What can I expect from an Open Day?
Open Days offer the chance to experience what living and studying at the University of Reading is really like. You’ll have the opportunity to explore your subject area of interest, attend talks, sessions and tours of facilities as well as have the chance to chat to our academics and current students.
You’ll be able to take campus tours and see inside our on-campus accommodation. We’ll also have staff on hand from a range of different services such as Admissions, Student Finance, Study Abroad, Careers and Employability, and the Disability Advisory Service.
Reading Students’ Union will be open throughout the day offering tours and delivering student-life talks, to give you an insight into the range of clubs and societies we have at Reading.
What time do the Open Days start and finish?
The Open Days start at 09:00 and finish at 16:00 on both dates.
Is there a difference between the two Open Days?
We offer the same activities across both Open Days. We run our Open Days over two days so you can come at the best time for you.
How do I get to the University?
You can find out more about getting to the University on our Open Day Travel Guide page. We provide more information about travel when you book your visit.
Is there more than one campus?
The University of Reading is located across two campuses in Reading town. Our Whiteknights Campus is the larger campus where most of our subjects are taught. This is also where you’ll find our central services, students’ union, and most of our accommodation. Our smaller London Road campus is just a 10 minute bus ride (or 20 minute walk) away and home to our Architecture and Education courses.
If you’re interested in studying either of these subjects, we recommend starting your day at London Road before heading up to Whiteknights to see everything else we have on offer. A free shuttle bus will be running throughout the day to help you travel between campuses.
If you’re interested in studying Accounting, Business, Finance or Real Estate your subjects are based at the Henley Business School on our Whiteknights Campus.
Is there parking available?
We have (limited) parking available on both of our campuses. If you require parking, please select this option on the booking form. If selected, your parking confirmation will appear as one of the following in your confirmation email and other pre-event communications:
- Whiteknights Campus Parking
- London Road Campus Parking (Architecture and Education).
We have designated parking for Blue Badge holders or those with access needs – please select "Blue Badge Parking" at the point of booking. If selected, your confirmation email and other pre-event communications will show:
- Blue Badge Parking.
Please note that you do not need to specify a campus for Blue Badge parking. You will be able to park on either, or both, campuses as required throughout the day.
Is there support for visitors with accessibility requirements?
As well as dedicated Blue Badge Parking we also run an accessibility bus throughout both Open Days. We’ll be able to pick you up and drop you off around campus as you need, and we can also drive you between our Whiteknights and London Road campuses.
If you have accessibility requirements but do not have a Blue Badge, let us know by emailing opendays@reading.ac.uk and we’ll be able to advise you on the best place to park on campus. If you have other requirements not related to mobility needs, please do also get in touch and we will do our best to support you.
Can I bring guests?
You’re more than welcome to bring along your family and friends to the Open Days.
Are dogs welcome at the Open Day?
Yes, we have a large parkland campus that you can explore with your dogs. We do ask that you keep your dogs on a lead at all times and unfortunately, we are unable to allow dogs into buildings, unless they are support animals.
Are there places to eat at the Open Days?
We have a wide selection of places to eat at the Open Day including cafes, bars, canteens, the campus Co-Op and a pop-up food market. There will be lots of options and something for everyone.
How to I book onto the Open Days?
Fill out our Open Day booking form your preferred day:
Do I need to book onto the talks and sessions I want to go to?
You do not need to book onto specific talks and sessions at our Open Days. You can look at our programme of activities to work out what you’d like to do on the day. We’ll have plenty of staff and students on hand to help you once you arrive.
If I can’t come to the June Open Days, is there another way to visit?
If you can’t make either of our June Open Days, don’t worry! We have two additional Open Days taking place in October and November and student-led campus tours will be running throughout the summer break. Keep an eye on our website to register your interest in the autumn Open Days or book one of our summer campus tours. You can also check out our Subject Taster Days taking place in June and July.
Do I need to bring anything to the Open Day?
We’re situated on a large parkland campus so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes for walking between buildings. We hope the weather will be nice, but always recommend being prepared and packing an extra layer and an umbrella just in case!
We have water stations across both campuses and in many of our buildings so that you can refill your own reusable water bottles as you need. If you want to warm up, bring a reusable coffee mug with you and you’ll get a 20p discount on hot drinks from our University cafes!
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we do not give visitors bags or large quantities of printed materials, so you may want to ensure you bring your own bag to carry anything you may wish to pick up, such as our University prospectus or an accommodation brochure.