University Profile
The University of Reading community has been at the forefront of improving people’s lives for more than a century. We were educating and promoting women years before they could vote in the UK. Our leaders played a key role in decriminalising homosexuality in the mid-twentieth century. And we have led the world for decades in understanding and responding to climate change and the protection of our environment. By joining the University of Reading, you’ll become part of a community that leads by example, striving together to create a world that is profoundly improved. Whether it’s through groundbreaking research or impactful community initiatives, we are driven to make a genuine difference in the world. Together, we can shape not only our individual futures, but also the collective future of our society and planet.
We are ranked 172nd in the world and 25th in the UK (QS World University Rankings, 2024).
We have more than fifty research centres, many recognised as international centres of excellence including in Agriculture, Biological and Physical Sciences and European Cultures.
The University is centrally located with London Paddington 30-minutes away by train and Heathrow airport only 45 minutes and Gatwick airport 90 minutes from campus.
The University is a world leader in climate science, recently winning a Queen’s Anniversary Prize and the THE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.
