The Best University of Manchester | UK

 

Overview

 

ABOUT

The University of Manchester offers over 1,000 degree programmes across the humanities, business, science, and engineering subject areas. These programmes include foundation courses, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, PhDs and MBAs.

Ranked seventh in the world according to the QS World University Rankings® 2018, the University of Manchester is a prestigious red brick university and is also a member of the Russell Group: a select network of leading research-intensive universities in the UK. The University is investing £1 billion over 10 years into its campus and facilities, helping to sustain its incredible history of innovation, with 25 Nobel Prize winners among its current and former students and staff. The University helped with the development of the world’s first modern computer in 1948, and was where Ernest Rutherford first split the atom in 1917.

Today, The University of Manchester is at the forefront of cutting edge research in science and engineering, particularly into new treatments for life-threatening diseases. In 2015/2016 alone, the University of Manchester attracted over £342 million in external research funding.

Recruiters target University of Manchester graduates because they’re highly employable. Ranked 35th in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2017, it boasts a 94% employability rate.

Making up 25% of the student population, The University of Manchester has the highest percentage of international students in the UK; as many as 180 nationalities are represented on campus. The university offers a number of postgraduate scholarships to international students – find out about any opportunity you may be eligible for here.

FACILITIES

The University of Manchester is home to one of only five National Research libraries in the UK, holding over four million printed books and manuscripts, as well as more than 41, 000 electronic journals and 500,000 electronic books, making it one of the best resourced libraries in the UK.

The Library also runs My Learning Essentials, an award winning skills programme that helps students with academic and personal development through online resources and workshops.

The cultural assets at the University of Manchester provide inspiration and creativity across the arts and sciences. These centres include the Whitworth Art Gallery, The John Rylands Library, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, (home to the Lovell telescope) and the Manchester Museum.

Manchester is part of the N8 Shared Equipment Inventory System, an equipment portal shared by 8 universities in England. It is a searchable online database that can be used to request research equipment and facilities across the N8 University partnership.

The sports and well-being facilities are extensive, including the Armitage Sports Centre in Fallowfield with outdoor pitches, indoor halls and fitness suite, the Manchester Aquatics Centre and Sugden Sports Centre in the city, and the Wellbeing Rooms on campus.

STUDENT LIFE

Beyond academics, The University of Manchester offers plenty of extracurricular activities and opportunities for development. The Students’ Union is the largest in the UK, with more than 480 different clubs and societies. There is also a specific International Society, where you can make friends from all over the world, go on trips around the UK and learn about different cultures.

The University provides a great support network for students, with counselling services, free sports and well-being activities, and workshops for academic and personal skills such as time management, essay writing or referencing. Social responsibility is very important at the University of Manchester, and there are many volunteering opportunities across the city, as well as the  Ethical Grand Challenge, where students work together to tackle problems facing the world today.

The city of Manchester is perfect for students; it is not only ranked as one of the best cities to live in the UK, but it is also very affordable in comparison. The centre of Manchester is vibrant and lively, with a diverse food and drink scene, thriving nightlife and inspiring cultural centres. There is also a wide range of shops; from your favourite high street brands surrounding Piccadilly Gardens, to independent vintage stores and markets in the Northern Quarter.

There is plenty of choice for accommodation in Manchester; the university offers plenty of different halls in either the city, Victoria park or Fallowfield. These three areas vary in distance from the university, and each has their own distinctive atmosphere. It makes it easy to choose the best place to suit you. Manchester also offers both catered and self-catered accommodation, private or shared bathrooms, and there is always the choice of renting privately – which the university can help with, using their website Manchester Student Homes, which keeps a list of accredited and trustworthy landlords.

Finally, the city has great travel links. The 147 Oxford Road Link bus is free for students and will take you to each end of the university campus. Alternatively, you can invest in a semester or yearlong bus pass which will let you travel on unlimited buses throughout the whole city. There are three major train stations in the city centre, which will take you anywhere in the UK, including London in just two hours. Manchester is also home to the biggest airport in the UK outside of London, with low cost flights to anywhere in Europe as well as connections all around the rest of the world.

ADMISSIONS

Manchester’s entry requirements rely on strong grades and test scores, as the University provides high quality education to students of outstanding achievements. However, The University of Manchester also considers other information to identify students with potential from all educational backgrounds.

To apply to the University of Manchester as an undergraduate student you must go through UCAS – the UK’s organisation designated to process applications to British universities. All admissions decisions at the University of Manchester are made within academic schools and are assessed through prior and predicted grades, evidence of knowledge and commitment in a personal statement, and academic references. Some courses may also interview, give aptitude tests or consider portfolios. Exceptional circumstances or personal barriers are also taken into account; contextual data helps admissions officers to gain a full and well-rounded view of each student before making a decision.

CAREERS

The University of Manchester is the most targeted university by the UK’s top graduate employers, (High Fliers Research, 2018) and 93% of graduate students are in work or study just six months after graduating. (Higher Education Statistics Agency 2017)

The University of Manchester’s Careers Service is an excellent resource for students at any undergraduate or graduate level, to help them decide and get to where they want to go in the future. The service includes consultations and advice, a bank of listed internships, graduate schemes and part time jobs, and skills based learning such as practice psychometric testing or CV writing.

 

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