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About the University of Reading

Explore the courses we offer

Pioneers of people and sustainability


The University of Reading has been at the forefront of UK higher education for nearly a century. Home to innovation, the University pushes academic boundaries and leads social change, both locally and internationally.

Our four guiding principles form the foundation of our strategy:

  • a genuine love of learning
  • creating new knowledge
  • embracing and celebrating diversity of people and ideas
  • and caring for our environment.

Steeped in history, the University of Reading is among the top 30 UK universities in the world* and is home to over 27,000 students from over 160 countries. Our award-winning green campuses are at the heart of our university community, providing world-class facilities alongside a sustainably-conscious backdrop of nature. In 2024, our Whiteknights campus received its 14th Green Flag Award in a row, and we are considered one of Britain's top green spaces.

Recently awarded Sustainable University of the Year 2025 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, the University is proudly committed to climate change and environmental sustainability.

We continue to be one of the most popular higher education choices in the UK. Our programmes range from the pure and applied sciences to languages, humanities, social sciences, business and arts. New research and the latest thinking continually feed into our teaching, with our academic staff working at the forefront of their fields of expertise.

*The University of Reading has maintained its position at 26 in the UK, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, (9 October 2024).


Sport of campus

Our campuses

Find out more about our award-winning campuses and the wide variety of facilities on offer at the University of Reading. 

Students studying at the sunny union cafe

Key people

Get to know our Vice-Chancellor, President of the Council, our Teaching and Learning Deans, and other key figures at the University.

Close-up of a student reading on a sunny day, outside and surrounded by trees.

Jobs

With over 4,000 academics and professional services staff, the University of Reading is one of Berkshire’s biggest employers.

League table rankings

League table Position
QS World University Rankings 2025
172nd worldwide and joint 73rd in Europe
The Complete University Guide 2025 35th in the UK
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 Joint 24th in the UK
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 Ranked 201st-250th in the world and 26th in the UK

Semester dates 2024-25

Welcome

23 September 2024 – 27 September 2024 

Semester 1

Monday 30 September 2024 – Friday 7 February 2025 

Semester 2

Monday 10 February 2025 – Friday 13 June 2025

Vacation periods

Christmas vacation

23 December 2024 – 17 January 2025

Easter vacation

31 March 2025 – 22 April 2025

Summer vacation

16 June 2025 – 2 September 2025

Semester dates 2025-26

Welcome week

Monday 22 September 2025 – Friday 26 September 2025

Semester 1

Monday 29 September 2025 – Friday 6 February 2026

Semester 2

Monday 9 February 2026 – Friday 12 June 2026

Vacation periods

Christmas Vacation

Monday 22 December 2025 – Friday 16 January 2026 

Easter Vacation

Monday 30 March 2026 – Friday 17 April 2026 

Summer Vacation

Monday 15 June 2026 – Friday 18 September 2026

Calendar for academic year 2025-26 (PDF)

Closure days and public holidays 2024/25

  • Monday 23 December 2024 - Friday 3 January 2025 (Christmas closure) 
  • Thursday 17 April 2025 - Monday 21 April 2025 (Spring closure) 
  • Monday 5 May 2025 (public holiday) 
  • Monday 26 May 2025 (public holiday) 
  • Monday 25 August 2025 (public holiday)

Closure Days and Public Holidays 2025-26

  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 - Friday 2 January 2026 (Christmas closure)
  • Thursday 2 April 2026 (Spring closure)
  • Friday 3 April 2026 (public holiday)
  • Monday 6 April (public holiday)
  • Monday 4 May (public holiday)
  • Monday 25 May (public holiday)
  • Monday 31 August (public holiday)

A global community

Home to more than 27,000 students, the University of Reading is proud to welcome staff and students from all over the world. Our award-winning campuses – in Reading, Henley-upon-Thames, Johannesburg, and Iskandar – house contemporary study facilities, halls of residence, support services, cafes and bars.

Visit our Global page for more information.

NUIST Outlook of the whole building

NUIST-University of Reading Academy

This joint academy offers programmes in which students spend three years studying in China before coming to Reading to complete their final year.
University of Reading Malaysia campus

University of Reading  Malaysia

We established our first overseas campus in Malaysia in 2015, a natural extension of the close ties we have enjoyed with Malaysia over the years.

Group of students in their kitchen

Our pledge: Reading City of Sanctuary

As a university, we are committed to welcoming and including sanctuary seekers across all teaching, research and community activities.

Queen's Anniversary Prize logo in a repeating pattern.

Queen's Anniversary Prizes

The University of Reading has been awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize, the highest national honour for a UK higher education institution, on five separate occasions.

Students and member of University staff looking at museum artefects

Teaching and learning

At Reading, we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of teaching and learning developments.
Read more about our teaching and learning strategy. 

Cafe in the oracle

The community

Our wide range of events and activities, available to both students and non-students, includes public events and lectures, museums, a cinema, and our SportsPark.

Oracle riverisde

The local area

Whether you're after gigs, great food, sports activities, shopping, local culture or just want a night out with friends, Reading has something for you.

Clock tower

Value for money

At Reading, we're passionate about what we can offer our local and global community. Find out more about the range of benefits our work provides to students and wider society.

2026: TRANSFORM

One of our key ambitions as a university is to continuously invest in providing first-class facilities for our students. By our centenary year, 2026, we want to significantly build on the successes we have already accomplished so far.

Many of the reasons behind these projects stem directly from student feedback, such as the need for more study space and better technical resources. Other key factors address sustainability, such as improving energy efficiency and reducing our carbon emissions.

We also have an environmental sustainability strategy that revolves around six themes: community engagement, hospitality operations, waste management, biodiversity, and carbon management. These are embedded across the University’s curriculum.

While these projects focus on our long-term ambitions, we will be taking great care to minimise the risk of disruption for students currently studying at the University.

Read about the University of Reading's capital investments and campus improvement programme.

A group of staff and students from the University of Reading

Our community: faces of Reading

Find out more about some of our staff members and how they contribute to the performance, community and culture here at Reading.

Sports Hall of Fame pavilion

Sports hall of fame

Discover our students and alumni who have excelled in their sporting achievements, and help us celebrate their ambition, dedication and success.

KTP building

Working with business

We take a fresh approach to working with businesses and building positive, long-term partnerships. We'll work hard to understand your needs and identify the right approaches.

Economic Impact Report

We make significant economic, social and cultural contributions to Reading, the Thames Valley, the UK and other locations in the world.

Find out more about our economic impact.

Policies and Corporate Publications

Find out more about the University of Reading's Academic and Governance Services.

View our policies and reference documents.

student rights and responsibilities

University is a partnership between us and you.

To find out about your rights and responsibilities as a student, visit our Student Contract page.

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CHOOSE A SUBJECT
2025/26
2026/27
Undergraduates
Postgraduates
Undergraduates
Postgraduates

Subjects A-B

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Bioveterinary Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre & Performance

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Dietetics
  • Digital Business
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teacher training
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

Subjects A-B

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Bioveterinary Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre & Performance

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.

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