Reading, University of

University of Reading

Age: 85

History: The University of Reading dates back to the late 19th century. Its origins lie in the Schools of Art and Science established in 1860 and 1870. These became part of an extension college opened in 1892 by Christ Church, Oxford. The college thrived, receiving its first treasury grant in 1901. Three years later the local Palmer family, of the famous biscuit manufacturer Huntley & Palmers, donated the London Road site. Their continued support helped to fund expansion, including the opening of Wantage Hall in 1908 and The Research Institute in Dairying in 1912. The university received a Royal Charter in 1926, the only institution to do so between the two world wars. In 1947 it purchased its main Whiteknights campus, the former country estate of the Marquis of Blandford. The merger with Bulmershe College of Higher Education in 1989 added its third campus, a 17-hectare site in Earley close to Whiteknights.

Address: Open green campus at Whiteknights - 130 hectares of parkland estate, only 2.5 km from the town centre. Smaller second campus a mile away at Bulmershe, housing 2,000 students of film, theatre, education, health and social care. Third campus at London Road.

Ambience: Cosy, sporty, self-contained. Many students live on campus. Good social life, and a leafy collection of trees and a lake.

Vital statistics: Around 9,500 undergrads, and 8.300 postgrads. Famous for the Henley Business School, its agriculture, meteorology, construction and real estate courses, which have always attracted large numbers of international students.

Added value: Arts and social science undergraduates take up to three subjects for their first two terms. Excellent sports facilities with playing fields on campus and a £2m sports centre completed. A £1m refurbishment of the students' union and a new student services centre opened in 2007. One of the best student clubs in the country, according to the NUS. In 2008, Reading merged with the renowned Henley Management College to form the Henley Business School at the University of Reading, a major player in the business education market, and potentially, the largest business school in Europe.

Easy to get into? Entry requirements start at 160 UCAS points and go up to 340 points, depending on the course. Those with non-traditional qualifications are encouraged to apply, as the university can tailor offers to suit applicants' expertise.

Glittering alumni: Linda Bennett, founder of LK Bennett; Professor Sir Peter Crane, former director of Botanical Gardens at Kew; Elspeth Huxley, writer; James Cracknell, Olympic oarsman; Jamie Cullum, jazz musician.

Transport links: Close to London and Oxford. Excellent rail, coach and motorway connections. Paddington is 25 minutes by train.

Who's the boss? Professor Gordon Marshall. who became vice-chancellor in January 2003. Chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council until coming to Reading, Gordon Marshall was previously an official fellow in sociology at Nuffield College, Oxford. His main fields of research include social exclusion, equality of opportunity, distributive justice and the culture of economic enterprise.

Teaching: 36th out of116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: Came 39th out of 115 in the Research Assessment Excercise.

Overall ranking: 34th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Three club nights a week on campus in the £2m students' venue, plus specialist nights and some big name bands.

How green is it? Not great - came joint 83rd out of 142 universities graded by People and Planet for its 'Green League 2011'.

Any accommodation? Yes – 4,000 rooms in university halls of residence. A room will cost you between £75 and £184 per week.

Cheap to live there? So, so. A room in private rented accommodation costs between £60 and £80 per week.

Sports ranking: Ranked 34th in the BUCS league.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home udnergrads starting in 2011. Reading plans on charging the maximum tuition fee of £9,000 as of 2012.

Bursaries: In 2012, the university plans to award fee waivers of up to £3,000 and cash bursaries of up to £1,000 per year.

Prospectus: 0118 378 6586, www.reading.ac.uk

UCAS code: R12