University of Reading
The Student Services Reception at the University of Reading provides crucial support through various services for current students. Available Monday to Friday, 10:00-16:00, this line assists with issuing campus cards and providing official documentation such as letters for embassies and age verification. It also certifies applications like those for rail cards and Oyster Cards, and assists with study verification and name changes on student records. The service is free for all registered students, with phone lines open from 09:00. It's recommended to call early to avoid peak times, especially around the start of the academic term when higher volumes can cause delays.
Updated 31 Oct 2025
Expected outcomes
- Issue campus cards
- Provide official letters
- Certify rail applications
- Confirm awards
- Authorize Oyster Cards
- Assist with name changes
- Register for drop-in sessions
Call preparation
Assemble everything before you dial. These requirements are verified by our call analysts and updated as organizations change their scripts.
- Student ID
- Purpose of letter
- Rail card application
- Oyster Card application
- Proof of name change
- Details of study
- Reason for replacement
- Team required
Known issues
There have been occasional reports of long wait times at the Student Services Reception, particularly during busy periods like the start of the term. To mitigate this, additional staff are deployed to handle the increased demand. For non-urgent queries, students are encouraged to use email, which can sometimes expedite the resolution without needing to visit the reception. It's advisable to have all necessary documents prepared before contacting the service to ensure a smooth and efficient process. Consider visiting during mid-week or around mid-mornings to minimize wait times.
