HOME FROM HOME

ACCOMMODATION

IT’S JUST UOR WAY

 4982
student bedrooms
12
eating outlets to choose from
0
No unexpected bills to pay
on or close to campus as part of the meal plan with our all-inclusive rent †
†
Includes utility bills, basic contents insurance
package and communal cleaning

86% 24/7
includes high-speed

of students would ­recommend Halls Hotline to deal with any

WI-FI
150+
their hall to other students* halls-related issues quickly
* UPP Reading Customer Satisfaction Survey, and efficiently
2022–23

All halls no more than

15
number of free events
provided to residents last
year as part of Home at Halls
residence life programme
minutes walk from the Available on both iOS and Android platforms
nearest campus our Home at Halls app is dedicated to
improving your student experience
WELCOME TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF READING
We’re delighted that you’re interested If you have any queries about the
in finding out more about accommodation information within this guide our expert
at the University of Reading. staff within the Accommodation Office
We work closely with UPP, our will be more than happy to assist in finding
accommodation partner, to offer your new home away from home.
a fantastic university living experience Matthew White, Director of Campus Commerce

that provides a great opportunity to make

new friends and play a part in creating
some of your best university memories.
LIVING IN HALLS
Why live in halls?
University accommodation
provides a safe and secure
environment for residents
to live, study, meet friends
and socialise as part of
a supportive community.
Great location
All accommodation is located either on
the main Whiteknights campus or within
a 15-minute walk.

A range of accommodation
choices to suit your needs
Express a preference for self-catered
rooms – with or without a Meal Plan –
or Meal Plan Halls with a contract length
to suit your needs from our wide variety
of room types for various budgets.
Do you have a special requirement due
to a medical condition? Do you want to live
in a same sex flat or a quieter lifestyle flat?
We have accommodation to suit all needs!

All inclusive rent

Including:
• all utility bills
• Wi-Fi
• a basic level of contents insurance
• maintenance
• communal cleaning, including
communal kitchen areas and
shared bathroom facilities

4 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

Low deposit Welfare support
An amount of £250 is payable to accept A dedicated and experienced team of
your offer of accommodation. Your offer on-site staff wardens and hall mentors
cannot be accepted without payment of take care of all aspects of pastoral care.
this amount.
24/7 Halls Hotline
Safe and secure Available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the
The halls have regular security patrols year ensuring any halls‑related issues
and CCTV is constantly monitored. Each are dealt with quickly and efficiently. This
group of halls has a staffed reception. service is complemented by our handy
Home at Halls app where you can report
maintenance, give feedback, register
for Home at Halls events and receive
important updates.

Social spaces
and study areas
All Hall Groups have access to a shared
social space. We also have a number of
study spaces within halls. Halls without
study areas are able to access the closest
hall’s study area. For example, residents
of Bridges Hall are able to use the study
space within Wessex Hall.

Community
Home at Halls is our residence life
programme with a team dedicated to
organising free and low-cost events for
everyone living in halls at the University
of Reading. Our activities involve cultural
experiences, fitness and well-being,
life skills, seasonal celebrations and so
much more! We welcome students of all
ages to participate, meet new people,
and make the most of living within the
University’s community.

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 5
CHOOSING YOUR ACCOMMODATION
THINGS TO CONSIDER
STEP Meal Plan or self‑catered? STEP Specific requirements
1 The University recommend all first year students take a 4 When making your application, you have the opportunity
Meal Plan. Choose from a range of plans including our Unlimited to note any specific requirements. This includes single-sex
and Midweeker plans providing unlimited access to food allowing accommodation, living in a ‘quieter lifestyle’ area and any medical
you to focus on University Life. Please note some rooms include conditions such as needing a wheelchair accessible room, or
a minimum mandatory Meal Plan. other conditions which may affect your time in halls. Please
ensure you complete this part of the application accurately
STEP Your preferred room type to ensure we match your requirements as closely as possible.
2 When thinking about your room type, there are a few
different factors to consider. For example, are you happy to share
a bathroom? Your budget will play a big part and needs careful
consideration. Due to demand we may not always be able to meet
your room preference. You need to make at least five choices
of preferred accommodation. The more preferences you pick,
the more likely we will be able to meet your requirements.

STEP Preferred contract length?

3 We have different contract lengths available for full year
and shorter periods of study, with entry points in September
and January. Full-time students have the choice of the following
contract lengths (not all contract lengths are available in
each hall:
• 40 weeks (Sept to June): This is the most popular option
for undergraduate students and postgraduates who are
not required to be in Reading for their course over the
Summer vacation. Please note that some rooms available
at St George’s, Benyon, and Sherfield Halls are on 39 weeks.
• 51 weeks (Sept to Sept): Postgraduate students often select
this option but it is also suitable for any undergraduates
who would like to use their room over the summer vacation.
You are advised to check with your course to see which
contract length will be most appropriate for you. If you are
in doubt please check.

Accommodation guarantee: A new full-time undergraduate

who holds Reading as a firm UCAS choice and applies for
accommodation by 1 August is guaranteed a place in Hall.

