Subject taster days give you the opportunity to discover what it would be like to study your chosen subject at degree level. 

On these free of charge days, you will sample lectures and practical sessions, work alongside other students interested in your subject, visit our beautiful award-winning campus, meet our enthusiastic staff and students, and get a real feel for student life at the University of Reading.

To request your place on a subject taster, please complete the application form.

We try to accommodate as many students as possible in our outreach provision and in most cases are able to offer places to all. However, in the case of oversubscription on events, priority will be given to students from groups currently under-represented in Higher Education, and to young people with little or no experience of Higher Education in their family.

Travel bursaries

To enable all students access to our subject tasters we offer travel bursaries to those who meet certain qualifying criteria. We can provide advance return train and bus tickets to the University from a named UK station, or reimburse mileage costs after the event for qualifying students.

To apply for a travel bursary, please complete the travel bursary section of the application form.

We offer a wide range of subject-specific tasters, from Accounting to Zoology.

Want to be the first to know about events and activities in your subject area of interest? 

Please email us at outreach@reading.ac.uk

For teachers and advisors

Keep up to date with what is happening at the University and join our events mailing list. Please visit our teachers and advisors website.

Friday 8 March 2019

The University of Reading’s Architecture department is offering prospective students in Year the opportunity to experience what studying Architecture at University is like. Attending students will experience Architecture workshops, lectures, a tour of facilities not to mention a free lunch! If you are interested in taking part please apply using the subject taster form just below.

Fill in the form

Wednesday 26 June 2019, 10.00- 15.30

Through interactive workshops and lectures by leading academics, we will think about the issues that confront us when we read texts that have been published post -2000. In the afternoon, there will be an opportunity for students to practise creative writing or attend a taster of English Language teaching with members of staff from our Department. Current students will also be on hand to answer your questions about English Literature at university, and give you a tour of our beautiful campus.

This event is suitable for anyone studying twenty-first century literature, anyone preparing for assessments based on unseen texts, and for anyone thinking about studying English Literature and/or Creative Writing at university.

Fill in the form.

Friday 26 April 2019

The University of Reading is pleased to announce that our first Pharmacy Taster Day is on the 26^th April. The day will consist of lectures, practical workshops, tips from academic and recruitment staff and a free lunch to boot! Please use the following link to apply via our subject taster form. 

Fill in the form

Wednesday 3 - Friday 5 July 2019

The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences will be holding its next three-day introductory course between 3-5 July 2019 for Year 12 students.

Tuesday 2 July, 13:00 - 15:30

Would you like to hear more about studying languages with us? This taster afternoon gives you the opportunity to sample our teaching in French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Wednesday 3 July 2019

We are delighted to announce the Business & Accounting taster day on Wednesday 3 July 2019, to be held at the Henley Business School on our main Whiteknights campus. This exciting degree programme is suitable for students studying A levels or the equivalent and who are interested in the PwC Flying Start Programme - BA Accounting & Business.

The Reading Scholars Programme gives Year 12 students a real taste of life as a university undergraduate, providing practical support as participants begin their higher education application process. Featuring input from leading academics and current undergraduate e-mentors, the programme aims to challenge participants academically and enhance their current studies.

The programme is currently offered in the following subject areas: Art and Design, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Food Science and Pharmacy, English Literature, History, Classics and Archaeology, Languages, Mathematics, Psychology, and Physical Geography and Environmental Science.

Applications for the Reading Scholars programme 2019 are now open. Visit the website for the programme brochure and online application form.  

As part of our commitment to widening participation, the programme is for students who meet our widening participation criteria.

Together with universities and cultural institutions from around the world, the University of Reading has developed a wide range of free online courses. 

Providing you are 13 years or older you can explore a diverse and exciting range of topics in your own time and on any device. Courses include Begin Robotics, Our Changing Climate, and A Beginner's Guide to Writing in English for University Study. Find out more about our free online courses

In unforeseen circumstances, we may have to cancel or amend the events. Participants will be notified of any changes as far in advance as possible.