Host University for Reading, England

The University of Reading was originally an extension college of Oxford University, and, in 1926, it was the only institution to gain university status between the two world wars.

It is a cosmopolitan and global university with students from more than 160 different nationalities; of the university’s 23,000 students, one-third are from outside the U.K. The university is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023, and the Henley Business School is accredited by the world-renowned Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), as well as the European EQUIS and the British AMBA accreditations—the elite “Triple Crown.”

While the University of Reading is especially known for its departments of Agriculture and Food, it boasts several top-ranked subject areas, including earth and marine sciences, environmental sciences, and archaeology. Reading has also won the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize on five separate occasions for academic excellence.

All classes and facilities are located on the beautiful 300-acre Whiteknights campus, allowing you to directly experience the British way of life and interact with local students. One of the most attractive campuses in the U.K., the main Whiteknights campus is home to a lake, rare trees and wildlife, and beautiful green open spaces. It has received 14 Green Flag Awards in its history, voted fourth of 1,000 public spaces in the U.K. to be included in the People’s Choice Award. The university also has a sports center, catering hubs, training facilities, and a purpose-built facility for film, theatre, and television. The campus has a friendly, diverse, and inclusive environment. It is situated about a mile and a half south of the center of Reading, with good transportation links provided by Reading Buses between the town and campus.

The Reading Student Union (RSU) building is the heart of the university, consisting of a night club and entertainment venue (3sixty), cafes, bars, games, and shops. The university also has excellent computer provisions, with over 600 available workstations for student use and Wi-Fi throughout campus and residence halls.