Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Reading is a campus university set around Whiteknights, a large green park with a lake, about 1.5 miles south-east of Reading town centre. Almost all university halls are on or near campus, and frequent buses (including a 24-hour route) run into town.
With around 21,000 students, it's big enough for plenty of choice without feeling overwhelming. Reading itself is a busy commuter town rather than a classic student city, but London is a quick train ride away. Halls aren't cheap, though: most rooms cost more than £180 a week for 2026/27, and meals cost extra.
Known for
The University of Reading is 13th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 56.6, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | University of Bristol | 57.3 |
| 12 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 56.9 |
| 13 | University of Reading | 56.6 |
| 14 | University of Lincoln | 56.4 |
| 15 | University of the West of England | 56.3 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
2nd of 124 · Innovation Score 73.5
3rd of 124 · Sustainability Score 76.5
15th of 122 · Careers Score 41.9
19th of 124 · Employability Score 41.1
29th of 124 · Inclusion Score 70.8
40th of 123 · Happiness Score 51.7
41st of 124 · Value Score 53.2
47th of 124 · Nightlife Score 53
53rd of 124 · Safety Score 45.4
57th of 124 · Social Score 50.5
58th of 124 · Freshers Score 55.8
59th of 124 · Balance Score 43.1
70th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 50.5
83rd of 124 · Societies Score 45.9
86th of 124 · Affordability Score 51.1
Reading as a student city
Ranked 44th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 50.1.
The University of Reading appears in 43 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 2nd | of 79 | 192 |
| Linguistics | 1st | of 27 | 90 |
| Surveying | 1st | of 24 | 92 |
| Criminology | 4th | of 94 | 212 |
| Graphic Design | 3rd | of 68 | 177 |
| Sociology | 5th | of 86 | 200 |
| Geography | 4th | of 63 | 150 |
| Politics | 5th | of 78 | 165 |
| Business and Management | 8th | of 114 | 214 |
| Architecture | 4th | of 55 | 135 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 2nd | of 24 | 88 |
| International Relations | 6th | of 71 | 154 |
| Quantity Surveying | 3rd | of 35 | 104 |
| History | 7th | of 76 | 163 |
| Mathematics | 6th | of 61 | 144 |
| Psychology | 11th | of 108 | 195 |
| Environmental Science | 6th | of 47 | 124 |
| English Language and Literature | 8th | of 54 | 129 |
| Biochemistry | 9th | of 60 | 138 |
| Biomedical Science | 14th | of 93 | 169 |
| Law | 15th | of 97 | 175 |
| Pharmacy | 5th | of 32 | 98 |
| Computer Science | 16th | of 102 | 188 |
| Human Resource Management | 10th | of 58 | 136 |
| Statistics | 5th | of 27 | 81 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 13th | of 60 | 128 |
| Fine Art | 13th | of 58 | 135 |
| PPE | 7th | of 31 | 83 |
| Economics | 20th | of 85 | 151 |
| Film Production | 21st | of 87 | 169 |
| Zoology | 9th | of 37 | 103 |
| Archaeology | 7th | of 28 | 87 |
| Primary Education | 15th | of 59 | 134 |
| Philosophy | 16th | of 54 | 117 |
| Construction Management 2026 table | 3rd | of 10 | – |
| Classics | 6th | of 20 | 64 |
| Chemistry | 14th | of 44 | 103 |
| Agriculture | 2nd | of 6 | 29 |
| Real Estate | 8th | of 22 | 71 |
| Accounting and Finance | 13th | of 30 | 168 |
| Performing Arts | 17th | of 37 | 84 |
| Art and Design | 6th | of 13 | 51 |
| Pharmacology | 20th | of 37 | 63 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Reading Students' Union (RUSU) is on Whiteknights campus and runs the clubs, societies, sports teams and student events, along with advice services. The campus itself is a big part of life here: the lake, woodland and open lawns are great for summer and for runs. For nights out, the town centre has bars, clubs and the Oracle shopping centre, and the Claret 21 bus runs 24 hours a day between town and campus. London is close enough for day trips, gigs and shows.
