About Reading
Reading is very popular among students. According to the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), students enjoy staying in Reading. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Reading:
Undergraduate: 13%
Postgraduate: 23%
The proportion of international students in Reading has been increasing steadily over the past few years due to a number of factors, including the growing reputation of Reading’s universities, the increasing globalisation of higher education, and the UK government's policy of encouraging international students to study in the UK.
Popular Student Areas in Reading
Reading has several areas that are student-friendly. They all offer a vibrant and diverse life for students to explore and get used to different cultures. These neighbourhoods usually affect the cost of public transportation fares. The further you travel from the city centre, the higher the fare.
Popular Reading areas among university students are Cemetery Junction, Coley, and Newton. There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for the perfect student area to stay in, including transportation, cost, and amenities.
Students living on Cemetery Junction will be near the University of Reading and Reading College. The purpose-built student accommodation options would cost around £130-£320/week.
Travel time from Cemetery Junction to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 5-10 minutes
Bike - 4-8 minutes
Car - 5 minutes
Walking - 10-15 minutes
Students living in Coley would pay around £120-£280/week. Nearby universities include the University of Reading, Reading College, and the Henley Business School-Reading.
Travel time from Coley to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-20 minutes
Bike - 20-25 minutes
Car - 10-15 minutes
Walking - 30-40 minutes
Students living in Newton would pay around £140-£300/week. Nearby universities include the University of Reading, Reading College, and the Henley Business School-Reading.
Travel time from Newton to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-20 minutes
Bike - 20-25 minutes
Car - 2-5 minutes
Walking - 40-45 minutes
Best Student Housing in Reading
Reading has a vast choice of student room options, and students can explore different areas in Reading in proximity to their colleges and budgets.
Popular student accommodations in Reading that provide almost every room type are Queens Court and Berkshire House.
Discover Student Room Types in Reading (Approx. £450 - £2,170/ month)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Reading typically includes a variety of amenities and features included in the bills; it varies from high-speed Wi-Fi to on-site gyms according to the provider's terms and conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions.
Here, we have categorised the room types given below based on preferences and budgets to help you in your decision-making.
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Reading:
These cost around £640- £1,182 per month on average and are recommended for comfortable sharing space students. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments.
Shared room
Amenities: Self-contained apartments with multiple bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £600/month
Coley’s average rent: £590/month
Newton’s average rent: £600/ month
Triple/Quadruple rooms
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £500/month
Coley’s average rent: £450/month
Newton’s average rent: £450/ month
Entire place
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £2,461/month
Coley’s average rent: £2,461/month
Newton’s average rent: £2,461/month
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Reading with privacy: These rooms cost around £566 to £1,082 per month.
Student Single Room
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £600/month
Coley’s average rent: £600/month
Newton’s average rent: £550
Student-shared Flats
Amenities: Private Bedrooms in shared houses or flats, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £550/month
Coley’s average rent: £600/month
Newton’s average rent: £550
Student Twin Rooms
Amenities: One room with two single beds, a shared bathroom, and a shared kitchen
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £550/month
Coley’s average rent: £550/month
Newton’s average rent: £550
Student Double Room
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £650/month
Amenities: One bedroom with a double bed, a shared bathroom, and a shared kitchen
Coley’s average rent: £550/month
Newton’s average rent: £550
Room Type 3: Reading student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the city centre cost around £566 to £1,082 per month.
Reading Student Flats
Amenities: Private bedrooms, private bathrooms, and private kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £650/month
Coley’s average rent: £650/month
Newton’s average rent: £650
Reading Student En-Suite Rooms
Amenities: Single bedrooms, private bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £850/month
Coley’s average rent: £750/month
Newton’s average rent: £820/month
Browse through students' en-suits in Reading, such as Queens Court.
Reading Student Studios
Amenities: private bedrooms, private bathrooms, and private kitchens
Cemetery Junction’s average rent: £850/month
Coley’s average rent: £750/month
Newton’s average rent: £820/month
Browse through students' studios in Reading, such as Berkshire House and Queens Court.
Room Type 4: Students who prefer amenities over budget
- Student penthouses in Reading cost around £1,285-£2,170 per month.
These are suitable for students who prefer to have private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, spacious rooms, and a top floor.
International students in Reading, UK also search for:
Cost of Living in Reading for Students (Approx. £390 - £720)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Reading student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Reading as a student:
Food: £220-£360/month on average.
We suggest buying groceries that cost around £130/month and cooking your own meal.
Shop from grocery stores such as Iceland, Aldi, and Lidl, as well as larger chains like Tesco. They have some specific days for students' discounts.
Transportation: £40-£120/month on average
Use the 16-25 Railcard: it is available to anyone aged 16-25 or in full-time education.
18+ Student Oyster Card: it is available to students aged 18 and over enrolled in full-time education.
Taxis are also available. The average cost of a taxi ride in Reading is around £2.80 per mile.
Walking is always an option if you enjoy it. It’s free, which will help you save money.
Kitchen Essentials: Market worth around £30-£40.
Some properties do not provide utensils in that case, student can check online where some websites provide utensils at discounted prices for student from market prices.
Former students generally leave their kitchen essentials on the property while leaving the city due to airport luggage weight restrictions. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bedding Essentials: Market worth around £50-£100.
Only a few providers provide bedding packs to their tenants as part of their bills or as an offer. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
Former students generally leave their bedding essentials on the property while leaving the city due to airport luggage weight restrictions. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bathroom Essentials: Market worth around £30-£60.
While booking a student room, the focus remains on whether it has shared or private bathrooms, but forget about bathroom essentials. Student can check online where some websites provide at discounted prices from market prices.
Cleaning Essentials: Market worth around £20- £40
