The University of Reading International Scholarships are not one single award. They are a collection of funding routes at a UK university: scholarships, bursaries, discounts for students who finish Reading's own International Foundation Programme (IFP), and government grants and loans for students who qualify for them. If you are a Pakistani student looking for one big fully funded award with a fixed amount and a single deadline, that is not how this works, and it helps to know that before you start.
What Reading does well is give you a clear route at each level, from foundation through to PhD. This guide explains how those routes fit together, what you need ready, and where students tend to slip. You can also see the full scholarship details on our listing.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | University of Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on the award |
| Levels | International Foundation Programme, undergraduate, master's, PhD |
| Deadline | Varies by course and level; undergraduate UCAS deadlines are typically in January |
| Official site | reading.ac.uk scholarships page |
Why Reading's funding is a menu, not a single award
The university groups several kinds of support together. Some of it is aimed at international students, some at home students, and some at students who progress from the IFP into a degree. The funding is listed as full or partial, but the source material does not give fixed amounts for individual scholarships, so you should not assume any particular award covers all your tuition or living costs. Check the value of each award you are interested in on the official funding page before you plan your budget around it.
That matters for Pakistani families. A partial award still leaves a gap, and you will need to show you can pay the rest when it comes to your visa. If that part worries you, read our guide on bank statements and proof of funds early, not after you get an offer.
The support you can actually apply for
Based on what Reading lists, the support falls into these groups:
- Scholarships and discounts for students who complete the International Foundation Programme at Reading and progress to an undergraduate degree.
- Bursaries and other financial support options.
- Government grants and loans, for students who qualify for them.
Be realistic about the last item. Government grants and loans come with their own eligibility rules, and "qualifying students" is the operative phrase. Do not count on them as an international applicant unless the official page confirms you are eligible.
The IFP route is the most distinctive part of the package. If your FSc or A-level results do not meet direct entry, or you want a gentler start in the UK, the foundation programme gives you a path into a Reading degree plus access to dedicated scholarships and discounts on the way through. For some students this is the strongest reason to pick Reading over a similar university.
Subjects and levels covered
Funding is available across the International Foundation Programme, undergraduate, master's and PhD levels. The fields listed include accounting, agriculture, art, biological sciences, business and management, computer science, economics, engineering, English literature, law, mathematics, pharmacy, psychology, real estate and planning, and zoology.
That is a wide spread. It does not mean every scholarship is open to every subject, so read the conditions for the specific award attached to your course.
Eligibility and the IELTS 6.5 benchmark
Reading's support is offered to international and home students. Pakistani applicants apply as international students, but individual scholarships can have their own nationality or fee-status conditions, so check the rules for your nationality on each award before you apply.
The core requirements are straightforward:
- Meet the academic entry requirements for your chosen course.
- Meet the English language requirement. For most undergraduate courses this is IELTS 6.5 overall with no component below 5.5.
- Apply through the correct portal for your study level.
The English requirement is where people get caught. Some courses ask for more. Speech and Language Therapy and Pharmacy are two programmes that may require different, higher scores. If you are aiming for one of these, look up the exact score on the course page rather than relying on the general 6.5 figure. Accepted evidence includes IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic.
Three portals for three levels
The single biggest source of confusion is that Reading uses different application systems depending on what you are studying.
- Undergraduate courses, including degrees with an Integrated Foundation Year, go through the UCAS website.
- Master's courses go through the university's online application portal.
- PhD applicants use the Doctoral and Researcher College website to find topics, supervisors and funding options.
PhD applicants should note the difference. You are not just filling in a form. You are expected to find a research topic and a supervisor, and funding options are listed through the same college, so start that search well before you think about deadlines.
Paperwork to prepare before you apply
The list is short, which makes it easy to underestimate:
- Academic transcripts and certificates.
- Evidence of English language proficiency, such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic.
- A UCAS application, if you are applying for an undergraduate course.
- The online application form, if you are applying for a master's course.
For Pakistani students, transcripts and certificates often need attestation, which takes time. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide walks through that process, and it is worth starting before your test results arrive.
How the application works in practice
- Find your course on the University of Reading website and check its specific funding options and entry requirements.
- Submit your application: UCAS for undergraduate, the online portal for master's, or the Doctoral and Researcher College for a PhD.
- Provide evidence of English language proficiency if your course requires it.
- Once you have an offer, apply for scholarships, bursaries and student accommodation through the designated university portals.
Notice the order. For most support, the scholarship application comes after the offer, not alongside the course application. So the course application is your first hurdle, and a weak or late one means you never reach the funding stage.
Working back from the January UCAS deadline
Deadlines vary by course and level, and the opening date also varies by programme. For undergraduates, the anchor is the UCAS deadline, which typically falls in January. If you miss it, there is Clearing: the clearing hotline opens starting 13 August 2026. Clearing is a backup, not a plan. Scholarship options may be more limited by then, and you will be rushing your visa and finances.
Master's and PhD timelines are less fixed in the source material, so confirm the exact deadline for your course and for each scholarship on the official portal. Treat any date you see elsewhere as a guide until the university confirms it for the current cycle.
Who this suits, and where applicants go wrong
Reading's funding suits students who are flexible and organised. If you are happy with a partial award, or you plan to take the IFP and progress into a degree, the structure works in your favour. It suits PhD candidates less well if they want a funded place handed to them, since the research route depends on finding a topic and supervisor first.
If you need full funding to go at all, keep Reading on your list but do not make it your only option. Our all United Kingdom scholarships hub has other routes to compare.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Assuming the general IELTS 6.5 applies to every course, then finding out Pharmacy or Speech and Language Therapy needs more.
- Booking the English test late, so the score is not ready when the application is due.
- Applying to the wrong portal, for example trying to apply for a master's through UCAS.
- Treating "full / partial" as a promise of full funding.
- Forgetting to apply for scholarships and bursaries after receiving the course offer.
Reading also has staff who advise on tuition fees and financial support. If the rules for a particular award are unclear, contact them directly rather than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Reading scholarship fully funded?
Funding is described as full or partial, and it depends on the specific award. The source does not give fixed amounts, so check the value of each scholarship on the official page before relying on it.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The support is offered to international students, and Pakistani students apply as international applicants. Individual awards can have their own conditions, so confirm eligibility for your nationality on each one.
What IELTS score do I need?
Most undergraduate courses ask for IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5. Courses such as Speech and Language Therapy or Pharmacy may require different scores, so check your course page.
How do I apply for an undergraduate course at Reading?
All undergraduate courses, including degrees with an Integrated Foundation Year, are applied for through UCAS. The UCAS deadline is typically in January.
When do I apply for the scholarship itself?
Scholarships, bursaries and accommodation are applied for through the university's designated portals after you receive an offer.
What if I miss the January deadline?
Undergraduate applicants can look at Clearing, with the hotline opening starting 13 August 2026. Funding choices may be narrower at that stage.
For current awards and dates, check the University of Reading scholarships website and our University of Reading scholarship page.