The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is one of Britain's most famous and forward-thinking universities, with a rich heritage stretching 180 years and an exciting agenda for the future. Many major advances of the 20th century began here, including the birth of the computer, the splitting of the atom and the founding principles of modern economics. Today, research remains at the heart of the University and the quality, breadth and volume of research activity is unparalleled in the UK, with strong collaborative links with industry and public services.

The University has a vast heritage of alumni who have become leaders in their fields and an impressive 21 of our former staff and students are Nobel Prize winners. Today, our alumni can be found in top positions in business, politics and the arts. They include: the Chief Executive of Tesco; the President of Trinidad and Tobago; international architect Norman Foster; broadcaster and journalist Anna Ford; and actors and writers Meera Syal and Ben Elton.

World-leading

The University of Manchester researches in a wider range of academic areas than any other UK university and with 22 academic schools and more than 50 specialist research centres, The University of Manchester offers an extensive choice of subjects and postgraduate qualifications.

Pioneering multidisciplinary teaching and research is being undertaken in across subjects in Engineering and Physical Sciences, Medical, Human and Life Sciences and Humanities, and our commitment to research excellence is reflected in the outstanding results received in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008.

Manchester is ranked third behind only Oxford and Cambridge in terms of 'research power' with 65% of research activity - amounting to 1,193 full-time equivalent staff - judged to be 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*). This puts us among only a handful of universities with an internationally significant research profile over a wide range of subject areas. Visit our website for further information about Manchester's performance in the 2008 RAE.

The University of Manchester has climbed six places in the Shanghai Jiao Tong annual league table, to 38th. Manchester is now ranked sixth in Europe, and fifth in the UK. The University has made steady progress in the rankings, from 78th in 2004 to this latest high of 38th.

Each year, the University attracts more than £250 million of research funding from external sources and we invest a further £96 million of our own funds into research. We are amongst the top three universities for grant funding from the main UK engineering, science and bioscience research councils.

As a postgraduate student at The University of Manchester, you will make a major contribution to our research excellence, adding to the flourishing research culture of our schools, research groups and institutes. You will also benefit from international research leadership under distinguished scholars. Whether you are studying for a taught postgraduate award or a research degree, you will be directly involved with cutting-edge research at the highest level.

Your future

Outside the classroom or laboratory we understand that in today's competitive job market you need more than academic success. You need to build your skill set and demonstrate your employment potential - and at Manchester we pride ourselves in offering you many exciting opportunities to enhance your postgraduate CV.

Whether you want a career in academia, business, industry, public services, or want to keep as many options open as possible, postgraduate study at The University of Manchester offers you:

• Access to thousands of potential employers; the University is one of the most targeted UK Universities by Graduate recruiters.
• Personal support from specialist postgraduate careers professionals
• Practical skills development courses and workshops.

Funding and Scholarships

The University attracted over £277 million in external research funding in 2009/10 and is proud of its investment in research and its researchers. We offer a range of funding opportunities for students which can be found on our website, and in particular we are pleased to announce the launch of the President’s Doctoral Scholar Award (PDS Award) which will make 100 elite research studentships available every year. These prestigious studentships will be of interest to the highest calibre of student who has the commitment and desire to work on challenging projects in world leading research environments.

For further information and details on how to apply visit www.mdc.manchester.ac.uk/funding/pdsaward

Our services and facilities

The University is committed to providing first-class facilities for its students and its researchers. You will have access to one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and one of the largest and most advanced academic IT services in Europe.

In addition, set to open on campus in 2012, The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is a flexible, ultra-modern and stimulating space dedicated to our students in which you will be free to relax and learn. Uniquely designed to support the learning needs of the 21st-century student, it will include cutting-edge IT facilities, a host of student-centred activities and various learning support services, all available on a 24/7 basis for your convenience.

Student life

As a student at The University of Manchester, you will become part of a community of students drawn from every corner of the world and every walk of life. It is home to a cosmopolitan group of 39,000 students from around 180 countries.

The University of Manchester Students' Union (UMSU) is the largest Students' Union in Europe, able to offer a wealth of services to the University's students. The Students' Union building is the social hub on campus, with spaces to relax, eat, drink and engage in many activities and events.

The University of Manchester is at the heart of one of Europe's most exciting cities and the campus is just a short walk from the city centre and all its attractions. Manchester is a lovely vibrant metropolis with events, amenities and cultural attractions to appeal to every lifestyle. Indeed, the campus itself boasts a museum, an art gallery and a theatre.

Visit us

Come along to an open day to discover more about your study options, the great facilities and exciting city. For further information visit the Open Day pages of our website.

Contact us

www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate
pg-admissions@manchester.ac.uk
+44 (0) 161 275 4740

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