University of Manchester

About the university

The University of Manchester (UoM) is a large research university situated in the city of Manchester, England. Manchester University, as it is commonly known, is a public university formed in 2004 by the merger of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (est. 1824) and the Victoria University of Manchester (est. 1851). Manchester is a member of the worldwide Universities Research Association group, the Russell Group of British research universities and the N8 Group. The University of Manchester is regarded as a "red brick university", and was a product of the civic university movement of the late 19th century. It formed a constituent part of the federal Victoria University between 1880, when it received its royal charter, and 1903-1904, when it was dissolved.

The main campus is south of Manchester city centre on Oxford Road. In 2012, the university had around 39,000 students and 10,400 staff, making it the largest single-site university in the United Kingdom. The University of Manchester had an income of £827 million in 2012–13, of which £200 million was from research grants and contracts.

• Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

  About the faculty

  We offer world-leading programmes across a wide range of disciplines. Our graduates excel in industry, academia, government, business and financial services.

  The nine Schools that make up the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences all have a strong reputation for teaching and learning, and for producing employable graduates. Our programmes are designed to provide flexibility of choice and are continually revised to reflect new development in each subject area allowing you to work at the cutting edge of science.

• Faculty of Humanities

  About the faculty

  The Faculty of Humanities aspires to be one of the most successful faculties of its kind. We have a total income of approximately £200 million a year.

  With around 18,000 students and over 1000 academic staff, we are equivalent to a medium-sized university in the UK.

• Faculty of Life Sciences

• Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences

  The University of Manchester has a tradition of world-leading innovation that has led to a stepwise improvement in the health, wealth and wellbeing of populations across the world since the industrial revolution.

  The Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences has played a significant role in this by developing and delivering the highest quality education and training for health professionals and scientists.

  We train hundreds of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses and other health professionals every year, with our partnership with the NHS playing an essential part in this.

  We also conduct outstanding, world-leading research in the biomedical and health sciences and take our social responsibility to make a contribution to the 'greater good' seriously.

History

The University of Manchester traces its roots to the formation of the Mechanics' Institute (later to become UMIST) in 1824, and its heritage is linked to Manchester's pride in being the world's first industrial city. The English chemist John Dalton, together with Manchester businessmen and industrialists, established the Mechanics' Institute to ensure that workers could learn the basic principles of science.

Similarly, John Owens, a textile merchant, left a bequest of £96,942 in 1846 (around £5.6 million in 2005 prices) to found a college to educate men on non-sectarian lines. His trustees established Owens College in 1851 in a house on the corner of Quay Street and Byrom Street which had been the home of the philanthropist Richard Cobden, and subsequently housed Manchester County Court. In 1873 the college moved to new premises on Oxford Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock and from 1880 it was a constituent college of the federal Victoria University. The university was established and granted a Royal Charter in 1880 becoming England's first civic university; it was renamed the Victoria University of Manchester in 1903 and absorbed Owens College the following year.

Campus life

Our friendly campus offers everything you need to get the most from both your studies and your leisure time.

We have around 40,000 students from 154 countries, creating a mini metropolis where a multicultural community comes together to study and relax. Our campus is packed with excellent facilities and reaches into the heart of one of the UK’s best student cities.

We’re sure you’ll settle in quickly, and to help you get your bearings and start to make new friends, you can take part in events and activities as part of our Welcome programme.

Travelling around campus

Getting around campus is easy; everything is within walking distance or connected via a free bus service. Think of it as a village within a city.

Cost of living

Manchester's affordable cost of living makes it an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy a major city on a budget. It is consistently shown to be one of the cheapest places in the UK for students to live.

You can enjoy some of the cheapest travel costs in the country and with a total student population of more than 80,000 to aim at, local businesses, services and nightlife venues compete for your custom with countless offers and promotions.

Below is a breakdown of spending for the average Manchester student for one academic year.

These estimates are based on average annual expenditure of a single student on a full-time course. For catered accommodation (breakfast and dinner on weekdays), add approximately £350 to the total.

These costs are intended as a guide only.

Some courses will require you to pay for specific items, materials or activities not covered in the tuition fees, such as field courses. In these cases the University endeavours to keep these additional costs as low as possible.

The University of Manchester Library

The University of Manchester Library is one of only five national research libraries.

With more than four million printed books and manuscripts, over 29,000 unique electronic journals and 414,000 electronic books, as well as several hundred databases, this is one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country.

Our new £24 million Alan Gilbert Learning Commons offers students a stimulating 24/7 environment for study, combining inspiring decor with flexible spaces and the latest in learning technology.

Across campus several specialist libraries offer subject-specific and tailored services. John Rylands Library, a magnificent neo-Gothic building housing some of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts, offers a vast array of resources that are available for students to use. It is also a thriving visitor attraction, offering a wide range of free exhibitions and events throughout the year.

Sport and fitness

There are so many benefits to playing university sports: staying fit and healthy, giving your brain cells valuable downtime from study and developing your team skills.

But most of all you’ll be socialising with new friends and having plenty of fun. Our clubs, fitness programmes and classes offer you the perfect chance to compete in your favourite sport – or try something new.

We offer you:

• fantastic facilities, with discounted rates for students, including three fitness suites, two 50-metre swimming pools, and loads of indoor courts and outdoor pitches;
• more than 40 Athletic Union sports clubs to join;
• the widest range of activities for beginners;
• scholarships for performance athletes up to the value of £3,500;
• a whole city of sport, including Sportcity, home to the National Cycling Centre, a regional tennis centre, a national squash centre and a regional athletics centre.

Why study at Manchester?

Our reputation is just one reason why Manchester is the best place for you to study for your master’s. We offer you far more than just a qualification.

Our pioneering taught courses draw upon our world-leading research and our strong links to global industry. You’ll quickly develop skills and gain exposure to experiences that will set you apart in the jobs market.

With a breadth of research activity that’s unrivalled in the UK, we work across disciplines and beyond the University, connecting the brightest minds to find innovative solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. This research feeds directly into our taught courses, giving you the power to achieve your ambitions.

Connect with Manchester and the world will connect with you.