Addressing the most important challenges of the modern world.

“Our academics and graduates are tackling some of the biggest issues of the 21st century aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: sustainable food production, biodiversity conservation, animal welfare, food security, poverty alleviation, international development, climate change adaption and mitigation, ethical food systems, consumer behavior, diet and health."

Professor Simon Mortimer, Head of School, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Renowned for teaching and research 

Since the 1800s, we have maintained a reputation for world-leading excellence in teaching and research.

In fact, teaching and research are interlinked: our research informs our teaching, and provides students with an excellent education that fosters graduates who continue to further the groundbreaking work that we do.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), our research was internationally recognised, with 81% rated as internationally excellent and 45% as world-leading, which means that what we do has a global impact.

The University of Reading submission to the Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Science panel was ranked fourth out of 30 submissions on "Research Power". In the 2022 QS World Subject Rankings, we are ranked 11th for Agriculture and Forestry research. We are also consistently ranked as the UK's top university for impact in Agricultural Sciences research (ISI Web of Knowledge, Essential Science Indicators).

We are a global leader in International Development research and education and offer a wide range of programmes as part of the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE), bringing together postgraduate students from more than 35 countries on programmes that are taught by development practitioners.

Our teaching and research excellence spans animal science and nutrition through to environmental management and the food chain. We also have a well-established and internationally respected expertise in marketing and consumer behaviour.

An excellent community for learning

Each year we teach more than 700 students from around the world, creating a truly international environment of undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree students.

Together with your peers, you will be based in the School's dedicated building on Reading's award-winning parkland campus. Our modern facilities include everything from large lecture theatres and research facilities both on campus and at our working farms. The School building has a café and comfortable student meeting spaces, and 24-hour access to computers. The building also houses a comprehensive student support centre.

You will have the opportunity to make friends and interact with students across a varied range of degree subjects, and you will be encouraged to participate in everything the University has to offer, including joining clubs and societies, sitting on School committees, acting as student ambassador on Open Days, and making use of the extensive sports facilities on campus.

Diverse, interdisciplinary expertise

Covering a diverse range of academic topics, the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development has expertise spanning agriculture, international development, environmental management, marketing and animal science.

We are home to 170 academics and researchers, who belong to our 5 academic departments: Sustainable Land Management, Crop Science, Applied Economics and Marketing, International Development and Animal Sciences.

Our research and research staff also play key roles in a variety of interdisciplinary University-wide centres, including:

• The Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health
• Agrimetrics
• The Centre for Agri-Environmental Research
• The Farm Management Unit
• The The Agriculture and Food Investigation Team
• The Centre for Agricultural Strategy
• The Walker Institute