6 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

APPLYING FOR ACCOMMODATION
APPLICATION TIMELINE
7 FEBRUARY 2024 15 AUGUST 2024 Postgraduate students
Applications open! Applications open for those coming
to Reading through Clearing. There are a range of accommodation
options available for postgraduate
students. We do not offer dedicated
EARLY FEBRUARY 2024 postgraduate halls but we do our best
Unconditional and conditional 15 AUGUST 2024 to allocate you in areas sharing with
academic offer holders. Normally Insurance students and those that other postgraduate or more mature
you will receive an update from have not yet applied. students where possible. Our 51-week
us within 15 days of making your contract option is often popular with
accommodation application, maybe
postgraduate students, although you
longer for specific requirements
(DAS). 28 AUGUST 2024 should check with your school to find
E-induction and booking out if you will need to be on campus
your arrival slot. over the summer vacation for your
particular course.
FROM MID-FEBRUARY
For more information visit www.
Unconditional and conditional
BY 4 SEPTEMBER 2024 reading.ac.uk/accommodation/
academic offer holders. You will
Room numbers will be released. mature. When you make an
have five days to accept your offer
of accommodation. application you will need to follow the
Postgraduate pathway by selecting
the postgraduate option under
14 SEPTEMBER 2024 ‘New Students’.
FROM MID-JUNE 2024 ‘Early start’ contract arrivals.
Pre-sessional student academic
offer holders can apply. Quieter lifestyle
20/21/22 SEPTEMBER 2024 We allocate students together who
Main halls arrivals days. consider themselves to have a ‘quieter
1 AUGUST 2024 lifestyle’. If you prefer a quieter lifestyle,
Accommodation Guarantee please select a ‘quiet’ room type in your
deadline: The deadline to apply application. Please note, we cannot
for accommodation under the guarantee a permanent quiet
guarantee is midnight on 1 August Scan to view environment. Communal living will
2024. You must then fulfil the the full always involve some level of noise,
terms of your academic offer by application including from outside the building.
4 September 2024 in order to receive timeline However, by placing students
a guaranteed place in halls.
requesting a quieter lifestyle together
we hope to better meet the different
expectations of our students.

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 7
ACCOMMODATION CONTRACT 2024–25
Payment and deposit
You will need to pay a deposit of £250 to accept your offer
of accommodation. Accommodation payments are due termly.
Contract dates
Specific payments and their due dates can be viewed on your You will find your contract start date in your accommodation
accommodation offer via the RISIS web portal. offer via the RISIS web portal. Start dates are specific to each hall
of residence, as an indication.
Meal Plans • Contract start date: 20 September 2024, ends 27 June 2025
(40 weeks) or 12 September 2025 (51 weeks)
Meal Plans selected during the Accommodation Application
process form part of your Accommodation Contract and are • Contract start date: 21 September 2024, ends 28 June 2025
also governed by the Meal Plan Terms and Conditions found here (40 weeks) or 13 September 2025 (51 weeks)
www.clever-cuisine.com/terms/. Please ensure you read and • Contract start date: 22 September 2024, ends 29 June 2025
fully understand the terms of the meal plan you are signing up to. (40 weeks) or 14 September 2025 (51 weeks)

You can find more about how each Meal Plan works, including
dates they run, at www.clever-cuisine.com

Frequently asked questions

Scan to view

8 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

CLEVER CUISINE MEAL PLANS
Your stress-free pre-paid approach to
eating during term time whilst living in halls
The University encourage all first year students choose How do I buy a plan?
a Meal Plan. Our fixed price Meal Plans are unique to Reading
The easiest way is to select your chosen Meal Plan during the
and give you the flexibility to eat where, when and how you wish
Halls Application process and are billed along with your Hall
including our Unlimited Meal Plan allowing you to visit as and
Fees. Please note some rooms include a minimum mandatory
when you wish during operating hours. Our menus are designed
Meal Plan.
around health and well-being, based on our extensive Academic
expertise around everything food, from our farms to our food Alternatively, you can buy online from clever-cuisine.com using
and nutritional scientists. a selected debit/credit card.

Meal Plans can help you succeed academically by ensuring you

have access to a wide range of food without having to find the
time to cook or shop.
Discover how our meal plans work and more at
www.clever-cuisine.com

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 9
ROOM TYPE OPTIONS
PREMIUM EN-SUITE AND EN-SUITE ROOMS
Our premium en-suite rooms offer a high standard of Our en-suite rooms offer a comfortable, well-equipped bedroom
accommodation in modern, well-appointed buildings. Premium with fitted furniture, shelving units and an en-suite shower room,
en-suite rooms include a 4ft-wide bed, en-suite shower room and often in a ‘wet room’ style. En-suite rooms are available in both
fitted furniture. All premium en-suites are self-catered rooms. self-catered and Meal Plan Halls.

