Top Universities in Manchester, UK: Ranking, Courses, Fees, Admission 2025

Did you know Manchester is named the 28th most livable city in the world? Manchester is a medieval city known for its architectural features, rich industrial past, and yes, football clubs. Do You know what else is popular about Manchester? The world-class universities. The single city is home to over 10 top universities in the UK, and some are listed in the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education Rankings lists. Today, we will discuss all about the top universities in Manchester, along with their rankings, courses & fees, acceptance rates, and more.  

List of Universities in Manchester

Manchester is home to some of the top universities in the UK. The universities in Manchester are known for their academic excellence, quality education, unique curriculum and teaching style, vibrant student environment, and more. Let's dive in and check out the top universities in Manchester.

Arden University

The first on the list is Arden University, popular for its specially designed courses with a strong real-world focus, helping students implement classroom lessons in daily life scenarios. Arden University offers the quality education and knowledge required to meet the challenging demands of tomorrow.

Admission and Acceptance Rate

Arden University has an acceptance rate of 75-80%, where students from all over the world can apply for an undergraduate, postgraduate or foundational program. Students can follow the below-listed steps to apply for admission at Arden University.

1. Visit the Arden University website and look for the Apply Now options in yellow.
2. Enter all the requirements, including your country of residence, qualification level, subject of interest, mode of study etc.
3. Submit all the required documents and pay the university application fee.
4. Once all the documents are in one place, the university will examine them and will confirm the application status in 2 to 3 weeks.
5. Make sure to score well on your IELTS/ TOEFL to stay ahead of others.

Courses & Fees

Arden University offers flexible and supportive courses to students aged 18 to 80 years. Journey at Arden goes beyond classroom lectures and offers the best of the UK. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and online courses in fields like Marketing, Business & Management, Criminology, Finance, Law, etc. Here’s a detailed overview of the top courses and their annual tuition fee at Arden University.

University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a top-tier university, ranked 35th in the QS World University Rankings List 2025. Over 40,000 students are currently enrolled at the University of Manchester. The university was awarded the King’s Awards for Enterprise, International Trade, Promoting Opportunity, and more. The University of Manchester’s teaching and research style, unique courses, and career opportunities are all top notches.

Admission & Acceptance Rate

The University of Manchester has an acceptance rate of 91.4%, making the admission process somewhat competitive. To apply for undergraduate admission at the University of Manchester, students can follow the below-listed steps.

1. Visit the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) website.
2. Enter all the required details and the university code.
3. The University of Manchester’s UCAS code is M20 MANU.
4. Find your desired course and submit all the documents.
5. Make sure you have a valid IELTS or any other English proficiency test score.

Courses & Fees

The University of Manchester offers over 400 UG and over 580 PG courses. What’s more, there are over 50 distance learning or online programs too. Major fields at Manchester are Accounting & Finance, Aerospace Engineering, Financial Management, Arts and Humanities, Biomedical Sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, and more. Here’s an overview of the popular courses at the University of Manchester and their annual tuition fee.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is the UK’s top-ranked university and is known for its outstanding student experience and excellent teaching style. The University was awarded the prestigious Teaching Experience Framework (TEF) 2023. It’s a great institution for research programs with its state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated university staff. The Manchester MET is ranked 57th in the UK.

Admission and Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Manchester MET is over 80%, making the admission process easier for both domestic and international students. The university has a simple and easy application process. With just a single application, students can apply for up to five undergraduate courses at Manchester MET.

1. Start your application process by visiting the UCAS website.
2. Enter all the required details, like your place of origin, interest of study, etc.
3. To select Manchester MET, enter the university code: M40
4. Choose your undergraduate programs (up to five)
5. Submit all the required documents and pay the UCAS application fees.
6. Wait for the confirmation from the university.

Courses and Fees

Your tuition fees at Manchester MET depend on your course and tuition fee status. The annual tuition fee at Manchester MET for international students is between £17,000 to £18,500. The university offers a wide range of courses in fields like Accounting and Finance, Acting, Animation, Architecture, Biology, Data Science, Digital Marketing, Law, and more.

University of Salford

Salford University is on the outskirts of Manchester and is the ideal institution for students who want to experience the lifestyle of Manchester and Salford. The university is ranked 901-950 in the QS World University Rankings List and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university’s alumni are among the highest-paid employees in the UK and other European countries.

Admission and Acceptance Rate

Out of the 18,000 students enrolled at the University of Salford, 20% are international students. The university has an acceptance rate of 62% for international students, making the admission process somewhat moderately difficult. Here’s the application process for the university.

1. Visit the University of Salford’s registration portal at apply.salford.ac.uk/Account/Login/Register and complete your registration.
2. Once completed, enter the required details and proceed further with the process.
3. Enter your course of interest and submit the required documents.
4. You must pay the application fee only to successfully complete your application process.
5. After paying the fees, the university will examine all the submitted documents and will release the offer letter in two to three weeks.

Courses and Fees

The University of Salford offers over 400 undergraduate and 200 postgraduate courses in fields like journalism, art and design, politics, music, accounting, FinTech, nursing and health, architecture, and more. The annual fees for a full-time course can vary between £13,750 to £20,340.

Conclusion

Studying and living in Manchester is a unique experience for students. The city is home to the UK’s top university, has a vibrant lifestyle, rich historical past, and much more. The universities in Manchester and budget-friendly student housing options make this city an ideal place for students to live.