Cultural, historic and quirky; Manchester has fast become one of Britain’s most popular destinations. Whether for work or play, more and more people are paying our vibrant city a visit, and choosing to make it their home.
Manchester is also known across the world as a great place to study. Home to respected universities with renowned alumni, such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Professor Brian Cox, students are in good company as they follow in the footsteps of Nobel Laureates and innovators such as Alan Turing, who continue to make a real difference to the world.
But, this isn’t the only reason why you should choose Manchester to study, there are many, many more...
Diverse and multicultural
From hosting numerous cultural events and festivals, to countless restaurants serving food from a huge range of cultures, Manchester is a city that encourages its residents to embrace diversity and try something new. There is even an entire section of the city centre dedicated to Asian cuisine: China Town.
In Manchester, students from all over the world come together to study and explore, giving them the opportunity to meet people they may otherwise have never encountered.
Insider tip! “As a big city, Manchester can provide the daily needs for international students, for example, the Manchester China Town has all necessary goods for Asian, especially Chinese, students” –Chen Shen, MSc Business Analysis and Strategic Management, Class of 2014, MBS.
Friendly and welcoming
Manchester is known for its warm and outgoing locals, in contrast to other large cities which are often perceived as being less than welcoming. Not only that, but the city has a more relaxed pace than many large city centres, such as London, with easy access to green spaces where you can grab a little peace and quiet.
One of our former students, Yueyao Wu, MSc Accounting and Finance, Class of 2014, found the balance perfect:
“The best thing about living in Manchester is the convenience of our daily life, combining advantages of both city and small town life. The campus, supermarket, gym, railway station and shopping centre are located within walking distance. However, it is not as noisy and disordered as other large cities.”
Cost of living
Compared to many other large cities, the cost of living in Manchester is, on a whole, quite affordable. From accommodation to travel, most daily essentials are reasonably priced, so you shouldn’t have to dig too deep into your bank account.
Insider tip! “It is worth mentioning about the taxis, which are so cheap if you pre-order them” –Yunrou Gong, MSc Business Analytics: Operational Research and Risk Analysis, Class of 2014, MBS.
Easy to navigate
One of the best things about Manchester is just how easy it is to find your way around. Everything in the city centre is within walking distance; from shops and restaurants to bars, train stations and local attractions, they are all close to one another. You can very easily navigate the city on foot, but if you want to give your feet a rest, there is no shortage of regular buses, taxis and trams.
Parisa Namazi, a former MSc International HRM and Comparative Industrial Relations student here at MBS, commented: “The city is extremely easy to get around; you never have to wait for more than five minutes for a bus at any time of day into the city centre.”
Good proximity to other locations
If you’re looking for a day trip to explore somewhere you’ve never been before, or a short break at home with your family, you will be able to get there from Manchester. In fact, trains from all of Manchester’s stations – primarily Piccadilly – go direct to many major towns and cities, and are close to a whole range of attractions. Places like Liverpool, Chester, Lancaster, the Lake District, Peak District and Alton Towers are just a train journey away, while high-speed Virgin trains mean that even London can be reached in just a couple of hours. And Manchester’s international airport gives you excellent access to destinations across the globe.
“There are places to go and activities to do alongside studying,” says Sophia Ekokobe, MSc Finance and Business Economics, Class of 2014. “Birthdays and celebrations, bowling, movies, trips – I went to Scotland in December and Chester at Easter, as well as the other day trips I have had.”
Home to reputable, highly respected universities
From Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to The University of Manchester and Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), there is a university in Manchester for everyone.
Our students agree, as this quote from former MSc Finance student Emanuel Zwick shows:
“Coming from the US, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “Why didn’t you study your MSc in the US, you have so many good schools there?” That is true, but I always remind them that Manchester is a world-class university… Attending a university that attracts a high calibre student body is a nice perk of Manchester and will provide lots of networking opportunities in the future.”
Large student community
Manchester is a student-centred city, with a strong sense of community running through the student body. No-one knows this better than Mancunian graduate, Parisa Namazi, MSc International HRM and Comparative Industrial Relations, Class of 2014:
“Manchester is a friendly city, with so many students that you feel part of a whole community. When you walk down Oxford Road you feel a real sense of belonging as a student here.”
Divya Sharma, former MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship student, also agrees:
“The best thing about Manchester: whatever you do, the city does it with you. Because there are so many universities here, a student can never be distracted or bored because all the universities have their exams together and have their fresher’s week together. It’s a perfect student city.”
A foodie’s paradise
Manchester is a food paradise, full of restaurants, markets, cafes and delis selling food from all over the world, as well as really tasty vegetarian, vegan and organic food. Then there is the Northern Quarter, a world all of its own, full of trendy eateries serving American-style burgers and vintage tearooms offering comforting treats.
Insider tip by Hungry Healthy Happy: “With Manchester having such a huge student population, you would think that would be full of fast food places and hard to find anything healthy to eat. But Manchester has a fantastic selection of healthy places to eat, and here are some of my favourites:
- 8th Day: Being on Oxford road, this little gem is usually busy and for all the right reasons. Delicious vegetarian and vegan food and a health food shop as well.
- Wahu: This restaurant is new on the scene, but has quickly become popular due to the fact that you can design your own meals. It’s also one of the only places in the city that you can get a really good, healthy breakfast.
- Shlurp: If soup and salads are more your thing, then don’t miss this place. Everything is freshly made and they give options for making meals “skinny”.”
Culturally rich
Manchester has always been a lively, vibrant, exciting and richly cultural city. There are lots of galleries, museums, festivals, events, shops and attractions offering a diverse range of things to see and do, with the Northern Quarter, in particular, spearheading Manchester’s independent scene.
“I enjoyed life in Manchester, definitely the city that never sleeps!” says Ionna Yfantidou, one of our MSc Corporate Communications and Reputation Management graduates. “There are always so many things to do outside of studying – events to attend and museums to visit – to keep you busy day and night! It is a city of contrast and surely a perfect city for students.”
Benjamin Ganz, MSc Marketing, Class of 2014 also agrees that there is more to Manchester than the beautiful game:
“Besides football, Manchester offers a rich cultural programme. There are various concerts, galleries and theatres which represent a good balance to the sometimes stressful studies.”
Long history of innovation, industrial success and pioneering residents
Manchester was once a booming industrial town that became famous for cotton production, a background that is still reflected in the historic buildings and museums that make up the city. Many exciting new discoveries have been made, and inventions conceived here, including the splitting of the atom and the first computer. In fact, over twenty Nobel Prize winners were either born in Manchester, studied in Manchester, or both, including Ernest Rutherford (1908 Nobel Prize in Chemistry) and Konstantin Novoselov (2010 Nobel Prize in Physics).
Would you like to join the ranks of the pioneers and follow in the footsteps of our graduates, taking in a wealth of culture and making lifelong friends along the way? Why not check out Manchester and start your journey today.
