Study Destination: University of Manchester, United Kingdom

On the verge of taking a call on your study destination? Have a look at the University of Manchester. This world-famous university is the largest `single-site’ university in the United Kingdom. Famous alumni include many noble laureates and world-renowned researchers. Its sheer historical accomplishments act as a powerful drawing force for students across the globe. The University dates back to 1824, with around 25 Nobel Prize winners among the former, current staff, and students.The University of Manchester holds 6^th in the United Kingdom and is ranked 27^th globally by QS World University Rankings 2020. It holds a special distinction as its library is among only 5 national research libraries in the country. The University is home to around 21 interdisciplinary research institutes.

Student City

More than one lac students throng the Greater Manchester area, which is home to the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Royal Northern College of music. Oxford Road, which hosts three different universities, and Fallowfield, which is a short bus ride from the University of Manchester, have halls of residence and student housing that make it feel like an inclusive student village. At a given time, approximately forty-one thousand international students reside in and around the city. Manchester University has over 26,000 undergraduate and 14,000 postgraduate students with over 10,000 students being international, belonging to over 160 countries worldwide.

Few important facts

Manchester was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, modern economics, communism, feminism, and vegetarianism. With an urban campus located within walking distance of downtown Manchester, University has an academic staff strength of more than 5000 across disciplines. The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 13:1. It is recognized as a global powerhouse of research with 93 percent of its research activities assessed as internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), 2021.

Admission Requirements

For the Undergraduate / Bachelor’s degree course, it is important to note that an undergraduate degree in England is only three years-not four – in duration. General education classes are not taught, meaning you only study the subject area of your choice from the start. Entry requirements are based on standardized test scores and the process is transparent. If someone is transferring from a four-year institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0 (preferably 3.3) is required for most courses.

For Postgraduate/Grad school degree courses, once again, it is noteworthy that the program is of one-year duration rather than two. The admission requirement to specific courses may differ, but a graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA or above is generally mandatory. For some postgraduate programs, the major content of the undergraduate courses may be considered.

Some courses have additional entry requirements such as previous work experience, submission of written work with the application, or previous study of a particular subject.

Application process and offer of admission

For the Undergraduate / Bachelor’s degree course, the only way to apply to the University of Manchester is via UCAS – the UK’s centralized application portal. UCAS permits students to apply for up to five UK universities or courses. Once an application is submitted, you may receive a reply in two weeks. As is the norm in the UK, Manchester University gives conditional and unconditional’ offers. Conditional offers detail the set of milestones to be achieved before guaranteeing a seat.

For Postgraduate programs, direct applications are solicited, which must be submitted online. The majority of these have no application fees. The response time is again two weeks, and the University can roll out both conditional and unconditional offers. A conditional offer is a guaranteed place at the university provided someone fulfills the conditions set.

The University has an overall acceptance rate of 56 percent.

Tuition fees

For a Bachelor’s degree, local domiciled students pay GBP 9,250 per annum for the first year, while international students have to pay GBP 26,000. The fee range for a Master’s degree is between GBP 5,000 and 30,000. It varies depending upon the institution and type of study program.

Scholarships

The University of Manchester offers a wide range of scholarships to deserving students. These include notable names like the Fulbright Awards program and Marshal Scholarship, among others. Some of the associated schools also offer partial scholarships or bursaries, which may not cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses. Details are advertised on relevant school websites.

Cost of living

The average cost of living for a student in Manchester is around GBP 1,258. Off-campus cost of living is cheaper than on-campus accommodation by almost thirty-five percent.