University of Reading Reviews

Keep in mind that these reviews reflect individual views of students and do not indicate how you will find your own personal experience at Reading. My personal experience has been negative, overall. Although the campus is quite nice, the town of Reading is not a pleasant place to live. There is very little to offer in terms of culture and night-life. The town is fairly ugly too. I feel mis-lead by the marketing for the university, as we were never told that our library would be closed for half of our degree, or that certain modules were only available to single-honours students. I also feel that the university is trying to recruit as many students as possible in order to fund it's massive investments in it's re-development project which won't be completed until 2026 (google '2026: Transform').They are not being selective about the students they take in, and this is leading to overcrowding in some departments. Funding to those departments does not seem to have increased proportionally.

Beautiful campus with amazing garden. Friendly students and staff

I love the uni !Everything is close by! Town is 10 minutes away from main campus by bus..buses are frequent though! Nightlife is amazing.. safe to walk back to campus from town at 3AM ! Lectures are very useful and tutors are very helpful ! People there are super friendly! There's always something going on..

I have really enjoyed my first year at Reading University, particularly because I felt that support from my department was very good and I have achieved good grades! I have also enjoyed my free time in the town with lots of good clubs and bars and the range of societies on offer is excellent!

I have loved living at reading university, the campus has accommodated to all my needs and experiences.

A beautiful campus, home and work to wonderfully friendly people.

From the very beginning of my time at Reading it has been the best experience. The support on campus is outstanding and the medical support and recreational activities available are brilliant. I highly recommend coming to Reading!

Great sports facilities, campus life both night and day, innovative new food festivals and one of the best ranking business schools in the world. It is a pleasure to continue my final year of study in such a great establishment.

Beautiful campus but the current lack of proper library facilities is a complete embarassment

The campus is stunning with lots of places you can chill or meet with people.

The campus is beautiful and the overall experience of being at Reading uni is an unforgettable one.

Good campus and facilities. Bad halls

Clubs and societies were lacking, but it's only the fault of the students that are currently here.

The University of Reading has a beautiful campus with lots of modern and traditional buildings. The campus is evenly spread with plenty of green spaces dividing it. The sports facilities are excellent quality however there are not enough tennis courts and the gym is too overcrowded all the time. There are a wide range of sports available to partake in with lots teams. There are also a wide range of societies available to join which are all present at the societies fair at the beginning of the year. The Students Union is the largest club night in Reading which most students attend however can only be described as average, despite holding some good nights when large performers come. The real club scene is in town on friar street with the best two being Matchbox and Q club, which admittedly are very good. The Halls are all very good quality with very good WiFi covering the campus. I have had a very positive experience so far.

Lovely campus, lots of events on however I do think there should be another campus shop and a few more eating places. The library is great however especially during exam periods, the amount of seats available is a massive problem.

Great campus, lack of sports available for people who don’t get into teams, I know loads of people who want to play 11v11 football in a competitive league but can’t get in the teams, some unis have 7,8 teams we have 4.

Just a shame about the library. Everything else had been fantastic

Due to strikes my whole first year has been so poor, we only got 1/3 of the years lectures and even in our end of year exams there were typos and content we were told would not be on the test. I found the societies to be the best part of Reading, I'd encourage any fresher to join up. I would also advise students looking for a more social experience to apply to cheaper halls, I stayed in the expensive halls and only had 2 flatmates who spoke english (out of 8). The nightlife is average.

Love everything about the university of Reading.

Beautiful campus which makes it such a nice atmosphere to study and socialise. The union is also great and really active within the uni.

Limited mental health services to cater for the amount of students. Long waiting lists and low number of counsellors available. Fantastic university despite this!!

Just an all round bad experience, if you can go to any other university I highly recommend you do so, the lecturers don't seem to care about the subjects, the campus is dull and uninspiring and there is a overwhelming feeling that most students are disappointed but are just accepting their position rather than enjoying their experience.

Disappointed with the University, poor quality of teaching and abysmal support staffing, avoid this University if your looking for a good technical education. Following an awful year here that almost put me off completing my degree and instead attending another Uni has shown me why I originally took up the subject, to put you in mind I failed my year at reading and was constantly disenchanted with the teaching and now have graduated with a first elsewhere, where I renewed my love for the subject

Low quality of teaching terrible university.

Very poor university, while studying the lecturers would often not turn up without warning, lectures also talked in class about how they were looking to for other jobs while teaching, highly unprofessional. equipment was very outdated compared to other universities and very difficult to get in contact with any member of staff.

