Manchester Metropolitan University

Summary

History

The University traces its origins to the Manchester Mechanics Institute, founded in 1824 and the Manchester School of Design, which formed Manchester Polytechnic in 1970. Manchester Polytechnic then gained university status under the government's Further and Higher Education Act, becoming the Manchester Metropolitan University in 1992.

University Environment

Manchester Met is based around two campuses:

All Saints Campus

- the main university campus is home to all faculties and departments of Manchester Met. It includes the £75m home for the Faculty of Business and Law, which houses more than 5,000 students and 250 staff. The main University Library is also situated on the main campus, which includes a number of special collections mainly relating to the fine and applied arts.

Birley Campus

- Birley, a highly sustainable community campus, is home to the Faculties of Education and Health. As a community campus, individuals and groups are welcome to use the facilities on the campus, which include: the Birley Café; Birley Kitchen; large drama and dance studio; large lecture theatres and a multi-purpose hall.

The public can also access the open spaces at Birley which include a community orchard, wetland area, woodland area and sustainability trail.

At Birley, there are 967 student rooms. These are mainly arranged in four-storey townhouses, which are among the most environmentally-friendly student accommodation buildings in the UK.

Academics

Faculties & Schools

• Faculty of Arts & Humanities
• Faculty of Business & Law
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Health, Psychology & Social Care
• Faculty of Science & Engineering

Research

In the Research Excellence Framework (2014 REF), 65% of Manchester Met's research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, with Art and Design ranked 6th out of 84 universities, and top 20 for the number of researchers rated world-leading and internationally excellent in Education.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Many of the University courses offer an option to study abroad for three, six or ten months, at partner universities in countries including Australia, Argentina, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and the USA plus over 20 countries across Europe. The University participates in the Erasmus+ programme and awards grants to students studying abroad in Europe and beyond. Depending on your course of study, this could be integrated into Year 2 or as an additional year abroad in Year 3 of a four-year degree programme.

There are also short programmes abroad, often 1-4 weeks in duration that are open to students of any discipline.

Some courses involved students spending a year on an industry placement as part of a five-year sandwich course. There are also opportunities for students to do Research Internships during the second year during the summer.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

Manchester Met offers a variety of scholarships, discounts and awards to support students in their studies.

The University offers a £750 per year Student Support Package for new, full-time, first year undergraduate students and foundation year students. The support package is available to every UK undergraduate full-time student from a household with an income up to and including £25,000. It is available for each year of study on a full-time course and paying full tuition fee.

The Manchester Met Sports Scholarship, which supports talented athletes from a variety of sporting backgrounds is a package worth up to £7,000 per year and can include up to 20% off fees, bespoke strength and conditioning programmes, bespoke nutritional support, physiotherapy support, sport science support, free sport club membership and more.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

Each campus has an extensive library. Every subject taught at the University is comprehensively covered with a total of more than 800,000 books, plus e-journals, articles, and e-books which you can access on-line. Students are provided with a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), a platform containing reading lists, electronic books and articles, lecture notes, tutorial materials and study kits. Free Wi-Fi is available across the University, and there are computer drop-in centres on each campus with the latest software applications and helpdesk support.

The University's brand new language lab offers plasma screens and individual stations for private and independent working.

There are also video conferencing facilities, and video recording suites with remote control cameras. You can borrow netbooks, laptops, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras and other audio-visual equipment from IT Support.

The All Saints Library offers a variety of study zones, including silent study, quite study and group study. The Library runs open workshops throughout the year, to help with your studies and/or research, e.g. referencing, researching commercial organisations for applications and interviews and more.

Sports Facilities

The University boasts state of the art facilities, is committed to supporting elite sports men and women, has top class teams, offers a wide range of recreational sporting opportunities that cater for everyone from the complete beginner, to the elite performer and those pursuing a future career in the industry.

The Sugden Sports Centre

- located at the centre of the All Saints campus, with facilities including 2 eight court sports halls, a large fitness suite, a workout studio, 6 squash courts, outdoor 5-a-side pitches and a multi-activity room.

Platt Lane Sport Complex

- located in Fallowfield, the University's Platt Lane Sports Complex offers a variety of top quality pitches, a fully equipped gym, a range of fitness classes and, maintaining the site's football heritage.

The complex is home to a number of the University sports clubs, including football, rugby union, rugby league and American football, as well as several of their recreational sport opportunities. The complex is open to everyone, from students and staff at Manchester Met and to members of the local community.

Manchester Aquatics Centre

- situated right in the heart of Manchester's bustling student area, the Manchester Aquatics Centre offers three high quality gyms, a 50m swimming pool, health suite and extensive fitness class programme. This facility is part of a unique collection of community and elite facilities governed by MCRactive, a not for profit organisation established and overseen by Manchester City Council.

