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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
4.03.93.7556 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviewsIt has great facilities and lots of areas where you can do your revision, whilst also providing lots of extra curriculars that you could join such as archery, fencing,etc.
Some of the best aspects are the facilities and the location. Reading has great spots for leisure and the uni itself has great staff and organised buildings for academic needs. Some things that could be improved is study spaces. The library is the 1st place to go to study however it’s usually quite packed. Perhaps if there were more areas to study and even more areas in the uni to relax that would be great.
To clarify I am doing BsC but the option was not listed. My favourite part of the University of Reading is the nature gardens and areas within campus grounds which are very beautiful and enjoyable to walk around. My least favourite part is a lot of the outdated architecture of some of the buildings which are ugly and remind me of communist era apartment complexes. The campus is however very large and spread out which is both positive and negative, if you have lectures in buildings on opposite sides of the campus it can take up to 30 mins to get there. The university campus is roughly a 45 minute walk from the town centre which I personally don't mind, however, I have heard other students complain about the distance. Some of the surrounding area is also a little rough towards Palmer Park which is an area many students have to live in going into second year as they are cheaper than the rest of the options in the area. Within the archaeology department the staff are what I would assume to be some of the best in the country, they are all very personable and easy to get along with whilst also being incredibly knowledgeable in their respective fields. I personally didn't involve myself with the students union very much so can't comment on that but I have heard good things.
18-24 years
In terms of student support, I’d say having access to the support is very easy. However, the support you receive doesn’t necessarily meet the standard you would want it to especially if you’re going through a hard time. In terms of socialising it’s definitely something you have to build on yourself because there aren’t many opportunities for you to mix with people such as your flatmates or other people in your accommodation at the start of your stay and so it does leave you to have to put in a lot more effort. The education and support in general education that you receive is I would say very good and the educators are very open to your own situation. In terms of societies, they are very accessible via the app , however it feels very closed off in terms of joining and very often it will be hard to get in taster sessions and get a good feel for a society before having to pay the fee to join, which is the main reason why I haven’t joined One , so I don’t have much to say overall about the societies. Student union seems to work well but I personally haven’t had much contact with them or had much to do with them. Overall, I would say Reading is a very good university to be out especially in terms of the education you will receive and its proximity to various locations such as London and Oxford, and a myriad of other places makes it a very convenient place to live.
The lecturers are very involved in your work and want to help you succeed. Nobody wants to see you fail. The workload is demanding but challenging.
I would like to be able to opt out of receiving emails regarding anything other than my course or absolutely necessary information.
The environment is overall peaceful
The university has helped me all the way in terms of disability and how I tackle the work. I am always welcome to ask for help and I receive a lot of it when needed. The worst aspect is that for archaeology field school we are expected to pay for accommodation over the summer and work 8-5 digging. I have my own work to make money and I need to have time to do this which I don’t know if I will in 6 months time
Best aspects are that it is a beautiful green campus that feels like you’re in the countryside while still living in a town. The university is very inclusive and has an amazing wellbeing team who genuinely care about you. Worst aspects are that being a town there isn’t as much to do in Reading as there would be in a city, also the prices are similar to London despite not getting the same loan as a student in London, and the university could do more to help with cost of living because of this.
It’s a great place to study because you have a lot of support. The campus has amazing facilities and has amazing green areas, it feels fantastic to take a break and have a lively stroll in nature. I would however say that the food could be a bit better but for UK standards it’s absolutely fine.
Compared to other unis the student union isn’t the best due to its size and events but it makes a great place to study
My favourite things about UoR are the campus and its facilities. There are two campuses and both are lovely. The library is wonderful and one of my favourite places at uni. The SportsPark gym is close to the main campus and has a good environment. Reading is not the best for nightlife, I like the purple turtle and union but it's definitely not the best as far as uni nightlife goes.
The UoR is such an amazing place to study. The facilities are top tier and the campus is so large to walk around in down time. When engaged with the studying, a massive library and vast assortment of different buildings all across the campus assist you. The location makes it very easy to get into Central Reading and connects to various shop roads around it. Student life from my experience seems to thrive and the Students’ Union has some engagement to integrate with.
18-24 years
First gen student
Loads of ways to get involved involved with the uni and meet new people. loads of events are free and free food and alcoholic drinks. uni library is massive and open 24/7 with many study spaces around the campus.
It's a really welcoming and comfortable campus, easy to get into town but not central so a little quieter. Not many student housing areas that are any more than 20 mins walk from campus.
campus has a great feel to it with plenty of amenities with in walking distance, such as bars, shops and cafes. I feel as though there has been loads of social events planned by the university whereby i have met the majority of my friends from, in particular there’s a society for everyone! however the night life probably could be improved a bit more, the university hold many events in the union but the only night that still tends to be the most popular is just a wednesday so i believe more work is needed into other nights
Great campus
Easy to find and meet different people from a variety of places and counties which allow you to get to know different opinions and experiences. Also with the lecturers being friendly to approach and talk to
18-24 years
First gen student
The university is a great place to study. There is easy and accessible support for all students. I feel that the academic support is very strong, I have gained help for many assignments I was unsure of. My academic tutor is lovely and has helped me with placements, my future career path and references. The support is always there if you need it and even if you don’t need it my academic tutor always checks up 2-3 times a term which is absolutely great. The university is got a real homely feel to it, everyone I have met is very friendly, my course mates are literally the best people I know. This university has such a community feel and one of the main reasons why I chose it. They have many jobs that you can do at the university and it has really helped me when affording to live and study at university. I am a student ambassador and energy and sustainability assistant at the university and get a good salary to cover my rent and to afford some additional things I may want in the month. The campus is so beautiful in all seasons of the year, and the facilities in buildings are great. It has both a traditional feel in some buildings and a much more modern feel in others. I think that the university is great for people who want both traditional and modern feel. There is something for everyone at this university. I honestly feel if I had gone to any of the other universities I was looking at I would literally not be as happy. I literally love it here, to all students this is a great place to go, you should definitely consider it. Only one thing bad about the university which is not really bad is that I wish the bakery that comes on Thursdays to the university would come every day of the week, because the samosas are so nice and I need them for breakfast every day.
4.2
Overall the university is adequate. It has excellent facilities and location, but there is some downsides. I know the university is trying to improve on the courses as Some of them are outdated.
The course is okay, could definitely be improved with more hands on experience. The course should also be more tailored towards real world experience, not just rich people experiences