Study Abroad Programme

We would recommend you arrive in Reading between Tuesday 15 September - Sunday 20 September. This will allow you enough time to get settled here and buy any essentials you might need before Welcome Week activities start. 

Study Abroad Programme welcome activities start on Monday 21 September, so you must arrive no later than Sunday 20 September to make sure you can attend all of the important sessions which will be running. 


Study Abroad Programme registration 

Once you’ve arrived in Reading, you may need to self-isolate. If you are travelling to the UK from overseas, you should read the latest UK government advice about what to expect when you arrive. You must self-isolate for 14 days when you arrive in the UK, unless you have traveled from one of the countries with exemption. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, we will support you to do this. Please see our Halls frequently asked questions for more information.

Once you can, one of the first things you will need is to register at the Study Abroad Programme welcome desk in the Palmer Building on our Whiteknights campus.

Make sure you bring your passport and visa documents (non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals) or passport or national ID card (EU/EEA/Swiss nationals) as you will need these to register.

At registration we’ll give you more information about the Study Abroad Programme and be able to answer any queries you may have. If you have documents you need us to sign for Erasmus+, your home university or funding body, please email these to studyabroad@reading.ac.uk: we will process these in our office and return them to you by email as soon as we can during Welcome Week.

Once you’ve attended registration you will be able to collect your Campus Card, get your University username, and pick up your Biometric Residence Permit (if you need one). More information on how to collect your Biometric Residence Permit.

You may find studying in the UK different to how you’ve studied previously at your home institution, but don’t worry, we’re here to help you get used to things. 

The Study Advice team has a lot of resources available to help you improve your study skills – from online videos and guides, to regular workshops and one-to-one advice. 

Please note: Unfortunately, the Academic English Programme (AEP) is not open to Study Abroad Programme students, however our English for Erasmus Students module contains similar content and offers the same level of language support. 

We want you to feel at home here, so encourage you to attend a number of events taking place during Welcome Week which are designed to help international students adjust to life here in the UK. Please note that it is likely that a number of events will be online this year. See the full list of events.

The British Council has also issued a guide to studying and living in the UK which covers everything from using public transport to security, which you might find useful.  

If you have any queries about your studies or student life throughout the year, please contact the Erasmus and Study Abroad Office who will be happy to help.