Reading University's Student Population: How Many?

The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as an extension college of the University of Oxford and received university status in 1926. The university has four campuses in the UK: London Road, Whiteknights, Greenlands, and Bulmershe Court (now closed). The university offers a wide range of degree programmes and is recognised for its expertise in areas such as climate science, business, agriculture, and food science. In terms of student population, the University of Reading has over 17,000 students, with one source stating that there are over 23,000 students, and another stating that there are over 25,000 students. These students come from diverse backgrounds, with individuals from more than 150 countries and an international student percentage of 16%.

Undergraduate and postgraduate student numbers

The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as an extension college of the University of Oxford and received university status in 1926. Today, it is a leading UK university with a strong global presence.

Undergraduate Student Numbers

The University of Reading offers over 200 undergraduate courses across a wide range of subjects, including the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities, and business. In 2023, the university received a record number of undergraduate applications, with over 5,037 new students accepting places to begin their studies in September. The university's Clearing process was also highly successful, with 1,700 more calls and over 100 more offers made compared to 2022.

Postgraduate Student Numbers

In addition to its strong undergraduate programmes, the University of Reading also offers a wide range of postgraduate courses. While specific numbers of postgraduate students are not available, it is worth noting that the university has a research-intensive focus and is recognised for its expertise in various fields, including climate science, business, agriculture, and food science. The university also has a global presence and international partnerships, which likely attract postgraduate students from around the world.

The University's campuses

The University of Reading has four campuses in total, with three in the UK and one in Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia. The UK campuses are Whiteknights, London Road, and Greenlands.

The Whiteknights campus is the University's main campus and is set in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland. It is home to the Carrington Building, which houses Student Services, the Reading Students' Union, and the University Library. The campus also features the Harris Garden, two on-site museums, a cinema, SportsPark, and beautiful green spaces. The Great Hall, used for concerts and graduation ceremonies, and The Dairy, a local craft bar and kitchen, are also located on the Whiteknights campus. The Whiteknights campus has been recognised as one of Britain's top green spaces, winning 14 consecutive Green Flag awards from 2011 to 2024.

The London Road campus is the original site of the University and is located closer to the town centre of Reading, across from the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The Institute of Education, a major provider of teacher training in the UK, is based on this campus. The London Road campus also hosts the University's graduation ceremonies twice a year in the Great Hall.

The Greenlands campus is situated on the banks of the River Thames near Henley-On-Thames. It is home to the Henley Business School, which is one of Europe's top business schools. The campus features a fully equipped fitness centre, business facilities, a conference centre, accommodation, and a dining room. The Greenlands campus is used specifically for the Henley Business School's MBA and corporate learning programmes.

The University's history

The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 1926 by royal charter from King George V and was the only university to receive such a charter between the two world wars.

Reading has four major campuses. In the United Kingdom, the campuses on London Road and Whiteknights are based in the town of Reading itself, and Greenlands is on the banks of the River Thames in Buckinghamshire. It also has a campus in Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia. The university has been arranged into 16 academic schools since 2016.

The university owes its first origins to the Schools of Art and Science established in Reading in 1860 and 1870. In 1892, the College at Reading was founded as an extension college by Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford. The first president was the geographer Sir Halford John Mackinder, and the college's first home was the old hospitium building behind Reading Town Hall. The Schools of Art and Science were transferred to the new college by Reading Town Council in the same year.

The new college received its first treasury grant in 1901. Three years later, in 1904, it was given a site—now the university's London Road Campus—by the Palmer family (connected with the firm of Huntley & Palmers). The same family supported the opening of Wantage Hall in 1908 and of the Research Institute in Dairying in 1912.

The college first applied for a royal charter in 1920 but was unsuccessful. However, a second petition, in 1925, was successful, and the charter was officially granted on 17 March 1926. With this charter, the college became the University of Reading, the only new university to be created in the United Kingdom between the two world wars. It was added to the Combined English Universities constituency in 1928 in time for the 1929 general election.

In 1947, the university purchased Whiteknights Park, which was to become its principal campus. In 1984, the university began a merger with Bulmershe College of Higher Education, which was completed in 1989.

The University's reputation and rankings

The University of Reading is a leading UK university with a strong global presence. It is recognised for its expertise in areas such as climate science, business, agriculture, and food science. The university has a reputation for multidisciplinary research and collaborations, with over 50 research centres of excellence in areas including agriculture, meteorology, the physical sciences, and European history and culture.

In the QS World University Rankings 2024, Reading ranked 26th out of 90 UK universities, solidifying its position as a top 30 university in the UK. It was also ranked 172nd in the QS World University Rankings. The university's research is highly regarded, with 98% rated as internationally recognised, internationally excellent, or world-leading in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.

The University of Reading's Henley Business School is consistently ranked among the top 50 business schools in the world by The Financial Times and The Economist. The School holds the prestigious Triple accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB, placing it among only 58 institutions worldwide with this distinction.

The university has a strong commitment to environmental issues and is a leading contributor to climate science. Its Whiteknights campus has been recognised as one of Britain's top green spaces, winning 14 consecutive Green Flag awards from 2011 to 2024. In the People & Planet University League for 2023/24, the university was ranked 1st in recognition of its green credentials.

The University of Reading has a history spanning over 150 years. It began as an extension college of the University of Oxford in the 19th century and was awarded university status in 1926. Today, it offers a wide range of degree programmes and is home to a diverse community of over 17,000 students from more than 150 countries.

Student life

The University of Reading is a campus university, with its main Whiteknights campus set in 130 hectares of parkland. The campus is close to the town of Reading, which is within easy reach of London and the English countryside. The town centre is within walking distance of the university campus, and there is also a 24/7 bus service that runs all the time, connecting the two.

Reading is great for shopping, with the Oracle shopping centre, and has a vibrant nightlife, with clubs, gigs, live music, and comedy nights. The town also has several museums, galleries, and cinemas. The Reading Festival, which attracts around 100,000 music fans every summer, is one of the town's most famous events. The town also has a football club and a hockey club.

The University of Reading Students' Union (RUSU) is very active, with its own cafe, bar, nightclub, food store, hairdresser, and bagel shop. The union runs more than 150 sports clubs and societies, and many volunteering projects. The union building contains a 2500-capacity nightclub venue called 3sixty, which hosts themed nights and events, including a summer ball at the end of the term. There are also quiz and karaoke nights, and a weekly farmers' market. The union also runs a student radio station and a student newspaper, The Spark.

The university has nearly 5,000 rooms available for student accommodation, with adapted rooms for students with disabilities and special requirements. There are catered and self-catered options, and standard contracts are for 40 or 51 weeks. Rent prices include utilities and Wi-Fi, and all halls have dedicated security patrols, CCTV, and a 24/7 support hotline.

The university offers part-time work on campus through Campus Jobs, as well as a paid undergraduate research opportunities programme. The town of Reading is also good for finding a job, and the Carrington Building on the university campus has a "job shop" that advertises jobs in the town centre and on campus.

The university has implemented sustainable practices across its operations, including community engagement, hospitality, waste management, biodiversity, and carbon management. These practices are also embedded in the curriculum.

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