Master's application information
For applicants and offer holders

1. Check our entry requirements

Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

2. Application and funding deadlines

Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies.  For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

Funding deadlines

We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

3. Submit your application

You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation.

Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

• full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
• an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
• contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
• statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
• a copy of your passport (for international students).

Application fee

We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

4. Track your application

You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.

1. Accept your offer

The first step in joining us at Reading is to accept your offer via our online application service (RISIS). We recommend you accept your offer as soon as possible if you plan to study with us as your place is not guaranteed until you have accepted your offer. You will only be able apply for accommodation once you have accepted your offer. If you are an international student, your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) can only be issued once you have accepted your offer and paid your deposit, and you hold an unconditional offer.

Deposit

For some of our programmes, you may be required to pay a deposit in order to hold your place or to obtain a CAS for your visa application. This deposit will be put towards your tuition fees. The deposit should be paid at the same time that you accept your offer of a place through the RISIS web portal.

Further details of the amount and deadline for the deposit payments are available on our Course Deposits Information page, and information will also be included in your offer letter.

If your studies are being fully sponsored by a funding body or organisation, we will be able to waive your deposit upon receipt of an official sponsorship letter.

Deferring your offer

If you would like to defer your offer, please complete the Postgraduate Deferral Request Form online. We aim to process your deferral request within four weeks. We will notify you of current processing times when you submit your deferral request. 

2. Submit qualifications, references and supporting documents

If you have received an unconditional offer of study, we do not require further supporting evidence. For your next steps, please see ‘Funding your postgraduate study’.

If you have received a conditional offer of study, this may be for several reasons: 

• you are still studying and need to provide us with your final degree transcript or certificate once you have completed your degree,
• you have provided the contact details of your references but they have not uploaded their reference letter,
• we are awaiting evidence of English language ability if English is not your first language,
• we are awaiting a copy of your passport (for international students).

The conditions of your offer are included on your offer letter.

Provide evidence of your qualifications

Once you have completed your degree, you must provide copies of your transcript or certificate confirming your full degree qualification. If the original transcript and/or certificate is not in English, you must provide a certified translation of the documents into English. You should email the copies in PDF format to Postgraduate Admissions. Please ensure you include your Reading ID in the subject of your email as well as in the body of the correspondence.

References

Your two referees (which should be academic and/or professional references) will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you submit your application. Please remind your references to check their junk inbox for the email, and that the link to upload their reference is only valid for 20 days.

If the conditions of your offer show references outstanding, you will need to contact your referees to remind them to upload their reference. If the link in their email has expired, your referee can email their reference to Postgraduate Admissions using their professional (work) email address.

English language qualifications

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on our course pages. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

3. Funding your postgraduate study

If you’ve received an offer to study with us, you will be eligible to apply for our scholarships and bursaries. To apply for a scholarship, you will need to log in to Me@Reading. Please note that only scholarships that you are eligible for will appear on Me@Reading. If you are eligible, you will see ‘Scholarships at Reading’ on your homepage which will take you through to the relevant scholarship application form.

Please note that scholarships external to the University of Reading will have their own application processes and deadlines, and you should consult those scholarship organisations directly.

You can also check our funding guidance for further information on funding your degree.

4. International students: Apply for your visa

If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you will automatically be sent a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document by email once you have:

• accepted your offer,
• paid your deposit (if a deposit is required),
• met all conditions of your offer and your offer status is unconditional.

Postgraduate Admissions do regular checks for offer holders who have fulfilled the conditions, so there is no need to contact us to request a CAS document; it will be automatically emailed to you once you have fulfilled all conditions of your offer. 

International applicants should also consult our advice and guidance on visas and immigration. For our EU applicants, please see our Brexit guidance now that the United Kingdom has left the EU.

Some of our postgraduate programmes require Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance from the UK government before you can apply for your visa. If this applies to you, it will be stated in your offer letter. You will need to follow the guidance and submit your application on the UK government’s ATAS website.

Many of our international students choose to use one of our in-country representatives to assist them with the visa application process. Please be aware that some representatives may charge students a counselling fee. We would advise you to clarify all charges and service expectations in advance.

5. Apply for accommodation

Once you've accepted your offer (and paid your deposit, if applicable), you should start looking for a place to live whilst you study with us. We have a wide range of on-campus accommodation options, and master’s students are guaranteed a place in halls if you apply by 1 August and meet the conditions of your offer by 31 August.

Alternatively, some of our students choose to live off campus in private accommodation whilst studying.

6. Complete your enrolment

We have prepared a checklist of everything you need to do before you arrive on campus, to ensure you don't miss anything.

Prior to starting your programme, you will be sent instructions to complete your online enrolment via email. As part of online enrolment, you will also need to pay half of your fees. You can see information on how to pay fees on our website. If you are having trouble with your online enrolment, please see our detailed online enrolment help.