A very well planned campus with everything right around the corner. Every necessary facility is easy to access.

2 years ago I would've said it was so much better but since allowing almost 30% more students through its doors in 2 years while also closing the library and students union for refurbishment it has lead to a stunning lack and constant fight for study space or places to enjoy campus which is now massively overcrowded, always loud and for too busy. On top of this they got rid of the independent campus shop for a Co-Op which is stacked full of as many aisles as possible, making it difficult to manoeuvre (especially with the increased amount of student) and is constantly unstocked. Basically this unviversity is going massively downhill and is cared very little for its students only how much money it's making and what titles it has. So for it to drop out of the top 20 in this pointless table would be richly deserved.

The university library has been closed since the summer I arrived and will be closed until I graduate. If I knew this beforehand I would not have come to the university. I would have scored the student union higher also however they too have closed the main club this term which has affected my time as it was one of the biggest student nights out. The internet is always reliable and there are plenty clubs and societies to be a part of.

I currently study German at the University. The German department is not at all good. The Lecturers are opinionated and narrow minded. They are detached and if truth be told rather rude.

The Campus is fairly easy to navigate. The quality of facilities varies from building to building. The teaching quality also varies enormously as it does with all universities. Sports societies are fairly strong but other societies are limited and all are expensive. If you don't enjoy standard nights out to a club, the Reading nightlife won't be for you as there is next to no diversity in venues. My biggest grievance with Reading is the boredom. Unless you have to money to take advantage of it's shopping center you will struggle to find a way to occupy the time.

All round good facilities and so many clubs/societies, you get a lot of choice! The student union is huge and can't go wrong with £2 snakebites. Only complaints are that the student portal is a pain to use, and Blackboard is confusing.

I like how the campus is green campus environment where it is not just buildings

Shop on campus, and many places to grab a coffee. They're there if you'd like to use them. The shop is expensive, but people will obviously still use it. Lots of clubs available, just need to go out there and get involved. Having to pay £5 a night to get into your own student union seems ridiculous to me, with drinks inside being even more of a blow to the wallet.

Can't fault it, amazing university, amazing facility, union is the best club, lots of societies. Wifi everywhere

I love Reading so much! The social side is absolutely amazing that I miss it whenever I go home. There's so many opportunities on offer and facilities to use.

Rusu can often be a bit too pushy with some of their campaigns and promote facts that aren't reliable when it comes to topics such as feminism. As well as this , money is pushed up in the campus shop because a percentage goes to rusu , so I would prefer it wouldn't go towards campaigns that do nothing

Wifi is awful, really old fashioned login. Always lapses. Club and societies really over priced, literally have to pay for everything extra. Really pretty campus and facilities. Student union is the best club in reading

The university has a great campus. The town is incredibly beautiful and the quality of education they provide is one of the best in the country.

Its a nice universty with a lot of options

Great university. So much on campus, amazing union and so many events put on daily - roadshows, vintage fayres, food markets, plant markets. Shops, banks, coffee shops, food halls, restaurants all on campus. Beautiful lake on campus and so much greenery. Security patrolling all the time, so you feel safe. Only a 20 minute bus journey to centre of town, £1.50 for return, lovely town. You have everything you could possible need.

the university has many clubs and societies so there's something for everyone. the nightclub on campus is very nice and plays a variety of music. internet on campus is also very good. sometimes can disconnect but usually it is very very good.

Easily accessible and easy to learn your way around, with great nights out and fantastic clubs

The University of Reading is fantastic!! It was definitely the right decision to study here and experience the beautiful campus and amazing facilities.

Absolute cracking uni. Loads of green spaces, huge library, great social life and both amazing and interesting people.

There are many great societies at the uni

Stunning campus and great for links to London etc. Great accommodation and an all round amazing uni!

Facilities on campus are varied. Some buildings reasonably old, however there are many modern buildings as well. Library in particular very large and modern to study comfortably as well as the business school. The campus itself has pros and cons. As nice as it looks, the layout of the university was obviously not well-planned. There is a lot of greenery for no reason and this leaves no places for halls near campus. Therefore most halls are a long walk away. Also if you're going reading and don't have a car, grocery shopping is out of the question. The closest supermarket (not express) is a 30 minute bus drive away. As useful as the students union is, it lacks diversity. This unfortunately leads to the same boring planned events. E.g. buses to clubs in london or coach tours elsewhere is out of the question. The wi-fi here constantly disconnects from your phone. Town and the oracle shopping centre are good places to chill, shop or eat and a 20 minute bus drive away.

