University of Reading Alumni and Supporters

03/09/2026

From pioneering research and environmental innovation, to student initiatives and emerging technologies, the two decades between 1986 and 2006 were a period of ambition, discovery and lasting impact at the University of Reading.

We look back at a time when the University became the first to receive the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, launched the Students in Schools programme, installed its first solar panels, helped pioneer the world’s first human cyborg, celebrated the legacy of groundbreaking environmental research, and opened a new home for its archives and special collections.

We also hear from some of our graduates who studied at Reading during these two decades.

👀 Take a peek into the archives: https://rdg.ac/4cZmz37

03/09/2026

📢 Applications for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2027 are open – share your inspiring story with the world!

The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide.

These awards honour international leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries.

Award categories include:

📈 Business and Innovation,
🏛 Culture, Creativity and Sport,
🌏 Science and Sustainability,
🤝Social Action.

👉 Find out more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4yjVq3l

👀 Read stories from University of Reading Study UK Alumni Award participants: https://rdg.ac/4gSRorE

02/09/2026

Take a walk through 100 years of Reading, without leaving Whiteknights.

Our campus is renowned for its green spaces, but look a little closer and there are stories, artworks and pieces of our history to discover right across it.

Following our Art on Campus trail, you'll find works from the University Art Collection, including eight World Reimagined Globes exploring the history and impact on all of us of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans, alongside paintings, sketches and mixed-media works.

As we celebrate our centenary year, there are new stories to discover too. Our Centenary Mural and Memories Window Display celebrate some of the people, places and moments that have shaped the University over the past 100 years.

The Art Trail is open to everyone, so whether you live locally, work or study here, or simply fancy exploring Whiteknights from a different perspective, come and take a look.

Explore the Art on Campus trail https://rdg.ac/4xRGwku

01/09/2026

28/08/2026

One hundred years after receiving our Royal Charter, the University of Reading truly is a global community.

Earlier this month, we were delighted to welcome alumni, partners and staff to our centenary celebrations across South-East Asia, honouring the relationships, collaborations and shared experiences that bond and connect our alumni community.

During the events, it was a privilege to reflect on everything we've achieved together over the past century, honouring some of our alumni's incredible contributions, and looking ahead to the opportunities that lie before us.

Our centenary is more than a celebration of our history. It's a celebration of the people who have built our University, the communities we're proud to be part of, the impact of our alumni across the globe, and the partnerships that will help us continue to create possibilities for tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us in celebrating this special milestone so far. We're looking forward to alumni centenary celebrations in Nigeria, Hong Kong and China in the coming weeks and are very much looking forward to bringing many more of our alumni community together.

26/08/2026

💭 just IMAGINE if...
..you have an idea to make the world a better place.

You share that idea.

And then you get the chance to get the support you need to make it a reality.

Well, as a social enterprise research grant scheme, that's exactly what just IMAGINE if... is all about.

In our Centenary year, our Chancellor and founder of the scheme, Paul Lindley OBE, called upon the ingenuity of the University's student and alumni community to come up with ideas aimed at solving global challenges faced now and in the future.

They did not disappoint.

A special shout out goes to the three quite brilliant alumni who have reached the final stage of this initiative:

Matt Bridger, Kolatat Katoussano and Elias Montanari.

Each will be pitching their ideas, along with the other seven finalists, to an expert judging panel in September. The top three ideas will be selected to receive a grant of £5,000 plus mentorship from a Henley Business School academic for a year.

Massive congratulations to Matt, Kolatat, and Elias for reaching the finals and best of luck for September!

21/08/2026

Relive your moment at Graduation 🎓

All 2026 Summer Graduation ceremonies are now available to watch on the University of Reading's YouTube channel.

Gather together the friends and loved ones who couldn't make it on the day, or enjoy once more that magic moment when you took to the stage in the Great Hall and were awarded your degree.

Watch now at: https://rdg.ac/4qsvYFR

18/08/2026

A garden to grow alongside the next generation in Shinfield.

In our centenary year, we're inviting local families to help create a new Tree for Life Garden, in a brand new project on University land at The Ridge.

Inspired by an idea from a Shinfield resident and created with local charity Freely Fruity, 36 families will have the chance to plant a tree marking the birth or adoption of a child, creating a living legacy of 2026 for the community.

Families can help plant their tree this autumn and watch it grow alongside their child in the years ahead.

It's a small but lasting way we can use our land to support our neighbours, create greener spaces and celebrate the community we're proud to be part of.

🌳 36 trees available
📅 Apply by 27 September

Interested in getting involved?

Find out more and register now: https://rdg.ac/3SaX3AS

18/08/2026

Botanical University Challenge - like University Challenge, but with plants…

And tomorrow, you can watch the 2026 final for FREE, either live at the University of Reading or online.

Ten years ago Botanical University Challenge (BUC) was created at Reading to test students knowledge of plants, ecology & conservation, horticulture and agriculture.

The competition has grown and grown, blossoming into an annual event featuring teams from across the UK.

Tomorrow sees the 2026 final return to Reading, with teams from the universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin, who will compete to be crowned BUC2026 champions.

And there are still places available to watch the competition as it happens.

📅Wednesday 19 August, 13:10-17:30
📍Online & Live on the Whiteknights Campus

Join us: https://rdg.ac/4wuUIPr

12/08/2026

📢Calling University of Reading and Henley Business School alumni in Nigeria!📢

Join us for a special Alumni Celebration and Awards evening in Lagos on 29 August. We are not only celebrating 100 years of the University of Reading but we will also be presenting awards to some exceptional alumni in our network.

This prestigious occasion will enable you to reconnect with fellow alumni, expand your professional network, and discover how you can continue to play an active role in our growing alumni community. There will also be live music and delicious food - one not to miss! More event details can be found here: https://rdg.ac/4h1Zobv

📍 We would be honoured to welcome you for an evening of connection, celebration, and shared achievements.

👉 Register now (free to attend): https://rdg.ac/4wsZSeP

📋 Places are limited and registration is essential.