great student union and campus atmosphere decent student support

good facilities eg. library and really good teaching staff

cost of living fairly high, great security and public transport

No

I have loved my time at UoR! As a student that didn't get to go on campus tours due to COVID, I was limited in my understanding of what a university should offer, however during my time at Reading I have quickly understood how inclusive and enthusiastic the staff are. I am not a huge drinker, so it is disappointing to see the Reading SU mainly focuses on club nights and drinking events, however they are still active with the student community throughout the year

The module content in the politics department is very engaging and has helped shape my knowledge of international politics and theory. Most of the departments staff are extremely friendly and you can tell they love their work. There is typically an even mix of seminars and lectures (and most are an hour long, rather than tedious 2 hour lectures)

Reading is a lovely town, full of amazing shops, markets and restaurants. I would recommend exploring the local area using the canals as it is gorgeous in Winter. There are plenty of clubs if you are interested in that, as well as sport activities across the town. Transport is fairly accessible with a bus that runs directly to the Uni as well as trains going straight to London.

St George's was comfy and was accessible from the main campus and local shops. I had a bad experience in my first year, due to my flatmates who were disruptive and rude however I did manage to make lasting friendships with other residents in the surrounding flats. There were non-alcohol events hosted throughout the year that were really fun and helped deal with some anxieties of meeting new people