The University of Reading was founded in 1892 initially as an extension College of the University of Oxford. It received a Royal Charter and became an university in its own right in 1926. Today, UoR is a public research university recognised for its expertise in areas including climate science, business, agriculture, and food science. Research at the university aims to address major societal issues across four themes: agriculture, food and health; environment; heritage and creativity; and prosperity and resilience. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and global partnerships, researchers at UoR continuously seek solutions to challenges such as climate change, improving human health, ensuring food security, and understanding human culture.

UoR offers a highly comprehensive range of programs, providing more than 200 undergraduate courses across 16 academic schools. The university takes pride in its diverse and international community, welcoming over 23,000 students from more than 160 countries. This commitment to internationalism is further exemplified by UoR’s global presence. In addition to its three UK campuses, the university has further established a campus in Malaysia, and has extended the the reach of the UoR Henley Business School to South Africa.