Life at APD

When you join our School you will become part of a thriving community of over 300 undergraduate students from different backgrounds, with varied interests and career ambitions.

From the warm welcome you will receive during Freshers week, to the goodbye ceremony at graduation, we want you to make the most of your time with us.

Staff, who are internationally experienced and leaders in their areas of expertise are friendly and approachable, and will encourage and support you with your academic work. You can attend seminars and events organized by the School where eminent speakers talk on topical subjects.

You will have the opportunity to make friends and interact with students across all degree subjects, not only in your teaching sessions, tutorials and on visits, but also whilst relaxing in our friendly common room (which has wireless internet connection). In breaks between lectures you can use modern PC facilities in one of several labs in the building. Most of our first year students have accommodation in halls on or around campus, and many social activities revolve around hall events.

You will be able to participate in everything the University has to offer, from joining clubs and societies, sitting on School committees, acting as student ambassador on open days or making use of the extensive sports facilities on campus.

We hope you will leave us after 3 or 4 years, not only with the degree that you worked hard for, but with lifelong friendships and lasting memories of your time here.

The student experience

Comments from recent graduates and current students in the School include the following:

On the University

• "I really enjoyed undergraduate life at Reading because of the wide group of friends I made on the course and elsewhere in the university – who are now life-long friends."
• "Studying at the University of Reading was the best decision I could have possibly made."
• "Reading is a great place to study, supported by leading academics and a caring and friendly community of staff and students."
• "Student life for me has been both challenging and rewarding academically, with non-stop fun and exciting social events creating the perfect balance."
• "Reading is a great place to study, campus life is exciting and the School has enthusiastic and approachable staff."
• "The University of Reading .. is the theatre of education …. you watch, listen and enjoy every note."
• "The abundance of opportunities which societies and facilities are able to offer you at Reading, allow you to really feel as if you have made the right choice in gaining a superb University experience."

On the degree courses

• "I would struggle to find a degree course that provided better preparation for my job. With a couple of exceptions, every module seems to have had some content that is relevant to the job I am doing now."
• "I found that being able to choose the modules I was interested in allowed me to begin to shape my degree from the first year."
• "I chose the course because it offered a challenging mix of theory combined with practical application. Once there I found the course offered all this and much more."
• "Reading is the only university that dedicates 5 credits of every degree to career management skills."
• "The teaching and support you receive throughout the course is outstanding."
• "The excellent grounding, and range of transferable skills that I gained from my degree and time at Reading, has been wonderful preparation for my career."