Applicants and offer-holders information and updates concerning coronavirus

I am a prospective undergraduate student based in the UK

Following recent announcements by the Department for Education (DfE) regarding assessment of A-levels and GCSEs, we understand that the admissions timetable will run similarly to previous years and that all students in the UK will be awarded a calculated grade for any exam they were entered for. We're awaiting further guidance regarding alternative assessment methods and we'll make adjustments to our normal admissions processes based on this guidance. This is a very unsettling time for all applicants but please be assured that we'll do all we can to ensure these changes won't affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming academic year.

The DfE in England recently published some FAQs regarding the cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A-levels in 2020.

If you've any questions regarding your application/offer from Manchester you're welcome to contact us, but please check our FAQs below first where we've aimed to answer your queries. Again, any updates will appear on this page as soon as they're confirmed and we'll also communicate with you directly for any important updates.

UCAS also have a dedicated coronavirus information page for students, which will be updated as new information is confirmed. We encourage you to review this periodically and also pay attention to other updates that UCAS may provide you with directly or via UCAS Track.

Is the University still running recruitment events on campus?

The University of Manchester is closely monitoring national and international developments in relation to coronavirus and taking action as appropriate.

As a result, a decision has been made to cancel or postpone on-campus recruitment events with large visitor groups.

Unfortunately, this includes guided campus visits and University accommodation tours.

We realise that the cancellation and postponement of events will cause inconvenience and disappointment, however the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors are our highest priority at this difficult time.

The University offers a range of information, advice and guidance to prospective students on our website, including our ‘Manchester Live’ webinar series.

We're working to develop additional online resources to provide students and advisers the opportunity to speak to staff, learn more about our programmes of study and get a flavour of life at Manchester.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but believe this is the best decision for the safety and wellbeing of our staff, students and visitors.

Is the University still running offer-holder visit or interview days?

Due to the recent government guidance, all upcoming events on campus are cancelled until further notice.

We're working hard to make alternative arrangements, including online provision of information. We'll update these webpages with further detail when they're available.

Will the coronavirus outbreak affect my application to Manchester?

We're doing everything we can to limit any impact coronavirus may have on current applications to study at Manchester.

Currently, our academic Schools and admissions teams are working hard to process all applications as normal and provide decisions as soon as possible. However, there may be a delay in decisions due to the present situation and admissions teams working remotely.

Do I need to send you mitigating circumstances regarding the coronavirus outbreak?

No. We're aware that due to the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus outbreak, all applicants to The University of Manchester will have faced some disruption this year and we don't require you to submit individual mitigating circumstances.

Will you be changing my offer?

Not at this stage. We need to await further information from the UK Government regarding the awarding of qualifications before we can review or confirm any decisions in this regard. We'll keep all offer-holders updated in light of any new information or changes that may affect your offer of admission to The University of Manchester.

My exams have been cancelled. How will this affect my offer to study at Manchester?

The UK government has confirmed that although exams have been cancelled, they expect grades to be awarded in July, so that students can progress to higher education. Students may also, if they wish, have an opportunity to sit examinations in the autumn 2020, or in summer 2021.

As soon as we have details of the processes involved, we'll update our guidance here.

Will you automatically be confirming places for students whose predictions exceed the entry requirements for courses at Manchester?

No, we'll be confirming places based on the official calculated grades to be released by the relevant exam boards and will not be basing decisions on predicted grades.

My teaching and assessment have been disrupted by coronavirus? What should I do?

We're aware that education systems in the UK and around the world have been disrupted and we're monitoring the situation. We'll be as flexible as we can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way they expected, or at the time they expected.

At this stage, you don't need to let us know of any closures that affect you. We'll be in touch if this changes and will keep this page updated as well.

Do you believe that there will still be a "results day" ie do you think that decisions on University outcomes will only be made in August?

We need to await further information from the UK government regarding the awarding of qualifications before we can review or confirm when results will be made available and before it's possible for us to confirm when our decisions will be made and communicated to applicants.

If I decide to take an exam later in the year, will you automatically defer my place?