Take a virtual tour of Room dimensions are available in the Key Fact Sheet found
one of our rooms here on the room type specific accommodation webpages.

bedside
unit
window
desk

shelving
above
desk
en-suite

full-height drawers
­shelving unit

wardrobe

4ft-wide bed

bedside
unit
en-suite

desk

wardrobe

window

10 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

TOWNHOUSE AND PREMIUM SHARED BATHROOM
Our townhouse rooms are arranged in modern, self-catered Our premium rooms with shared bathroom facilities have ten
houses with 12 bedrooms arranged over three floors. Four bedrooms which share three bathrooms. These flats have a
bedrooms on each floor share two bathrooms. Bridges modern kitchen, dining room and living area and are self-catered.
Townhouses have longer than standard single beds and
Room dimensions are available in the Key Fact Sheet found
Stenton Townhouses have 4ft-wide beds.
on the room type specific accommodation webpages.

desk wardrobe

full-height
shelving unit

bathrooms

desk

window

bedside
unit

window

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 11
UPGRADED AND STANDARD ROOM
WITH SHARED BATHROOM FACILITIES
There are a range of halls offering shared bathroom facilities;
many include a washbasin within the room.
At St George’s and Wessex Halls, all the rooms have washbasins,
have been upgraded and are self-catered. Kitchen facilities
are shared with other residents in a traditional corridor-
style arrangement.
Wantage and Windsor Halls are Meal Plan Halls. Wantage Hall has
both standard and upgraded rooms, with or without a washbasin.
At Windsor Hall, all rooms have been upgraded and there are
rooms with either a single, or 4ft‑wide bed, with or without
a washbasin.

Room dimensions are available in the Key Fact Sheet found

on the room type specific accommodation webpages.

window

washbasin

desk

shelving
above
desk

wardrobe

12 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

SUMMARY PAGE

Greenow & McCombie

Northcourt Houses
Dunsden Crescent

St George’s Hall

St Patrick’s Hall
Mackinder Hall

Sherfield Hall

Wantage Hall

Windsor Hall
Stenton Hall

Wessex Hall
Bridges Hall
Benyon Hall

Childs Hall

Creighton
Room type
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Quieter Lifestyle: Quieter lifestyle QL QL QL
areas available in Sherfield and
St George’s Halls whilst Childs Hall
is a designated Quieter Lifestyle hall
Single-sex accommodation available SS SS SS SS SS SS SS
within these halls
Lifts 4 4 4 4 4 4

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 13
HALL LOCATIONS WHITEKNIGHTS CAMPUS
N D
R OA 
200M
 U PPER R DS WH
EDL AN BROADOAK IT
PLACE EK
DUNSDEN NI
WANTAGE CRESCENT GH
EAT AT CHILDS TS
WANTAGE ST RO
GEORGES AD

PARK EAT
STENTON


MACKINDER TOWNHOUSES

D
A
TOWN CENTRE &
O R WINDSOR,
LONDON ROAD
CAMPUS R ST GREENOW &
MCCOMBIE
M HU TENNIS STENTON
WESSEX
EL PARK
 2

16
1a £
1 £ BRIDGES

SHINFIELD ROAD
ENTRANCE
SPORTS 4
GROUNDS
5



NO

SH
RT

IN
HC

FI

ST PATRICK’S
EL

DINING
OU

EAT AT THE SQUARE

RT

RO

FRIENDS
6 15 9 BRIDGE 21
BENYON
AD
AV

7
E


NU

ST PATRICKS 25
E

24 22
10

SHERFIELD 8
23

Halls of residence
Redlands Group Primary pedestrian PEPPER LANE 13
and cycle routes ENTRANCE THE WILDERNESS
Park Group
Secondary pedestrian 11
Northcourt Group and cycle routes
Unsurfaced/unlit paths
Catering outlets
Pedestrian
entrance
Academic buildings 
PE 
AD
Pedestrian exit to
Accommodation Office Wokingham Road
PP
off-site housing
ER
HARRIS RO
LA S
Bus stop GARDEN

ES
RN
N

Car parks
E

1
DE


Pay & display

IL
£
W

Car parks restricted to



users of this building

14 email accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk tel +44 (0)118 200 5011

 EARLEY GATE
ENTRANCE

www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 15
ACCOMMODATION GUIDE 2024–25
For more information, please contact:
Accommodation Office
Carrington Building Please note The University of Reading is committed to providing
University of Reading All photos are examples of facilities on offer quality student accommodation and fully complies
and individual rooms may vary. Whilst every with the Student Accommodation Code. See
Whiteknights effort has been made to ensure that the www.thesac.org.uk for more details. The code
Reading RG6 6UA details outlined in this booklet are correct at covers, among other matters, health and safety,
United Kingdom the time of publication, some arrangements maintenance and repair, and relationships between
may be subject to change. the University and student tenants. It outlines
accommodationonline@reading.ac.uk
All publications are available in a digital best practice and provides benchmarks for the
Tel +44 (0)118 200 5011
format upon request. For more information, management – and quality – of student housing
www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation please contact the Accommodation Office. in the sector.

B30240 10.23