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Your life in the Department

If you choose to study with us, you'll find our Department the ideal place to research, discuss, create and reflect. 

Minghella Studios is the home of our Department and the hub of our activities. It's a bright, open and flexible collection of spaces reflecting how we explore film, theatre and television. You'll study alongside a community of experts, who are active in academic research and cutting-edge practice. 

Take a virtual tour of Minghella Studios in 360 degrees

Student sitting on a sofa in Minghella Studios with a laptop with Edith Morley building in the background

Bethan's experience

"The university has a lot of different facilities that interested me when I first applied, but one of the main reasons was due to my course and its facilities in the Minghella Studios."

Bethan talks about the various reasons why she loves studying Film and Television at the University of Reading 

students in lecture theatre

Life as an undergraduate student

"The balance between lectures and practical work worked really well. It was the perfect transition from school to university." 

Yvonne Newton, BA Theatre graduate 

Whether you are attending a lecture or meeting with friends for coffee at one of the campus cafes, you will have time for your studies and your personal interests. 

Sign up to a club or society in the Students' Union, venture into Reading town centre, or learn a new language with our Institution-Wide Language Programme.

A day in the life – Yvonne, BA Theatre

A typical day in the life of a Film, Theatre & Television student involves a mixture of lectures, seminars, screenings and personal activities.
  • Morning
  • Lunchtime
  • Afternoon
  • Evening

Morning

Yvonne wakes up around 08:00 and heads to campus to grab a quick coffee from Dolche Vita before her morning lecture in Minghella Studios.

Her first lecture, Introduction to Theatre, allows Yvonne and her fellow theatre students to learn about a variety of different theatre practices. Practical modules such as Making Meaning give her the opportunity to apply what she has learned in lectures to group theatre practice and workshops later in the week.


Lunchtime

After Yvonne's morning lecture, she heads over to the Co-Op to pick up a few things for lunch and a bubble tea from the bubble tea bar. On a quiet study day, she would sit in the University Library cafe, but today she has lunch with friends on the grass in the sun.

 

Yvonne doesn't have a seminar until later in the afternoon, so afterwards she decides to take a nice walk around Whiteknights lake, taking a break from work.

Afternoon

Yvonne attends her late afternoon seminar for the module Performance and Identity. This is the time where she can contribute to the discussion, share her own experiences and develop her ideas for practical projects.

Evening

Yvonne might spend her evening having dinner with her flatmates and going over her lecture notes in her room in Bridges Hall. Tonight, however, she will be heading into London with her fellow BA Theatre classmates to watch an exciting, new performance. Just a quick train journey away, and they are in the heart of London. 

Our industry-standard facilities

All of our facilities are purpose-built to enhance your studies and further your research.
studio space

Minghella Studios

As a Department, we think it's important to create an environment where critical thinking and creative development work together. 

Our versatile theatre spaces, cinema auditorium, film and TV studio and post-production suites in Minghella Studios all support teaching and research at every level.

Sound recording room

Professional microphone in front of soundproof wall in a recording studio.

Theatre spaces

Large stadium seating area inside Bulmershe theatre and view of lighting rigs

Cinema

View of Minghella cinema room with seating and screen

Film and television studio

Film student adjusting lighting rig in front of a green screen in Minghella Studios

Studio space

Birdseye view of a student performance through grid netting
Minghella Studios is probably the most wonderful part of being a Film, Theatre and Television student at Reading. We are so lucky to have our own bespoke building.

Tegan Hopgood, BA Film & Theatre graduate

An open and friendly environment

Four undergraduate students in a TV greenscreen studio looking over notes
We encourage students to explore mixed medium disciplines by making all the facilities available to all film, theatre and television students.

Our experts

A collection of different books about film theatre and television authored by staff in our Department

Meet our team of experts: active in academic research and cutting-edge practice.

How we support you

The welfare of our students is extremely important to us. That's why we have a dedicated range of services available to support your personal and professional development during your studies. 

We offer both academic support, as well as non-academic support for your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. 

For our international students, we offer academic English support if English is not your first language, and also specialised guidance on immigration and visas. 

Our Disability Advisory Service offers support for students requiring assistance during their studies. This service provides bespoke advice to suit our students' individual needs. 

Read more about the support available to you during your studies

Five clamps in a flower pattern

Life on campus

students walking on a pathway
Our main campus is set on 130 hectares of beautiful parkland, so you'll find plenty of places to relax. Our campus is home to a thriving community and features the Students' Union, Library and places to eat.

Life in Reading

View of the Kennet canal in Reading town centre with autumnal trees and rows of houses on either side
Step off campus and you'll find yourself in a bustling town centre offering a variety of shops, restaurants and activities. We're also well-connected – you can reach London Paddington within half an hour by train.