University halls cost £166.32–£364.70 per week (2026/27, mostly 40-week contracts; bills included, meals extra) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
New full-time undergraduates are guaranteed a place in halls if they hold Reading as their firm UCAS choice, apply for accommodation by 1 August (23:59 BST) and meet the conditions of their offer by 3 September 2026. Undergraduates holding an insurance offer are guaranteed a place if accepted by Reading on results day and they apply by 17:00 on 26 August 2026. Subject to the 2026/27 Accommodation Policy.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Patrick's Hall | Near campus (1 km) | shared bathroom, en-suite and flats | £166.32/wk | Has the cheapest standard rooms (£166.32–£364.70 a week, including 2-bedroom flats). |
| St George's Hall | Near campus (1.1 km) | mix of room types | £180.00/wk | £180.00–£314.93 a week. |
| Wessex Hall | Campus (0.7 km) | mix of room types | £180.39/wk | £180.39–£285.11 a week. |
| Bridges Hall | Campus (0.8 km) | mix of room types | £194.88/wk | £194.88–£254.17 a week. |
| Wantage Hall | Near campus (1.1 km) | mix of room types | £212.66/wk | £212.66–£314.93 a week. |
| Stenton Townhouses | Campus (0.6 km) | townhouse rooms, shared bathrooms | £213.57/wk | Townhouses of 12 with larger beds and shared kitchens; £213.57–£220.15 a week. |
| Windsor Hall | Campus (0.6 km) | en-suite | £230.02/wk | £230.02–£244.23 a week. A free laundry pass was on offer for 40-week bookings. |
| Stenton Hall | Campus (0.3 km) | en-suite | £254.17/wk | The closest hall to the centre of Whiteknights campus. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Suburban areas east and south of campus, served by the Claret 21. Quieter, with lots of shared houses.
Between campus and town, close to the London Road campus. Popular with second years who want to walk to both.
Close to the station, bars and shops, but a bus ride to Whiteknights.
Top tip
You apply through the university's accommodation portal once you have an offer. Get your application in by 1 August to keep your guarantee. Meal plans aren't included in the rent, but you'll be asked to choose one when you apply, and the university recommends first years take one. For private housing, Reading Students' Union can help.
The university's own budget for 2026/27 is about £214.66 a week on top of rent, including £111.16 for food and household bills. Hall rents run from £166.32 to £364.70 a week with bills included, and meal plans cost extra. Reading is cheaper than London but pricier than many northern cities, so budget carefully. Student bus fares help keep transport costs down.
Getting around
The White Knight 20 and Claret 21 buses link Whiteknights with the town centre and station up to every 7–8 minutes on weekdays in term, and the Claret 21 runs 24/7. With Reading Buses' Boost student tickets, a single is £2.40 and an all-day ticket £4.30 (July 2026 prices). Trains from Reading station reach London Paddington quickly.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Reading is 13th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 56.6. Its strongest results are for innovation (2nd), sustainability (3rd), career prospects (15th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Reading places highest for Teaching (2nd of 79), Linguistics (1st of 27), Surveying (1st of 24), Graphic Design (3rd of 68). Across our awards, it also stands out for innovation.
Yes. New full-time undergraduates with Reading as their firm choice are guaranteed a room if they apply for accommodation by 1 August and meet their offer conditions by 3 September. Insurance-offer holders accepted on results day are also guaranteed a place if they apply by 26 August 2026.
For 2026/27, rooms cost from £166.32 a week (standard rooms) to £364.70 (self-contained flats). En-suite rooms are £217.07–£295.33 a week. Prices include bills, internet and basic contents insurance, and most contracts are 40 weeks.
Rents don't include food. Instead, you choose a Clever Cuisine meal plan (3, 7, 14 or unlimited meals a week) when you apply, which you can use at five dining sites. The university recommends one for first years, but you pay for it separately.
Whiteknights is about 1.5 miles south-east of the centre. The White Knight 20 and Claret 21 buses run up to every 7–8 minutes on term-time weekdays, and the Claret 21 runs all night. A Boost student single is £2.40.
Yes. Fast trains from Reading station to London Paddington take around 25–30 minutes, so day trips are easy. Living in Reading is generally cheaper than London, though it's not a budget city.
The university estimates about £214.66 a week for 2026/27 on top of rent, covering food and household bills (£111.16), phone, travel, books, clothes and going out. Add your hall fees of £166–£365 a week.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
