University of Reading
University of Reading
- About
- Overview
- Academic Details
- Area(s) of study
- Useful information
- How to apply
- Student Testimonial
The University of Reading was established in 1892 as an affiliate of Oxford University and received its Royal Charter in 1926. The University of Reading has become one of the UK's top universities, having received the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education in 1998, 2006 and 2009.
Academic Highlights
All of the academic schools are divided among three faculties: the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social sciences, and Henley Business School. The latter is one of the few business schools in the world to hold triple-accreditation from the three major awarding bodies, putting it in the top one per cent of business schools globally.
Location
The university is set on three campuses in and around the town of Reading in the picturesque southern counties. London is only around one hour away by train.
Did you know?
- The home of the Reading Music Festival, held annually since 1971, the town is a hub of live entertainment throughout the year and is also home to the Reading Kangaroos, the local AFL team.
- Reading Abbey was once one of the most important monasteries in England, and is the burial place of its founder, King Henry I.
- The author Jane Austen attended school in the Abbey Gateway in 1784 - 1786.
Language of Instruction | English | |||||
Program Duration | 1 semester, 2 semesters | |||||
Academic Level | Undergraduate, Postgraduate | |||||
Minimum Result Required | Partner entry requirement of 3.0 GPA (flexible) | |||||
| Previous Round Cut-off (WAM (%) or GPA) | 70% WAM | |||||
Anticipated Places in Semester 1, 2027 | 6-9 places | |||||
Green | ||||||
Eligible Monash Campus | Monash Australia, Monash Malaysia | |||||
Agreement Scope | All Faculties | |||||
Handbook/Catalogue
Reading's module catalogue. Reading use ECTS rather than the CATS system many UK universities use.
Only modules noted on the Study Abroad Programme module catalogue are available for selection. Modules you may find elsewhere may not be approved for exchange students.
Academic Restrictions
- You are permitted to go to Reading on exchange for either a full year (commencing Autumn semester), Autumn semester only, or both Spring and Summer semester.
- Modules listed as being taught for 'Autumn and Spring' are taught over the two study blocks (not once in Autumn and again in Spring). You can select modules that are taught over two study blocks if you are at Reading for only one study block, but you will normally receive half the credit value.
- Please note that most postgraduate modules are Level 7.
- Students are expected to study 60 ECTS in a full year, or 30 ECTS per Study Block. Students are not permitted to study more than these maximum credit loads.
- Most modules in the Department of Politics & International Relations, the School of Law, and language modules in the Department of Languages and Cultures, cannot be joined in Spring term.
Full-time Credit Load Equivalents
Semester | |
|---|---|
Min. 18 Monash points | Max. 24 Monash points |
N/A | 30 ECTS |
Year | |
|---|---|
Min. 36 Monash points | Max. 48 Monash points |
N/A | 60 ECTS |
Academic Calendar
Reading Semester 1 - Autumn (Monash Semester Two): late September – early-February
Reading Semester 2 - Spring/Summer (Monash Semester One): early-February– mid-June
Reading Semester Dates
Accounting | Ancient cultures | Architecture | Banking and finance |
Biological sciences | Business law and taxation | Chemistry | Chinese languages and culture studies |
Design | Earth, atmosphere and environmental sciences | Econometrics and business statistics | Economics |
Education - primary schooling | Education - secondary schooling | English as an international language | Film and screen studies |
Fine art | French languages and culture studies | German languages and culture studies | History |
Human geography | Information technology | Italian languages and culture studies | Japanese languages and culture studies |
Law | Legal studies | Linguistics | Literary studies |
Management | Marketing | Mathematical sciences | Philosophy |
Politics and international relations | Psychological sciences | Spanish and Latin American languages and culture studies | Theatre and performance |
Translation studies |
Note
- The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
- Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.
Accommodation
On-campus accommodation is available but cannot be guaranteed. Assistance in finding off-campus accommodation is also provided by the university.
The University of Reading offers further advice on accommodation.
Visas
Non-UK or European Union citizens must have a valid student visa to undertake an exchange period. To apply, you will need a visa support letter (Confirmation of Acceptance) from your host university.
If studying for more than six months, then a Tier 4 (general) student visa may be required.
If going for less than six months, a Tier 4 (general) student visa or a short-term study visa may be required. The short-term study visa is the simpler and cheaper option for entering the UK however the visa cannot be extended and no work can be undertaken (paid or unpaid) while in the UK.
If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you may need to meet UK Border Agency language requirements. Be sure to check the requirements.
For more information on student visas, please refer to the British Consulate-General here.
Reading provides some additional information on visa requirements for exchange students.
Health and insurance
Tier 4 General Student visa applicants are required to pay an immigration health charge (IHS) at the point of submitting their visa application. The charge will entitle the visa holder to free health services under the National Health Service (NHS) once inside the UK. Find out more about health services with the Tier 4 visa here. Those who are applying for a short-term visa will need to arrange their own health cover.
When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy. This will provide cover to and from your exchange.
Orientation and extra-curricular
The University of Reading holds a Welcome Week for new international students.
Reading has a vibrant student life, with an active student union, societies and sports clubs, and arts and culture.
Cost of living
As part of visa requirements, if you are a non-EEA student you must ensure that you have sufficient funds for fees and maintenance for your whole period of study.
Reading provides some guidance on estimated living costs for students.
Funding
For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.
To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.
Have you been to the University of Reading and want to share your experience?
Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here!
Genevieve Gadd
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Semester 1, 2017
Studied: Arts units
Study Experience
I studied English history and it was a very unique experience. England is a very old country and contains relics everywhere you look. This aided my study and further ignited my passion for history. The academics, so richly influenced by living in such a culture, were very learned in their field. I got an educational experience as an active participant rather than an observer as I would have been at home.
Culture
It’s very similar to most Western countries, but there were certain cultural differences about the British that only made me more appreciative of studying there. The 4pm darkness which we had to learn to adjust to, the propensity for tea drinking, the extreme politeness. By the end of it, things like this became the hardest to give up.
Benefits of going on exchange
There was no greater place to study. I got to learn about things in the very places that they actually occurred. But most of all, the main benefit of going on exchange was the friends I made there. We have an invaluable bond and they undoubtedly helped me become the best version of myself in everything I do.
Career Benefits
Going on exchange definitely makes you less myopic and naive. It gives you a broader scope and a more informed perspective on the world, having met people from such a broad cross section of society. I think going abroad gives you these more intangible skills that are invaluable not only in employment, but in life.
Money and Budgeting
Plan a budget ahead of time. Definitely go for the Catered Option as opposed to the Self Catered, so you know how much money specifically you can put aside at the get-go (i.e. $3000 for example) and not have to adjust the rest around what ends up happening. For every trip, make a budget based on an estimation of how much you can afford to spend and how much you expect to spend.
Top tips
- Be open to meeting as many new people as possible.
- Expect that there will be ups and downs, it won't always be amazing.
- Pack light. You will come back a different person with a whole new set of experiences and memories to take home.