A Student City

Here are the reasons why we think Manchester is the best city in Europe to be a student...

Welcoming city

Greater Manchester is a rich and diverse region that welcomes, with open arms, people from all places and from all backgrounds and here are some facts to prove it:

• Of Greater Manchester's 99,000 students, 19,000 are from outside of the UK coming from over 150 countries around the world.

• Manchester is the third most visited city by international tourists in the UK

• Canal Street is the hub of Manchester's LGBT nightlife scene

• Manchester is one of the most linguistically diverse city in western Europe with over 200 languages spoken

• Manchester has the third largest Chinatown in Europe

Quality of education

First and foremost being a student is about getting your degree then getting a job or moving into further study and Manchester can definitely help with that. 94% of University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University graduates go straight into employment or further study within six months.

Cost of living and accommodation

In the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Survey, Manchester has earned the prestigious title of “the best UK city to live in" so by choosing to study here you'll be an integral part of a world-leading city.

Manchester is on average 32% cheaper to live in than London but that doesn't mean there's less to do; as with any many major European city there is a plethora of facilities, art, culture, nightlife, sport and shops on your doorstep.

There is a huge choice of student accommodation in the region much of which is purpose built so provides an exceptional student accommodation experience with facilities like WiFi, broadband, contents insurance and utilities included in the rent.

Official university halls of residence prices are:

• University of Bolton - starting from £80 per week

• University of Salford - starting from £121.50 per week

• MMU - starting from £106 per week

• University of Manchester - starting from £95 per week

Leisure and lifestyle

Greater Manchester is a student's paradise when it comes to nightlife, gigs, restaurants, shopping and culture. 

Throughout the week, the Greater Manchester nightlife scene is a bustling hive of activity. Dance away until the early hours to anything from jazz to 1980’s pop in one of Manchester’s unique music venues or discover your new favourite cocktail in an extraordinary Northern Quarter bar, there is something for everyone. From the city that brought the world Oasis, The Stone Roses and The Smiths there is a thriving live music scene throughout Greater Manchester as all week local, national and international talents take to the stages to perform. Many of the nightclubs, bars and gig venues provide student discounts and offers.

Home to the National Football Museum, The Whitworth Art Gallery and The Hat Works, the UK’s only museum dedicated to hatting, the Greater Manchester region offers a wide range of museums and galleries. The majority of Greater Manchester’s art galleries, museums and libraries are free entry, perfect for immersing in the wide variety of cultural experiences.

From the independent utopia of Affleck’s Palace to designer labels at Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, Greater Manchester’s shopping industry loves to cater for students living in the area. One of the biggest nights in the student calendar is the Manchester Student Night Out where over 100 stores offer unique student deals. International students can also shop tax free at certain shops, read our tax free shopping guide for more information.

For more information about Greater Manchester’s leisure and lifestyle please got to visitmanchester.com

Location and transport

Greater Manchester and the city centre are easy places to get to and navigate around.

The majority of Manchester University and MMU campuses and buildings are located on or around Oxford Road, south of the city centre. Oxford Road is considered the most well served bus route in Europe with weekly bus passes costing approximately £7. The road has also recently been converted to allow 'dutch-style' cycle lanes making it even easier and safer to cycle in the city.

The Salford University campus is approximatley 30 minute walk from Manchester city centre and is also well served by buses. The official halls of residence are only 10 minutes walk from the main campus.

Bolton University is a 20 minute train ride away from the city centre and the official halls of residence are just 10 minutes walk from the campus.

Getting to Manchester couldn't be easier; trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly take just over two hours, the region is at the heart of the UK's motorways with the M60 circling Greater Manchester and Manchester Airport is served by sixty-five airlines ensuring Manchester Airport is directly connected to over 210 destinations. 

Once in Manchester take your pick from the Metrolink, Manchester's tram system, Metroshuttle, the free city centre bus network, and the Mobike bike sharing scheme, to get around.

Find out more about studying at a Manchester university.