51ÊÓƵ

CONTENTS

1. Why study in Manchester?

2. About Manchester 

3. University of Manchester

4. Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)

5. University of Salford

6. University of Greater Manchester

7. Royal Northern College of Music

8. Living in Manchester

9. Entry requirements

10. Transport links

11. Getting around Manchester

12. Things to do in Manchester

Why study in Manchester?

Manchester has a student population of over 100,000, including over 27,000 international students – one of the largest student populations in Europe. It's a city with fantastic cultural diversity, great music venues, varied nightlife and top sports clubs. Its university campuses are also surrounded by some great parks.  

About Manchester

Manchester is one of the UK's most popular study destinations, known for its creative, vibrant nature. You can discover world-class street art, explore local neighbourhoods or indulge in unique street food.

What makes Manchester so popular for students is its variety of activities. Football fans will enjoy being in the home of both Manchester United and Manchester City. Students can also take advantage of the free museums, galleries, stunning architecture and the thriving music scene.

University of Manchester

The University of Manchester has outstanding facilities on large, green campuses. It offers flexible, multidisciplinary courses, and encourages students to develop beyond their studies with diverse extracurricular activities.

Location

The university is south of Manchester city centre, across two main campuses on Oxford Road and Sackville Street. All buildings are in the same general area and are within walking distance of each other, making getting around each campus simple. In addition, regular shuttle buses pick up and drop off students at various points around the campuses.

Facilities

There are more than 400 student clubs and societies, plus campaigns funded by the Students' Union. You can get a discounted student rate for a range of sporting facilities, including for fitness classes. The Union has four live music venues that attract the latest in big name and up-and-coming bands. As well as a range of academic, music and sports facilities, the campus offers landscaped gardens, cafes and common rooms where you can relax and socialise.

See the  for an interactive map and more information.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is a bold, ambitious and modern university. It has a dedicated focus on employability and industry-relevant skills. Courses are designed to develop your career, with plenty of internship opportunities available. MMU is also one of the UK’s greenest universities, with a strong environmental policy emphasising sustainability and recycling.

Location

The campus is close to Manchester's city centre with good public transport links. There's a free hop-on/hop-off city centre shuttle service that covers the main city centre areas. It links the main railway stations, car parks and many bus and Metrolink tram stops.

Facilities

The MMU campus has everything you need. Fantastic sports facilities include a world-class swimming centre. There's also a vast library, coffee shops and secure cycle racks.

See  for an interactive map and more information.

University of Salford

The University of Salford is just 2km from Manchester with easy transport routes. One campus is on Media City UK, sitting right next to neighbours such as the BBC and ITV. A focus on practical learning and links with industry sets the University of Salford apart. Many courses are designed and taught by industry practitioners. Work placements, live briefs and internships are available to many of the students.

Location

The university’s campuses are on three sites: Peel Park, Frederick Road and Media City UK. 

Peel Park is next to the park of the same name. It has large lecture theatres, study spaces and student accommodation, and a brand-new building for the School of Science, Engineering and Environment. 

Across the train tracks, Frederick Road campus will be your base if you study healthcare or society courses.

About two miles away, Media City UK is on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. A specialist media hub, the site is also home to TV, digital and media companies. Take the bridge over the canal to Salford Quays to find shops, good eateries and The Lowry arts complex.

Facilities

The university’s main library at Peel Park is open 24 hours a day all year. The Students' Union has a bar and cafe and hosts regular events such as comedy nights and quizzes. There’s also a sports centre with a 25m swimming pool, spa and sauna, plus air-conditioned gyms.

Specialist course facilities at the university are plentiful. From wind tunnels and flight simulators to creative arts facilities, a healthcare simulation suite and clinics for sports rehab. There's even an entire house inside a temperature-controlled lab, to analyse energy use and find solutions.

See the  for an interactive map and more information.

University of Greater Manchester

Formerly named the University of Bolton, in November 2024 the university changed its name to reflect its role within the wider region. As well as being a top uni for undergraduate courses, it offers a lively atmosphere. There's plenty to get involved in, from sports clubs and social events to the energetic Students’ Union. You'll find industry-standard facilities and equipment. The uni prides itself on its small class sizes, helping to ensure high teaching quality.

Location

Bolton is a historic town with many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. It has a growing cultural scene, with the university's campus right at the heart of it. The town hall, gallery and museum, the famous Octagon theatre and the performance venue the Albert Halls Bolton are all a short walk away. Also, it's just a 17-minute train journey to Manchester city centre. 

Facilities

The amazing sports facilities include a large sports hall, modern gym, 15m climbing wall, 25m swimming pool and competition-level trampoline. The Athlete Development Centre helps athletes, sports teams and coaches at all levels improve their performance. Plus there's a Sports and Spinal Injury Clinic, open to everyone.

