Study in Manchester 2024

Manchester is a metropolitan city located in northwestern England. Apart from housing four prestigious universities, this city offers access to world-class education, easy accommodation options, diverse courses, scholarships, and more. Its multicultural population welcomes international students with open arms. Did you know that Manchester is the third most visited city in the UK by international students? If you want to be a part of this group, you are at the right place. In this blog, you will find the beginner’s guide to study abroad in Manchester, including everything from scholarships to visa requirements and more!

Why Study in Manchester?

Manchester is one of the best student cities in the UK. It is the second-most populous city in the United Kingdom surrounded by hills on one side and the countryside on the other. Apart from being the home of football with the two biggest teams- Manchester United and Manchester City, Manchester is also known for being an education hub for international students. Here are the reasons why you should consider studying in Manchester:

• Student-Friendly City: Manchester has a huge student population with 41,000 from international backgrounds. Hence, you will find food and things native to your country almost everywhere. Even the locals are friendly and will help you with everything. 
• City of Inventions: The first public library, meat-free diet, and football league all are credited to the city of Manchester. Why wouldn’t you want to study in Manchester- where the atom was first split?
• Closely Connected: If you study in Manchester, you are closely connected to several UK. It is just 2 hours away from London and a bus ride away from major cities like Bristol, Birmingham, etc. Manchester airport is one of the busiest airports in the UK connecting 199 destinations worldwide. 
• Culture: The music and drama scene while you study in Manchester will spoil you for sure! You will find the best artists performing every weekend at the Manchester Arena and local restaurants that offer a multi-cuisine menu to suit all cultures.

Also Read: 15+ Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the UK

Top Universities in Manchester

Manchester has universities that offer holistic development to international students preparing them for the corporate world. The top universities to study in Manchester for international students are:

1. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is ranked #=34 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. A part of the Russell Group of universities, it is ranked the best university in terms of social impact in the UK. International students from more than 160 countries are accepted at the University of Manchester. The acceptance rate is 70.4% as of 2021 and 25 Nobel Laureates are credited to this public research university. John Dalton, Ernest Rutherford, Alan Turing, and Benedict Cumberbatch are a few names from their list of glorious alumni. 

2. Manchester Metropolitan University 

The Manchester Metropolitan University or the Manchester Mets is a leading public university which is also the second-most applied university in the UK. The acceptance rate at MMU is over 80%. The Manchester Metropolitan University is ranked #601-610 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Sarah Jane Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen is an alumnus of the Manchester Metropolitan University. 

3. Royal Northern College of Music 

The Royal Northern College of Music is one of the 4 leading music schools in the UK. The college has a rich history and is one of the UK’s busiest and most diverse public performance venues. It specialises in composition, popular music, keyboard studies, strings, vocal studies opera, wind, brass and percussion. 

4. University of Salford 

The University of Salford is a public university in Greater Manchester. It has ranked #901 – 950 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was the first chancellor of the University of Salford. It is the founding member of the Northern Consortium of Universities in the UK. 

Also Read: 13+ Cheapest Universities in the UK 2024

Top Courses to Study in Manchester 

Manchester is an education hub in the UK that offers courses in almost all subjects of study. Whether it is music, drama, engineering, aerospace, languages, science, management or business- universities in Manchester offer all! Here are the top courses to study in Manchester:- 

Universities in Manchester	Popular Courses to study in Manchester
University of Manchester	American Studies Biological Sciences Building Chemistry Engineering East and South Asian Studies Iberian languages Marketing Medicine Middle Eastern and African Studies Nursing Pharmacy
Manchester Metropolitan University	Architecture Library Management Food Science Materials Technology Sport Science Education Information Management
Royal Northern College of Music	Bachelors in Music (Honours) Popular Music Master of Music Master of Performance PhD in Composition PhD in Musicology PhD in Music Education and Pedagogy PhD in Performance
University of Salford	Engineering Science Business Administration Arts Management

Also Read: Short-Term Courses in the UK

Cost of Studying in Manchester

Studying in Manchester is much cheaper than in London. Rent in Manchester is 54.51% cheaper than in London and so are the food, travel and utility.

The cost of education to study in Manchester is given below:

Type of Expenses	Estimated Cost
Tuition Fee	£1800 – £3700
IELTS	£1300 – £1400
TOEFL	£1200 – £1400
GMAT	£1100 – £1300
UK Tier 4 Visa Application Fee	£2200 – £2800

Worried About IELTS? Take a Demo Class with Leverage Live Experts and Learn the Coolest Ways to Ace the Exam in One-Go!

Cost of Living in Manchester for Students

Did you know that Manchester has earned the title of “the best UK city to live in” in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Survey? Well, this is because this city is comparatively 32% cheaper to live in than London. 

Type of Expenses	Average Cost (INR)
Accommodation	£600 – £800
Food	£700 – £900
Transport	£450 – £600
Utilities	£46 – £80
Clothing	£30 -£40
Leisure	£30 – £70

All the expenses given above are generalised but you can find your personalised expenses through Leverage Edu’s Cost of Living Calculator in just a few seconds!

Scholarships to Study in Manchester

Studying in UK can be an expensive affair with the high tuition fees and higher cost of living per month. But with the following scholarships, you can reduce your financial stress and study in Manchester care-free:-

• GREAT Scholarships
• Global Futures Scholarships
• Chevening Scholarships 
• Commonwealth Scholarships 

Also Read: Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK: Complete Details Here

Visa Requirements to Study in Manchester 

If you want to study at a university in Manchester, you need to apply for a visa. There are different types of visas which cater to different courses such as:

1. Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

•  You can apply for the Tier 4 visa 6 months before you start if you have been offered a place on a course.
• You can speak, read, write, and understand English. 

2. Short Term Study Visa

• You can apply for this visa if your course duration is up to 6 to 11 months.

Career Prospects in Manchester

Now that you have read this far, let’s explore the career prospects of studying in Manchester for international students.

• The graduate employability rate of universities in Manchester is 94-96%, meaning that almost all graduates from the universities in Manchester either find jobs or go into further studies within 6 months of graduating. 
• After you study in Manchester, you can expect great career opportunities to come your way.
• You can either work in Manchester or the UK wherever the employment demand for your field is high.
• The average salary after graduation from universities in Manchester is INR 22 lakhs per year. 

FAQs

Want to study in Manchester, London or any city in the UK? Call Leverage Edu at 1800-572-000 and book your first counselling session for free to know which student city in the UK is the best for you!