Students' Union

Students' Union

Manchester Met’s Students’ Union is one of the largest student organisations in the UK, representing the rights and interests of their 37,000 students. With a dedicated building in the heart of the All Saints campus in Manchester, the Students’ Union is home to a shop, bar, nightclub, deli, cash machine and various other essentials at student-friendly prices. It is also where you’ll find your full-time student officers who are elected each year by the student body to run the Union and represent your interests locally and nationally.

There are plenty of societies and sports clubs for you to join. Media is represented by the student newspaper, PULP and MMURadio as well as MMUnion Media which covers video production and live broadcasting, photography, and design and post production.

The Students’ Union Advice Centre is staffed by experienced, trained staff offering free and totally independent advice on financial issues, housing and academic issues.

There are also volunteering opportunities and the Union engages student volunteers in many of their own activities on campus and in the wider local area.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Multi-faith chaplaincy at the University is a dedicated team of chaplains from different faith communities who work across the Manchester Universities. They are part of the student support services offering support to students of faith and none. They offer spiritual help, friendship and support, confidential advice, prayer and study and information on places of worship for all faiths. There are a number of Chaplaincy Centres, and within the Centres there are libraries, common rooms and places for quiet prayer, as well as times for regular worship and events. There are also a number of multi-faith quiet rooms across the University, as well as a Muslim prayer room.

Health & Wellbeing

Manchester Met gives students information about local doctors, opticians, dentists and pharmacies.

The Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service supports your learning and help you make the most of your experience at the University. They run courses or workshops, such as managing anger, managing stress, overcoming, and more.

If you need to speak with a counsellor, they offer a drop-in service, which is an opportunity to meet with a counsellor for up to 20 minutes without booking. Alternatively, you can book an initial assessment appointment by phoning or emailing them. At an initial assessment appointment or drop-in, they will look at the best way forward for you, and might include individual counselling, group therapy, a course or a workshop, self-help materials or a referral to a specialist service.

The Disability Support team ensures students are not disadvantaged in their studies as a result of their disability, health condition, or Specific Learning Difficulty, and provides advice about the resources that are available within the University and from external agencies. The team provides study support, personal care support and more.

Career Facilities

The Careers and Employability Service, based at the All Saints campus, can help you develop the skills, abilities and the personal attributes that will allow you to achieve your career goals and manage your future career. The support available from the Service includes: finding a job and getting work experience, exploring career options, CV writing and job application, meet employers on campus, and more. The Service also organises employer events such as Recruitment Fairs, Guest Lectures and Meet the Employers Speed-Networking Events.

Work experience can significantly increase your prospects of securing a graduate level job. It enhances the skills and knowledge gained throughout your degree, allows you to gain knowledge of working in a particular sector or role, and helps you to make more informed career decisions. Students can check out work experience, paid placements, internships, part-time and vacation job opportunities on My Career Hub. The University offers a range of exciting paid professional jobs on campus for current Manchester Met students through Jobs4Students. The Manchester Met's Student's Union runs the online volunteering hub, where you can search for volunteering opportunities and keep a record of your hours and skills.

To enhance your CV, you can also work as a Student Ambassador and represent the University in the new student recruitment events by imparting your knowledge and sharing your experience about studying in Manchester Met.

Accommodation

From apartments and eco-friendly townhouses to en-suite and standard rooms, Manchester Met has a wide range of student accommodation on or around campus to suit all needs and budgets. They are all self-catered accommodation.

All full-time undergraduate students studying at Manchester Met for the first time is guaranteed an University-approved accommodation.

International

English Language Requirements

The English language entry requirements detailed here are for guidance only. Some courses will have a higher English language requirement. Please check the University website for full details.

International Scholarships

Manchester Met is offering a new scholarship package of £2,000 for every year of study to international students accepted onto a full-time taught undergraduate programme. Please see website for further details and eligibility criteria.

International Support

Manchester Met offers a free taxi service for new international students living in the local area, courtesy of Club Cars. Club Cars offer friendly and professional drivers who pride themselves on being helpful and welcoming to all visitors of the UK. The Club’s service includes the Meet & Greet service at the Manchester airport.

The International Office has over 15 staff with many years of experience working with international students. Furthermore, the Immigration and Welfare Team provides confidential information, advice and guidance to help you make your time in the UK a success. The team hosts workshops to help with visa renewals in the UK, as well as organising the Welcome programme which includes pre-enrollment, guest speakers, support in opening bank accounts, and trips and activities to help you meet other students from your country and around the world.

Coaching for Academic English provides free English classes for international students in every faculty during the autumn and spring terms, with all classes taught by qualified and experienced tutors. They focus on the skills needed for good quality academic writing, listening, reading, and speaking.

Media