See the  for an interactive map and more information.

Royal Northern College of Music

The Royal Northern College of Music is a specialist music conservatoire. It features in the Complete University 51ÊÓƵ's Arts, Drama & Music League Table. The RNCM offers exceptional teaching to aspiring composers, conductors and performers from over 60 nations.

Location

Set in the heart of Manchester, the RNCM is between the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. Accommodation is at Sir Charles Groves Hall, less than two minutes' walk away. It's an easy walk to the city centre, with all its attractions and amenities.

Facilities

As befits a specialist conservatoire, the RNCM has a large professional concert hall (745-seat) and theatre (670-seat). Alongside are many tutorial and practice rooms and eight Zoom rooms for one-to-one tuition online. An on-site recording studio, PCs and Macs are available for student use. As well as books, the library also gives access to printed music and over 20,000 sound recordings.

See the  for an interactive map and more information.

Living in Manchester

You’ll quickly find that Manchester is a city made for students. With both the University of Manchester and Manchester Met being so central, you’ll find plenty of student accommodation near to the campuses.

In your first year, you’ll typically stay in student halls of residence. You’ll arrange this when applying for university and can select your preferred options. Halls are either catered or self-catered, and near uni campuses. There’ll be nearby transport links if walking isn’t possible.

Students mostly move into private rented accommodation after the first year. You’ll need to arrange this yourself. Aim to look for a place in the second semester of first year, to be sure of securing a place. Popular student areas outside of the city, Victoria Park and Fallowfield include Rusholme, Hulme and Whalley Range.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course. The best way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our . There you can see what each course’s entry requirements are.

Transport links

Average train journey times from Manchester

Getting around Manchester

Travel around Manchester is made easy by its comprehensive public transport system. You’ll have access to trains, buses and trams – all at an affordable price. The city is taking transport back under local control, to make travel connections even easier. Check BeeNetwork to find out more.

There are also quick and easy travel links to Manchester Airport which is just south of Manchester city centre.

Train

The four main railway stations in Manchester city centre are Piccadilly, Victoria, Oxford Road and Deansgate. Manchester’s rail network connects to destinations across Greater Manchester such as Bolton and Salford, as well as other parts of the UK. A  will get you one-third off your ticket. Also note that the earlier you book, the cheaper it will be.

Bus

Metroshuttle buses are free and have routes throughout the city centre. The 147 bus connects Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station with the University of Manchester campus, making it convenient to students. 

Tram

Metrolink is Manchester’s tram service that runs frequently between Manchester’s central and outer areas. Tickets are as cheap, and it's worth checking to see if there are student discounts.

Cycle

Manchester encourages cycling. There are cycle lanes and routes that run throughout the city, while some unis offer cycle hire schemes. Bee Network Bikes is the city's own cycle scheme, with bikes available to hire across the city.

Walk

Walking around Manchester is popular and ideal if you live near campus. On weekends it’s worth exploring the city centre and outer areas on foot. You’ll be surprised by what hidden gems you come across.

Other transport

You’ll have access to the likes of Uber and BOLT. There are also local taxi services, but these are often more expensive.

Things to do in Manchester

Being so diverse, Manchester is full of things to do. Striking a balance of working hard while also exploring what the city has to offer will be key for your student experience.

Food and drink

Manchester’s varied food and drink scene is overflowing with hidden gems. The Northern Quarter is a hub of great cafes, bars and restaurants, and you’ll find plenty more eateries and bars strolling down Castlefield’s canal. Manchester’s Chinatown won’t go amiss either. Mackie Mayor, the Makers Market and the Arndale Market offer plenty of independent food and drink options.

Arts and culture

Manchester oozes creativity. Check out the breathtaking street art by the world-renowned Akse. Wander around the Northern Quarter – Manchester’s creative epicentre – to see what artwork you can find. While you're there, browse the boutique stores that line the streets. The Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery are both worth seeing, too.

Events

With Manchester’s rich music history, you can find gigs at Albert Hall, the O2 Ritz or the O2 Apollo. Frog and Bucket has regular comedy nights, while The Lowry and HOME Manchester host contemporary art, film and theatre. World-class football is played most weeks at either Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium. The city also has a top festival line-up. Parklife and Sounds of the City both celebrate music, and the Pride Parade the city's famous gay culture. Meanwhile, Manchester International Festival showcases the arts every two years.

Outdoors

You won’t have to travel far from the city to find nature. Cathedral Gardens and Cotton Field Park are central, while Greater Manchester has plenty of options, like Heaton Park, Fletcher Moss Park or Tatton Park. Take the time to switch off and explore the outdoors for your wellbeing.