We need to await further information from the UK government and UCAS regarding the awarding of qualifications and processes involved before we can confirm whether it will be an option for you to defer your place should you choose to take the exam assessment later in the year.

Will you treat students who have deferred their entry in the same way as those entering in 2020?

We need to await further information from the UK government and UCAS regarding the awarding of qualifications and processes involved before we can review or confirm how we'll consider applicants who have applied as a deferred entrant for 2021 academic year.

Is there going to be a universal approach or separate institution processes/rules?

Universities are currently awaiting further information from the UK government and awarding organisations regarding the awarding of qualifications. We're unable to confirm at this time if universities will take a universal approach. The University of Manchester will follow the advice and information provided by the UK government and will provide more information on our admissions process on our website which we encourage you to review periodically.

UCAS also have a dedicated coronavirus information page for students, which will be updated as new information is confirmed. We encourage you to review this regularly and also pay particular attention to other updates that UCAS may provide you with directly or via UCAS Track.

What will happen if I've registered to re-sit an A-Level exam this summer as an independent candidate or a home-schooled applicant?

Universities are currently awaiting further information from the UK government and awarding organisations regarding the awarding of qualifications. The DfE in England has stated that they're working closely with the independent regulator of qualifications, Ofqual, to explore options for awarding grades to private/independent candidates, including home-schooled students.

I received a contextual offer, will the lower requirements still apply?

Yes, the conditions of your offer won't change. Therefore if you've accepted us as your firm choice you're still only required to meet the lower entry requirements.

Will the new academic year still start in September?

At present the start date for our 2020/2021 academic year is 21 September 2020. We're working hard to try and ensure that any changes won't affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming year. However, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world due to coronavirus, we're reviewing a number of options including moving provision online for the start of term as well as delaying the start of term to later in the year. If we do anticipate the need to make changes of a significant nature, you'll be notified as soon as possible and information will be made available on this page as well.

Are you still accepting applications for September 2020?

We are still accepting applications for September 2020 entry. Students who wish to apply should make an application via UCAS.

We're continuing to monitor this situation closely and will update our FAQs with any changes – please check back here to make sure that there haven’t been any updates to our position before you make your application.

Additionally, you should also check that the course you would like to apply to is still open – as we receive many more applications than we have places for every year, some of our courses close early in the application cycle.

For undergraduate courses, you can check availability via the UCAS site.

Can I defer my offer to 2021 entry?

While we appreciate that the situation with coronavirus is changing quickly and some offer-holders may be considering deferring their offer, we would ask you to hold off on making any final decisions on this until the situation becomes clearer over the coming weeks. This is so that your decision is an informed one. We're still currently planning to welcome a new cohort of students in September, however, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world, we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term and even delaying the start of term to later in the year. Once the impact of disruption becomes clearer, we'll be able to confirm this to offer-holders, at which point you'll be able to make a more informed decision on deferral. Undergraduate applicants wishing to discuss deferring entry to 2021 should email the admissions team within the relevant academic School or Department.

Will my application to the UK Student Loans Company be affected by the outbreak?

No. UK and EU applicants to courses starting in September 2020 can apply for student finance online as normal.

Will accommodation still be guaranteed if I come later or defer the offer?

Yes, accommodation is guaranteed if the application is received by the Accommodation Office before 31 August of the year of entry.

If I check-in late, can I get a refund for the part of the tenancy period that I missed?

Technically no, there isn’t a refund for the part of the tenancy missed. If you think that you're going to arrive late (a week to ten days past your contract start date) it's better to let the Accommodation Office know of your expected arrival date. The existing offer of accommodation will be removed and a new offer made for when you plan to arrive and in that way you'll only pay from the date your new contract starts.

Is it free to cancel or defer my accommodation offer?

Yes – the £400 advanced license fee payment is refundable if the cancellation is made before the contract start date.

How can I find out more?

We'll be providing regular updates on our website and we encourage you to review this periodically. If we anticipate the need to make any changes of a significant nature applicants will also be notified via email as early as possible.

