Reading Real Estate Foundation

The Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF), established in 2002 by the University of Reading, is a registered charity dedicated to advancing education in real estate and planning within the School of Real Estate & Planning at Henley Business School. Its core mission is to broaden access to real estate education, enhance employability, and foster academic excellence for talented individuals regardless of background, addressing financial, social, or experiential barriers in the property sector. Guided by values of inclusivity, opportunity, professional development, industry connections, and student wellbeing, RREF uniquely integrates university academia with sector partnerships, exemplified by collaborations with firms like Savills, SEGRO, and British Land.

RREF funds thematic priorities in real estate and planning education, employability, access/inclusion, and research innovation, supporting undergraduate/postgraduate students, PhD researchers, and academic staff at the University of Reading. Key programmes include means-tested bursaries, hardship/travel grants, named scholarships (e.g., Barton Willmore £5,000), summer internships, mentoring schemes, and networking events like the Evening Lecture Series and Careers Fair, all aimed at removing barriers and building industry links for beneficiaries, including international students.

Eligibility is highly restrictive: only prospective/current students or staff at the specified Reading school qualify; external charities/organisations and unsolicited applications are not accepted. No income/size rules apply, but geographic focus is the University of Reading community. Typical grants range £1,000–£30,000 (e.g., undergrad up to £10,000/year for three years; MSc £10,000). Applications via online forms during open windows—Hardship Grants reopen November 2025; 2026/27 rounds February 2026 (deadlines TBA). RREF distinctly excludes core/unrestricted funding or non-Reading initiatives, standing out for its laser focus on sector-specific student support and alumni-driven diversity.