University of Reading
The University of Reading is a public research university in Berkshire, in the south of England. It grew from an extension college established in the late nineteenth century and received its Royal Charter in 1926. Today it has more than 27,000 students from around 147 countries.
The main campus, Whiteknights, is set in extensive parkland on the edge of Reading and has received repeated Green Flag awards for its grounds. The university also uses the London Road campus in the town centre and the Greenlands campus on the River Thames near Henley-on-Thames, home to Henley Business School. It has an international branch campus in Malaysia.
Reading offers programmes across science and applied science, humanities and languages, social sciences, business and the arts. It is internationally recognised for meteorology, climate and environmental science, hosting the largest group of Met Office research staff at any UK university, and Henley Business School is one of its best-known faculties. The university holds a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023) and is well regarded for sustainability.
Information for International Students
The University of Reading has more than 4,500 international students from over 160 countries. The university runs webinars and one-to-one virtual meetings for international applicants covering applications, visas and immigration.
The standard English language requirement for most undergraduate degrees is IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5, and some programmes, such as pharmacy and speech and language therapy, set higher levels. Postgraduate requirements vary by programme.
The university's Global Academy, formerly the International Study and Language Institute (ISLI), provides preparatory study directly rather than through an external pathway provider. It delivers a one-year International Foundation Programme for students without the qualifications needed for direct undergraduate entry, four-year degrees with an integrated International Foundation Year, and a pre-sessional English programme with flexible start dates and lengths. It also runs in-sessional academic English support and hosts the university's IELTS test centre.
New full-time undergraduates who hold Reading as their firm choice, and new full-time postgraduates who have accepted an offer, are guaranteed university accommodation if they apply by the published deadline and meet their offer conditions. Eligible graduates can apply for the Graduate Route visa.