UCAS also have a dedicated coronavirus information page for students, which will be updated as new information is confirmed. We encourage you to review this regularly and also pay particular attention to other updates that UCAS may provide you with directly or via UCAS Track.

I am a prospective international undergraduate student

If you have any questions regarding your application/offer from Manchester you're welcome to contact us, but please check our FAQs below first where we have aimed to answer your queries. Any updates will appear on this page as soon as they are confirmed and we will also communicate with you directly for any important updates.

UCAS also have a dedicated coronavirus information page for students, which will be updated as new information is confirmed. We encourage you to review this periodically and also pay particular attention to other updates that UCAS may provide you with directly or via UCAS Track.

Will the coronavirus outbreak affect my application to Manchester?

We are doing everything we can to limit any impact coronavirus may have on current applications to study at Manchester.

Currently, our academic Schools and admissions teams are working hard to process all applications as normal and provide decisions as soon as possible. However, there may be a delay in decisions due to the present situation and admissions teams working remotely.

Do I need to send you mitigating circumstances regarding the coronavirus outbreak?

No. We are aware that due to the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus outbreak that all applicants to The University of Manchester will have faced some disruption this year and we don't require applicants to submit individual mitigating circumstances.

Do you anticipate any travel restrictions for students coming to the UK?

It's difficult to predict what future restrictions may be put in place that could affect events in the coming weeks and months. Please be mindful that the situation is evolving rapidly, so check this page and the Public Health England website for the latest guidance.

What measures are in place to ensure that students can continue their studies (pre-sessional English course or main course) as planned?

We understand that widespread disruption to studies around the world will be a cause for concern for applicants and prospective students due to begin University studies in 2020.

We'll do our best to extend deadlines for the receipt of transcripts and other application documents wherever possible. As the extent of the disruption becomes clearer, we'll be in a better position to update you on other related policies.

Please be assured that we're considering this as a matter of urgency and you will be updated by email as soon as possible.

My exams (eg ACT/SAT/IELTS/PTE/TOEFL/HKDSE) may be delayed. What should I do?

We understand that this will be a big worry for you and suggest that you contact your school/university/college/agent in your country for further information on the impact this may have on your studies.

Students from the European Union may be able to demonstrate their English proficiency using alternative means. Please contact the admissions team in the relevant academic School or Department for further advice.

Can conditional offers be issued without sight of official transcripts/certificates?

Yes in some cases, but please note that conditions will need to be met before a confirmation of acceptance of studies number can be issued. Please contact the admissions team in the relevant academic School or Department for further advice.

My teaching and assessment have been disrupted by the coronavirus? What should I do?

We're aware that education systems in the UK and around the world have been disrupted and we're monitoring the situation. We'll be as flexible as we can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way they expected, or at the time they expected.

At this stage, you don't need to let us know of any closures that affect you. We'll be in touch if this changes and will keep this page updated as well.

I can’t travel back to my home country to take exams. What do I do?

We understand that travel may not be possible at the moment and how this will be a concern. We suggest that you contact your school/university/college/agent in your country for further information on the impact this might have on your studies.

Will accommodation still be guaranteed if I come later or defer the offer?

Yes, accommodation is guaranteed if the application is received by the Accommodation Office before 31 August of the year of entry.

If I check-in late, can I get a refund for the part of the tenancy period that I missed?

Technically no, there isn’t a refund for the part of the tenancy missed. If you think that you are going to arrive late (a week to ten days past your contract start date) it's better to let the Accommodation Office know of your expected arrival date. The existing offer of accommodation will be removed and a new offer made for when you plan to arrive and in that way you will only pay from the date your new contract starts.

Is it free to cancel or defer my accommodation offer?

Yes – the £400 advanced license fee payment is refundable if the cancellation is made before the contract start date.

Are you still accepting applications for September 2020?

We are still accepting applications for September 2020 entry. Students who wish to apply should make an application via UCAS.

We're continuing to monitor this situation closely and will update our FAQs with any changes – please check back here to make sure that there haven’t been any updates to our position before you make your application.

