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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.

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
For Study Abroad Counselling Click Here

Ranking

The University of Reading is located in the town of Reading, approximately 40 miles west of London. It is known for its strong programmes in areas such as Agriculture, Business, Engineering, and the Life Sciences.

In the 2025 rankings, the University of Reading is ranked 172nd globally in the QS World University Rankings, a slight decrease from its 169th position in 2024, and 35th in The Complete University Guide's UK University Rankings, a slight drop from 34th in 2024 following a position of 31st in 2023. In the more recent 2024 rankings, the University of Reading is ranked 378th in the US News & World Report Global Universities ranking and 201st in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, consistent with its 201st position in 2022. It is also ranked 44th in The Guardian University Rankings for 2024.

 

University of Reading - QS Ranking 2025

In the QS World University Rankings for 2025, the University of Reading is ranked 172nd globally. This is a slight decrease from its 169th position in 2024, following a ranking of 229th in 2023.

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

Europe

-

71

-

World University

229

169

172

 

University of Reading - US News & World Report Ranking

In the US News & World Report Global Universities ranking for 2024, the University of Reading is ranked 378th. This is a decline from its 333rd position in 2023 and 330th in 2022.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

Global Universities

330

333

378

 

University of Reading - THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2024

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2024, the University of Reading is ranked 201st. This is consistent with its 201st position in 2022, while it was slightly higher at 198th in 2023.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

University

201

198

201

 

University of Reading - The Guardian Ranking 2024

In The Guardian University Rankings for 2024, the University of Reading is ranked 44th. This is an improvement from 61st in both 2022 and 2023. Check the rankings below- 

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

University

61

61

44

 

Learn More About: University of Reading Admissions

 

University of Reading - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025

In The Complete University Guide's UK University Rankings for 2025, the University of Reading is ranked 35th. This is a slight drop from 34th in 2024, following a position of 31st in 2023.

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

UK University

31

34

35

 

University of Reading - QS Ranking 2025

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

Accounting and Finance

101

101

-

Architecture and Built Environment

51

51

-

Art and Design

151

101

-

Biological Sciences

301

301

-

Engineering and Technology

396

337

-

Law and Legal Studies

251

251

-

Mathematics

351

351

-

 

University of Reading - THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2024

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

Arts and Humanities

101

101

101

Law

151

201

201

Life Sciences

126

126

151

PG Business and Economics

126

101

79

PG Computer Science

301

301

301

Psychology

126

176

176

 

University of Reading - The Guardian Ranking 2024

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

Accounting and Finance

25

23

24

Architecture

42

48

46

Business and Management

29

24

16

Economics

51

48

54

Law

49

52

54

Politics

66

48

45

 

University of Reading - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

Accounting and Finance

24

29

27

Architecture

15

18

25

Art and Design

11

12

10

Biological Sciences

58

43

44

Business and Management Studies UK

20

25

27

Civil Engineering

28

-

-

Computer Science

40

36

44

Law

46

39

40

Psychology

24

34

30

 

Course Ranking

 

B.A.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Politics

66

48

45

The Complete University Guide - Art and Design

-

11

12

 

B.Arch

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Architecture

42

48

46

The Complete University Guide - Architecture

-

15

18

 

B.E. / B.Tech

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

The Complete University Guide - Civil Engineering

28

-

-

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

40

36

44

 

B.Sc.

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

The Complete University Guide - Biological Sciences

58

43

44

The Complete University Guide - Psychology

24

34

30

 

BBA

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Business and Management

29

24

16

The Guardian - Accounting and Finance

25

23

24

The Complete University Guide - Accounting and Finance

-

24

29

The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK

-

20

25

The Guardian - Economics

51

48

54

 

Learn More About : University of Reading Courses

 

LL.B.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Law

49

52

54

The Complete University Guide - Law

-

46

39

 

LL.M.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Law and Legal Studies

301

251

251

THE (Times Higher Education) - Law

151

201

201

 

M.A.

Ranked by

2021

2022

2023

QS - Art and Design

-

151

151

ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Political Sciences

201

201

151

THE (Times Higher Education) - Arts and Humanities

-

101

101

 

M.Arch

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Architecture and Built Environment

51

51

51

 

MIM

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Accounting and Finance

101

101

101

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics

126

101

79

 

MS

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Mathematics

401

351

351

QS - Biological Sciences

351

301

301

QS - Engineering and Technology

401

396

337

THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences

126

126

151

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Computer Science

301

301

301

 

Others PG

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

THE (Times Higher Education) - Psychology

126

176

176

 

Accounting & Commerce

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Accounting and Finance

101

101

101

The Guardian - Accounting and Finance

25

23

24

The Complete University Guide - Accounting and Finance

-

24

29

 

Architecture & Planning

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Architecture and Built Environment

51

51

51

The Guardian - Architecture

42

48

46

The Complete University Guide - Architecture

-

15

18

 

Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Art and Design

151

151

101

THE (Times Higher Education) - Arts and Humanities

101

101

101

The Complete University Guide - Art and Design

-

11

12

 

Business & Management Studies

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Business and Management

29

24

16

The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK

-

20

25

The Guardian - Economics

51

48

54

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics

126

101

79

 

Engineering

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Engineering and Technology

401

396

337

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Computer Science

301

301

301

The Complete University Guide - Civil Engineering

-

28

-

 

Humanities & Social Sciences

Ranked by

2021

2022

2023

ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Political Sciences

201

201

151

The Complete University Guide - Psychology

-

-

24

THE (Times Higher Education) - Psychology

-

126

176

The Guardian - Politics

-

66

48

 

Law

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Law and Legal Studies

301

251

251

The Guardian - Law

49

52

54

THE (Times Higher Education) - Law

151

201

201

The Complete University Guide - Law

-

46

39

 

Science

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Mathematics

401

351

351

QS - Biological Sciences

351

301

301

The Complete University Guide - Biological Sciences

-

58

43

THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences

126

126

151

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

-

40

36

 

Biology

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Biological Sciences

351

301

301

The Complete University Guide - Biological Sciences

-

58

43

THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences

126

126

151

 

Business Economics

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Economics

51

48

54

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics

126

101

79

 

Civil Engineering

Ranked by

2023

The Complete University Guide - Civil Engineering

28

 

Computer Science

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

40

36

44

 

Computer Science Engineering

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Computer Science

301

301

301

 

Mathematics

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Mathematics

401

351

351

 

Politics

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Politics

66

48

45

 

Accounting

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Accounting and Finance

101

101

101

The Guardian - Accounting and Finance

25

23

24

The Complete University Guide - Accounting and Finance

-

24

29

 

Political Science

Ranked by

2021

2022

2023

ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Political Sciences

201

201

151

The Guardian - Politics

-

66

48

 

Psychology

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Complete University Guide - Psychology

-

24

34

THE (Times Higher Education) - Psychology

126

176

176

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

Acceptance Rate

The University of Reading acceptance rate is 36%. This means that only 58 students get a green signal out of 100. Hence admission here is moderately difficult and students have to be precise and over-achieving with their scores and documents.



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

 

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 

 

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.

Scholarship

Name of the scholarship

Eligibility

Grants

Vice Chancellor global scholarship award

Undergraduate merit-based scholarship

£4000

BSC architecture scholarship

Merit students in undergraduate architecture course

£1000

School of psychology and clinical language sciences international academic excellence scholarships

Students pursuing undergraduate psychology

£2000

Masters scholarship

Merit based

Entire tuition fees

General scholarships

Merit based

£4000

Henley business school scholarship

Postgraduate business programmes

£2000-£8000

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

FAQs