Reading University

Reading University
Name	Reading University
Established	1892 (as University Extension College)
Type	Public research university
Location	Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Campus	Whiteknights Park, London Road Campus, Greenlands
Affiliations	Universities UK, European University Association

Reading University. The University of Reading is a public research university located in Reading, Berkshire. It was founded in 1892 as a university extension college and received its royal charter from King George V in 1926. The institution is organised into several colleges and is known for its strengths in agriculture, meteorology, and the arts.

History

The university's origins lie in the founding of the University Extension College in Reading in 1892, supported by Christ Church, Oxford. Under the leadership of Dr. William Macbride Childs, it developed rapidly, gaining independent university status through a royal charter granted by King George V in 1926. Key milestones include the acquisition of the Whiteknights Park estate in 1947 and the merger with Bulmershe College in 1989. The institution has expanded its global presence, establishing partnerships with institutions like the University of Ghana and operating campuses in Malaysia and South Africa.

Campus

The primary campus is the parkland estate of Whiteknights Park, which features the historic Foxhill House and the Museum of English Rural Life. The London Road Campus houses the Institute of Education and the historic Great Hall, used for degree ceremonies. The Greenlands campus on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire is home to the Henley Business School. The university also maintains the Cole Museum of Zoology and the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology among its cultural and scientific collections.

Academics

The university is structured into several academic schools, including the Henley Business School, the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and the School of Arts and Communication Design. It is particularly renowned for its programs in meteorology, being a leading centre for the study of climate science, and in typography and graphic communication. Other notable areas of teaching and research strength include real estate, food science, and archaeology, with the department having conducted significant work at sites like Silchester Roman Town.

Research

The university is a significant research institution, with particular renown in agricultural science, environmental science, and meteorology. It houses the world-leading Department of Meteorology and is a key partner in the National Centre for Atmospheric Science. Other major research centres include the Walker Institute for climate system research and the Food Microbial Sciences Unit. The university's research in archaeology is internationally recognised, notably through the long-term excavation project at the Silchester Roman Town site.

Student life

Student life is centred around the Reading University Students' Union (RUSU), which supports over 150 societies and sports clubs. The union operates venues like 3sixty and The Lounge and oversees media outlets including Junction 11 radio and Spark Newspaper. The university competes in the British Universities and Colleges Sport leagues, and notable annual events include the Reading Rock Festival-inspired CampusFest and the traditional June Ball. Student accommodation is provided across various halls, including the historic St. George's Hall.

Notable people

The university's community includes distinguished academics such as Dame Jessica Rawson, the art historian, and Sir Brian Hoskins, the climate scientist. Renowned alumni in public life include Chris Tarrant, the television presenter, and Natalie Bennett, former leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. In literature, alumni include the novelist Hari Kunzru and poet John Betjeman, who was also the university's first Doctor of Letters. Notable figures in science include John Krebs, Baron Krebs, the zoologist, and Dame Julia Higgins, the polymer scientist.

Category:Universities in the United Kingdom Category:Educational institutions established in 1892