Additionally, you should also check that the course you would like to apply to is still open – as we receive many more applications than we have places for every year, some of our courses close early in the application cycle.

For undergraduate courses, you can check availability via the UCAS site.

Can I defer my offer to 2021 entry?

While we appreciate that the situation with coronavirus is changing quickly and some offer-holders may be considering deferring their offer, we would ask you to hold off on making any final decisions until the situation becomes clearer over the coming weeks. This is so that your decision is an informed one. We're still currently planning to welcome a new cohort of students starting in September, however, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world, we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term and even delaying the start of term to later in the year. Once the impact of disruption becomes clearer, we'll be able to confirm this to offer-holders, at which point you'll be able to make a more informed decision on deferral. Undergraduate applicants wishing to discuss deferring entry to 2021 should email the admissions team within the relevant academic School or Department.

I've already taken my English language test for my Tier 4 visa, but I haven't received the results; the test centre is currently closed, what should I do?

Check the test provider’s website as this should provide details around what arrangements are in place, and although some test centres are closed, it may still be possible to contact them via email.

Will the pre-sessional course be taught online?

We're currently looking at how we can best teach the pre-sessional course in the event that the campus remains closed. It's likely that the pre-sessional courses will be taught to you online, either for part of the course, or the whole course in full. We want to ensure that you're still able to study on a pre-sessional English course to prepare you for your degree starting in September 2020.

Can you extend the pre-sessional course application deadline?

At present, the application deadlines are as stated on our website. We're continually reviewing this as the situation continues and will update our website should deadlines change.

Will there be any flexibility on the latest start date for pre-sessional courses?

The pre-sessional courses are scheduled to go ahead on the dates published on our website. The latest start date for the pre-sessional courses are as follows:

PS10 – 8 July
PS6 – 5 August
PS3 – 24 August

We're continually reviewing this as the situation continues and will update our website should these dates change.

Will the new academic year still start in September?

At present the start date for our 2020/2021 academic year is 21 September 2020. We're working hard to try and ensure that any changes will not affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming year. However, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world due to coronavirus, we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term as well as delaying the start of term to later in the year. If we do anticipate the need to make changes of a significant nature, you'll be notified as soon as possible and information will be made available on this page as well.

Can I apply to the University without an English language test?

Yes, you can apply to the University without an English language test. You may be considered for a conditional offer where you have English language (and/or academic qualification) conditions outstanding.

Can the University test my English language in order to receive an offer?

The University recognises a number of English language tests, including TOEFL, Pearson PTE and IELTS. Given the current widespread disruption to global English language testing centres because of the coronavirus pandemic, the University is currently reviewing additional and/or alternative forms of confirming prospective students’ levels of English. We'll announce further information on this area in due course, and our applicants and offer-holders should please check email regularly, as further individual guidance from admissions teams will follow as soon as possible. If you have an English language qualification that isn’t listed here, please contact your admissions department who will be able to advise you on the acceptability of this English language qualification.

If not, can deadlines be extended? Can joint-CAS’ be issued?

We'll seek to be as flexible as possible with respect to deadlines for English language conditions. We're actively seeking to extend our capacity to issue joint CASs as appropriate.

I've taken an IELTS examination but my certificate hasn’t been issued yet, as the centres have been closed. Can the University contact IELTS for this information?

Yes, please provide us with your IELTS TRF number and we can use this to verify your results via the IELTS results portal.

I need to apply for a visa to come to the UK but my nearest visa application centre is currently closed. What should I do?

Please check for updates on when visa offices (services) in your country are expected to re-open.

Can I study on a short-term study visa with a non UKVI IELTS if I'm not eligible for a joint CAS?

If you meet the admissions requirements of the University Language Centre, you can study for a pre-sessional English course on a short-term student visa. However, you can't study for a full-time degree course with this type of visa. Under normal circumstances, it's not possible to switch from a short-term student visa to a Tier 4 student visa in the UK. If you study for your pre-sessional English course on a short-term student visa, you must plan to return to your home country at the end of the pre-sessional course to apply for a Tier 4 visa for your degree level study.

