than 6.0.
or
In the International English Language Test Score, an overall score of 6.5 is required, with no individual element having a score less than 5.5.
Admission Cycle
The candidates should apply for most of the courses as early as possible since the application processing takes time. For entry in September, it is recommended to apply by 1st August for UK applicants and by 1st June for international applicants.
University of Reading Admission Process
1. The University of Reading admission process is quite simple to follow. All course applications need to be through the UCAS platform.
2. Choose your course and register at UCAS to complete the application online. Use the UCAS code of the University for registration.
3. Candidates need to submit a personal statement in the application and state their skills, interests, and experiences.
4. Fill out the other necessary details and apply. For Master's programs, an application fee is not required. However, for other courses, an application fee of £22 (INR 2186) and £26.50 (INR 2634) is required for single and multiple course applications.
Courses
The institution offers 500+ courses under UG, PG, Foundation, and Integrated courses.
Agriculture, Art, History, Law, Economics, Zoology, Bioscience, Chemistry are some of the UG and PG courses offered by the University.
Some popular courses include:
1. BBA
2. BSc
3. MBA
4. MA
5. MSc
The university also provides courses in Theatre, creative writing, film, Spanish, German, etc.
University of Reading Fees
Average UG course fee for 2022 to 2023 international students is £19,500 (INR 1938603).
Accommodation cost varies from £130 (INR 12922) to £300 (INR 29830) every week.
Credit Hours
Each credit = 10 hours of work. 120 credits are allocated to every part of the UG program, and every program has 360 credits for a three-year degree and 480 for a four-year degree. PG programs have 180 credits.
College Calendar
1. Autumn Term: 26th September to 9th December
2. Spring Term: 9th January to 24th March
3. Summer Term: 17th April to 9th June
Extracurricular Activities
The Students Union of the University provides more than 150 groups for its students. It provides
1. LGBT+ society campaigns and conferences
2. Indoor and Outdoor sports facilities, including courts, playing fields, gym, pitches, etc., on the campus
3. Art, music, dance facilities
4. Media, comedy, film, fine arts
Various clubs include academic clubs, anime clubs, political, sports, cultural clubs, etc.
Diversity
The university welcomes students from different racial and cultural backgrounds and has become a community for over 5000 International students from 140+ countries.
Industrial Connection
The university collaborates with various industries to ensure relevant research work for society. It has partnerships with Marks and Spencer's, National Physical Library, and the New Thames Valley Vision.
Work Opportunities
The University provides a wide range of job opportunities for its students. It offers part-time opportunities on campus for its students during their courses. The career team of the university guides its students and helps them discover themselves and select the right career option. The students need to get their placement coordinator, they will help the students with their interview preparation, job recruitment, etc.
Alumni
The University of Reading has a fantastic list of well-settled alumni in their field of expertise. Some of them are:
1. Julian Barratt (Broadcasting), comedian and writer
2. Arthur Brown (Music), rock and roll singer
3. Sir John Collins (Business), Chairman Dixon plc.
University of Reading: Rankings, Courses & Admissions
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