Weakest area is the clubs of Reading. Great if you're someone that only goes out on weekends like me, but after a week or two of every other night, you start to run out of places on Friarstreet. London is only a short trip away though..

Simply put: It's AMAZING! Trust me on this, take my word as gospel. It's really beautiful, the library is 24/7, we have an effective JobShop, tons of clubs and societies and the Wifi is sooo fast, it's unbelievable.There is wifi everywhere around the school and the halls.

i d never recommend this university

Union is terrible but secretly everyone loves it!

Sick. Nice campus, with some fairly dated buildings though. Lecturers are mostly interesting, however some show little enthusiasm for their subject.

I'm enjoying reading, it's not outstanding but I like it

Couldn't imagine being at any other uni really

Amazing campus really green and lovely. Student union is fab so much fun and so cheap. The clubs are awesome just some are expensive. Careers service I haven't been too but heard it's good. Internet is high speed pretty much everywhere on campus

So much choice for clubs and societies- I have joined two and both have socials events each week and very friendly crowd!

Good university. Good facilities with the gym and the library.

I like the university ! The campus is "big" but not too big ! Many green spaces , many places to chill and for food !

Really nice atmosphere on campus, fun nights out, good 24 hour library

I love the University of Reading, it constantly surprises me with more things to do and places to go and see. The lake, the RUSU, bars on campus, events, societies, information and help, everything...

a nice mix of old and new accommodation , suited to your needs.

Reading has been a constant party. My life literally consists of partying-sleeping-studying and its a dream. Reading manages to balance a party atmosphere and a studious one. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Great university, full of opportunities

Brilliant University with such a homely feel on campus, and a safe feeling on nights out

Campus is so lovely and spacious, will be great in the summer. People are really friendly

A great uni that has pretty much everything I need on the campus or a five minute walk from the campus. Love it!

Great campus and facilities, OK teaching however poor support

Lovely, welcoming atmosphere. Top facilities, and a nice city to live in too!

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! They campus is stunning and all of the facilities are incredible. Saturday Night union is the place to be!

I love it in UoR. It's a home away from home

It's a fantastic campus with a lot of facilities when you want to enjoy yourself and green spaces when you need to take some quiet time out.

My decision to go to the University of Reading was the best of my life. I'm lectured and guided in my studies by experts in their field, and I regularly come across their articles when I'm researching topics in the library. Our student union is my favourite night out of the week and the nightlife in town is really good too! We have so many opportunities for careers, apprenticeships, and internships on our doorstep, helped by our proximity to London. The campus is beautiful and it's such a good all-round experience.

I love uni! The union is an amazing and cheap night out and the choice of societies is brilliant. The only thing it lacks is a pool which is just a bus journey away too, buses are super cheap as well!

The student union is the hub of the university. It has everything - from the legendary bagel man to 3Sixty - the biggest capacity night club in reading. The union also has great societies: from those that are subject specific, trying or continuing a new sport to the Beyonce and ultimate frisbee! I walk through the union almost every day while at university - either for a quick Starbucks before a lecture, a round of pool in Mojo's with my friends, a bubble tea from Pearls, or to post a letter. I also love how the union puts on a fruit and vegetable sale on a Thursday or that they sometimes have a bakery sale going on. The union has something for everyone and its always there for the students.

Great experience once I was in halls, the social life is great- there's something to do every night

Reading University is more than I expected it to be! Has the most gorgeous campus, good facilities (nice classrooms, lecture theatres etc), the union is well run and well equipped, there's a job shop so you can always find work, you're never left without help... So much is better than I ever thought!

Beautiful green campus with a huge Students union. Would recommend this Uni to anyone.

It's been good here. The campus is so green and I love the amount of squirrels around

Lovely campus, great facilities, brilliant people. Love it here.

There is so much to do at the university. Its so nice to have everything so local to the university but also to have everything on campus. The facilities are great and also the clubs and societies are the best places for meeting people but are also really enjoyable.

Amazing campus, so beautiful! Loads of activities and societies to get involved in, fantastic teaching and great student atmosphere.

I was happily surprised when I travelled across the sea and came to Uni of Reading and saw how big, green and welcoming the campus was. It has everything you need nearby, and should you need to go to town it is simply a 15 min bus trip or 30-40 min walk depending on where you live. My teachers are clearly engaged in their subjects and have interesting approaches to their teaching. There is a society for everyone, and a great chance to learn a new skill as beginners are very welcomed in sports/activities. The only source of my frustration until now have been group projects with other students who don´t care about doing a good job, just getting the job done. I encourage you to start at uni with high ambition and intention of putting yourself out there, no matter where you choose to go. Reading is a quality university with a good community and who cares for its students and I have not regretted choosing Reading for one second.

