Study in Reading for a Semester!
Institution
The University of Reading was originally an extension college of Oxford University and, in 1926, it was the only institution to gain university status between the two world wars. It is a cosmopolitan and global university with students from 125 different nationalities; of the 18,000 Reading students, one-third are from outside the UK. The university is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2012, and the Henley Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), as well as the European EQUIS and the British AMBA accreditations—the elite “Triple Crown.” The departments of Agriculture and Food rank number one in all the UK, with Education, Earth and Marine Sciences, Art and Design, Town and Country Planning, and Archaeology all ranked in the top ten. In recent years, Reading has won the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize on four separate occasions for academic excellence.
Location
Reading is a historic town situated on the River Thames near both Oxford and London (25 minutes by train). It is a thriving center of commerce and technology and has one of the best shopping and entertainment centers, The Oracle, in southern England. Remains of what was once one of Europe’s larger and richer abbey complexes still stand, and the Reading Museum is a treasure trove for local history, including Roman antiquities from the nearby major Roman city of Silchester. Reading is the burial place of King Henry I and the hometown of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Reading is also a superb hub for exploring, with excellent transportation links to places throughout the UK. Most trains heading north and west stop in Reading.
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Mid September to Mid December
- Spring Semester: Early January to Late March
For more information about the Academic Calendar please visit the
USAC Reading web page.
Housing
The on-campus residence halls vary in age, size, and character, but all are within a ten-minute walk of the main academic, support, and social facilities on campus. Most of the rooms are fully furnished single bedrooms with shared bathrooms and pantries. All rooms contain a data point with unlimited access to the university network via your own computer.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
| |
Semester |
| 1USAC Tuition |
See USAC |
| 2OIED Program Development Fee |
$200 |
| Intl Health Dev Fee |
$60 |
1Tuition and fees are charged at the USAC rate.
2The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester |
| 1Housing |
$1578 - $2761 |
| Housing Deposit |
$300 - $400 |
| Airfare |
$1000 - $1500 |
| Meals |
$300 - $1500 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$1200 - $1800 |
| Books and Materials |
$150 - $300 |
| Local Transportation |
$150 - $300 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
$0 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| 2US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
| 3Personal Travel and Spending |
$1500 - $2000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Students are encouraged to maintain a US based health insurance plan while abroad (to exempt out of AppState insurance students must follow the App exemption process - proving that they have insurance coverage for the entirety of the semester.
3Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
USAC Scholarships
USAC offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $1000.
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
The USAC Reading program allows students to access an array of course options through the University as well as a required British History and Culture class. This program may be of particular interest to Art History, Biology, Building Science, Business, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, English and Creative Writing, Geography, Graphic Design, History, Literature, Government and Justice Studies, Mathematics, and Nutrition students.
For more information about the courses and structure of the program please visit the USAC Reading website.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the USAC Reading program will be required to enroll in 12-16 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the
Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to a USAC program should complete the
USAC application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me webpage.