Study in Manchester

Congratulations on making it to your final year! It is bound to be filled with trepidation and excitement, and a myriad of really complex and difficult decisions. Yes, you guessed it right- choosing where to study definitely makes it to the top of the list. We are huge advocates of studying in Manchester City, which is bound to add value to you both personally and professionally. Situated in the United Kingdom, we consider it to be the ideal place for someone embarking on their journey to higher studies.

Reason to study in Manchester 

Why study in Manchester, UK? Apart from the typical Manchester weather as a prime reason to live here, we would like to chime in that the city is extremely diverse when it comes to the kind of students who flock there to study. British, Asians, Caucasians, Africans, Latinos- you name it- about 141,000 international students are part of the city at any one point in time. It is certainly a melting pot of different cultures and you are sure to learn from a variety of people which augments the quality of education that you will receive there.

Top Universities 

The list of top 10 UK universities is as follows:

  1. The University of Manchester
  2. Manchester Metropolitan University
  3. Royal Northern College of Music
  4. The Manchester College
  5. BPP University
  6. Manchester Academic Health Science Center
  7. Luther King Centre for Theology and Ministry
  8. Nazarene Theological College
  9. University Academy 92
  10. Manchester School of Architecture

Requirements to Study in Manchester

Eligibility Criteria

To study in the UK, especially in Manchester, you need to have:

  • Academic Transcripts.
  • UK Student Visa.
  • Valid Passport & other ID proof.
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
  • Letter of Recommendation.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • Scores of English Proficiency tests.
  • Bank statements to show proof of financial funds.

Cost of Living in Manchester

The cost of living in Manchester is considered to be reasonable when compared to that of other major urban cities in the UK. One should have a monthly allowance of at least 1100 pounds in order to live comfortably. A breakdown of expenses is as follows:

Rent

According to the Manchester Ink Link, the good thing is that rent increases slowly in the city. Rents increased by 5.4% in August 2022 on a year-on-year basis. Accommodation can cost about 6095 pounds for the whole academic year at the University of Manchester. Apart from that median rents are 1352 pounds for a one-bedroom apartment and 1804 pounds for a two-bedroom apartment in the city.

Food

To top it off, you can add 950 pounds for two evening meals for the whole year at a place such as the University of Manchester. This is still in tandem with the fact that Manchester is considered to be one of the cheapest cities in the country when it comes to the cost of living, even for food. On average, students spend around 30 pounds per week on groceries, which is still considered to be very cheap. Moreover, a notable trend over there is to shop at high street top budget supermarkets such as Aldo and Lidl. Students can then go for multi-buy deals and buy from the reduced section so that their food bill is considerably lower.

Transportation Charges ( For Students).

These will vary based on the mode of transportation that you use. The good part is that there are very cheap alternatives to commuting via car such as using the bus- this will entail using a bus pass and depends on which one you buy. For instance, at StageCoach Manchester, the Manchester Annual UniRider is for 290 pounds.

Miscellaneous

Medical and healthcare costs also need to be factored in. For instance, 15-minute doctor consultation can cost about 114 pounds. On a more positive note, however, is the fact that some recreational activities are inexpensive. These include visits to gardens and parks such as Heaton Park, free art galleries, music events at the Whitworth and visiting Rusholme’s Curry Mile. 

Job Opportunities 

Working As A Student

Students can undertake a large variety of part-time roles, some requiring a very specific skill set while others requiring general ones. They are a great way to earn extra money and also gain some experience prior to graduating. Different universities have different guidelines as to how much part-time work a student can undertake. For example, the University of Manchester requires that students work for no more than 15 hours per week so as to achieve a good balance between their studies, work and leisure time.

Many jobs are not formally advertised, so word of mouth or social media is an excellent way to tap into such opportunities. The kind of work that students can get is that of a waiter at a bar, restaurant or coffee shop, and other part-time vacancies at JobCentre Plus.

Working After Graduation. 

We need to give you a heads-up since all is not rosy when it comes to the Manchester job landscape. For starters, the average starting salaries are much lower than that of major urban cities such as London. However, Manchester has the second highest graduate retention rate in the country, and it also attracts graduates from other parts of the UK. There is a larger variety of jobs available and it is relatively easier to work your way up the career ladder. So in spite of the brain drain to London, Manchester is certainly a great city when it comes to pursuing your career after graduation.

Courses With Great Job Opportunities

There are innumerable study programs you can pursue in Manchester. These include:

  1. Medicine and Dentistry. There are limited spaces for these fields, and hence competition is very tough.
  2. Allied Medicine Subjects. Technicians, pharmacists and researchers are professions that emanate from this field.
  3. Veterinary Science. If you love animals, this is bound to be your forte! The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of animals is a field of its own and is meant to be enriching both financially and non-financially.
  4. Law. One can specialize in different areas at the postgraduate level.
  5. Architecture. This is the design origination, process and eventual construction of buildings and objects.
  6. Education. Having great command over a subject and inspiring individuals to bring about change is a skill that is in great demand over there.
  7. Biological sciences. Undertaking a degree in the study of all living things is a daunting task. One can then become a marine biologist or a microbiologist.

Indeed, Manchester offers a lot to a student who wants to gain the most out of his or her educational journey. Studying from one of the top ten universities here is bound to add a feather to your cap, and open up a plethora of opportunities for you once you graduate. To entice you further, the costs of living mentioned in detail above are relatively affordable and quite the hook when it comes to living in Manchester. Not only will you benefit educationally, but you can soak up the rich history of the place, as well as learn from people who come from a multitude of other cultures from all parts of the world.