Very good uni, have been here before and all was not so good. Now it's a very good uni, everything is very good,

Great campus and very kind and friendly staffs.

Very friendly and lovely campus, the student union is awesome and the people that go there are very friendly.

Excellent Infrastructure, beautiful campus nature, great accomodations and student's union and course structured for career development.

Everything is within walking distance from halls, so perfect

First arriving at Reading Uni can be a bit of a shock as it's so big, but you soon fall in love with the campus. The city of Reading is also a great place to live, with lots of things to do and it only takes half an hour to London.

Such a great course!! Absolutely love it here, would recommend it to everyone!

Amazing, love every second, with amazing people!

this is the good things about reading

It is very fun and you are never bored if you keep yourself busy.

cant fault reading has a great SU!

Pretty good but more expensive than other unis.

Wifi everywhere, quickly connects. Career help but not that many opportunities. Wasn't into clubbing but facilityies and campus is beautiful green and everyone is prepared to help

An amazing place to live and study, I can't imagine ever going anywhere else. The tutors of Reading only want the best for their students and are always willing to help those who help themselves. The campus facilities are great and forever improving! Reading also offers a wide variety of societies that cater to everyone.

Reading has been amazing! The staff are fantastic, the campus is the most beautiful in Britain, and the social life is buzzing!

Fantastic university. Best choice I ever made

Reading is a brilliant university and has been a wonderful experience so far. The politics course focuses on incredibly interesting areas. The library has extensive materials, and while sometimes it is necessary to borrow a book early, generally the core books should be available as well as many additional resources and online papers

Amazing few years, so glad I chose reading!

Beautiful campus and great location. Facilities are good and support in all areas during your degree is available

After visiting other universities, UoR has the best looking campus hands down. Everything you need and all your freshers friends on campus, making first year easy to get around and great fun! I still can't fault it after a year there. The University of Reading is great!

Reading is a beautiful campus and offers great opportunities with placements and jobs after graduation.

Reading is one of the best universities , i just have too much love for this uni ... Its my second home

i like the uni but i feel insignificant there, the lecturers and staff don't bond at all. There is a massive drinking culture which i hate, students there make you feel outcasted if you dont go to union or mnq every week, i find this really annoying as i hate nightclubs and i wish there were more bars and restaurants. The university appears to suck every penny from you with ridiculously priced accommodation to JCR fees that gave us nothing.

Don't think I would be happier at any other uni. The campus, people, union and my course are great.

Reading is such a beautiful campus, so green, nice and peaceful and absolutely huge! I had a great first year and I got myself a job in the union it was nice and the staff were lovely, it was a good way to meet new people. Wifi in halls is pretty crap but that's all I have to moan about really.. ?

Awesome uni! Going to miss it loads.

Beautiful campus, wifi tends to be a problem at peak times.

Amazing people and amazing experiences!!

I'll probably get a decent looking degree out of this but it hasn't lived up to my expectations of university- I felt more challenged in secondary school. Classes are dull and the uni is a bit boring. Although there are a fair few decent societies, lad culture seems to dominate halls and its very easy to get outcast if you're not drinking every other day. I also feel that there should be more scope for choice in modules, I still have compulsory modules in third year. In conclusion I wouldn't strongly recommend the university but it's OK.

i love Reading, it's an amazing uni with incredible people and a beautiful campus where you immediately feel at home.

I've been at Reading for 4 years and absolutely loved my time here, I have visited friends at other universities and they never seem as good as here.

The best of the best. Every one ISO friendly and the coarses are great!

Beautiful campus with endless opportunities to further yourself as a person and your chosen career path

Great place to go to university

Everything is so fabulous but then I remember the internet

The University of Reading has a beautiful campus with a fantastic union that hold numerous events e.g. roller disco, summer ball, pub quiz and karaoke nights, and relaxation events during exams. The JCR's are also a great idea and gives you the opportunity to meet people in your halls and ultimately, make friends for life.

Hard to compare when this is my first experience of university. However the internet service here is very unreliable.

since I arrived at reading uni my life has changed for the better this is the best experience of my life

Very good university with an outstandingly beautiful campus.

The wifi can be very annoying when it's down, however it's provided over the whole of campus which is great.