Reading University - Student Life

Housing: University halls for first years. Also student flats, married quarters and plenty of private housing close by - university accommodation office helps and offers advice.

Eats: Excellent cheap snacks in union. Many takeaways and restaurants in student areas of town - kebab shops to home-made Italian and fantastic thai. Usual chains in centre and open late but many more interesting independents.

Drink: Bars in all halls; 4 SU bars at Whiteknights, 2 at Bulmershe. Plenty of local pubs, from old watering holes to funky bars.

Nightlife: Excellent ents at RUSU, eg comedy and jazz nights, special guests, big name bands and the main club nights. RUSU's 3sixty is largest club around and has hosted nights with top DJs (eg Danny Rampling, Scott Mills) and gigs such as Kosheen, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Travis amongst others.

Sports: Student rates at sports centre on campus.

Travel: Reading very accessible; close to London via M4 or 20-minute train journey. Bus service from town station to Heathrow. Travel agency offer student rates.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £4000.

Jobs: Number of student jobs in the university, halls and the union. RUSU advertises other opportunities (eg volunteering, getting involved with the student movement itself!). Reading has a good employment rate, so usually plenty of part-time jobs in town.

Hardship fund: Access fund. Help from SU welfare office to find money from trusts.

Best features: Variety of opportunities on campus and in Reading. Tranquillity of campus but always plenty to see and do.

And worst: Expense of living in the south and close to London.

More info: Contact RUSU President Tel 0118 986 5133 or check website www.rusu.co.uk

Past students: Sir Richard Trehane (ex-Milk Marketing Board), Andy Mackay (Roxy Music), Steve Vines (journalist), Gillian Freeman (novelist & biographer), Susanne Charlton (BBC Weather), James Cracknell (olympic rower), LTJ Bukem (DJ), Kenneth Brannagh (actor).