I already have a Tier 4 visa for my current / last course, can I apply for my new Tier 4 visa in the UK?

You must check that you meet the UK immigration eligibility requirements to apply for your visa in the UK.

How can I find out more?

We'll be providing regular updates on our website and we encourage you to review this periodically. If we anticipate the need to make any changes of a significant nature, applicants will also be notified via email as early as possible.

UCAS also has a dedicated coronavirus information page for students, which will be updated as new information is confirmed. We encourage you to review this regularly and also pay particular attention to other updates that UCAS may provide you with directly or via UCAS Track.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs also regularly updates their advice and information.

I am a prospective postgraduate student based in the UK

If you have any questions regarding your application/offer from Manchester you are welcome to contact us, but please check our FAQs below first where we have aimed to answer your queries. Any updates will appear on this page as soon as they are confirmed.

Will the coronavirus outbreak affect my application to Manchester?

We're doing everything we can to limit any impact coronavirus may have on current applications to study at Manchester.

Currently, our academic Schools and admissions teams are working hard to process all applications as normal and provide decisions as soon as possible. However, there may be a delay in decisions due to the present situation and admissions teams working remotely.

Do I need to send you mitigating circumstances regarding the coronavirus outbreak?

No. We're aware that due to the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus outbreak that all applicants to The University of Manchester will have faced some disruption this year and we don't require applicants to submit individual mitigating circumstances.

Are you still accepting applications for September 2020?

We're still accepting applications for September 2020 entry. Students who wish to apply for a postgraduate taught course should make an application online. Students who wish to apply for a postgraduate research programme can find further information online.

We're continuing to monitor this situation closely and will update our FAQs with any changes – please check back here to make sure that there haven’t been any updates to our position before you make your application.

Additionally, you should also check that the course you would like to apply to is still open – as we receive many more applications than we have places for every year, some of our courses close early in the application cycle.

I'm unable to complete my current course and/or provide my final transcript because my education has been disrupted (eg due to self-isolation) or my university has closed. How will this affect my admission to the University?

If you've received an offer to study with us, you would normally have been set a condition to achieve your qualification at a certain grade and to provide your final certificate and transcript to us. If you'll be unable to provide these documents due to the coronavirus outbreak, please keep checking these pages as we will provide guidance on how to proceed when we have more information. We continue to monitor the situation closely and updates will be provided here as and when they become available.

Can I post you my transcripts/I've already posted my transcripts?

Please don't send us any documents by post until further notice. Please send scanned copies of your documents via email to the admissions team within the relevant academic School or Department:

There may be a delay in processing documents, please continue to track your application via self-service. If you've already posted your transcripts please re-send these as an electronic copy via email or contact the relevant admissions team if you don't have access to an electronic copy.

Will the new academic year still start in September?

At present the start date for our 2020/2021 academic year is 21 September 2020. We're working hard to try and ensure that any changes won't affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming year. However, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world due to coronavirus, we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term as well as delaying the start of term to later in the year. If we do anticipate the need to make changes of a significant nature you'll be notified as soon as possible and information will be made available on this page as well.

Can I defer my offer?

While we appreciate that the situation with coronavirus is changing quickly and some offer-holders may be considering deferring their offer, we would ask you to hold off on making any final decisions until the situation becomes clearer over the coming weeks. This is so that your decision is an informed one. We're still currently planning to welcome a new cohort of students in September, however, with significant disruption to academic systems around the world we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term and even delaying the start of term to later in the year. Once the impact of disruption becomes clearer, we'll be able to confirm this to offer-holders, at which point yo'ill be able to make a more informed decision on deferral.

Applicants wishing to discuss deferring their application should contact the admissions team within the relevant academic School or Department:

How can I find out more?

We'll be providing regular updates on our website and we encourage you to review this periodically. If we anticipate the need to make any changes of a significant nature, you'll also be notified via email as early as possible.

I am a prospective international postgraduate student

If you have any questions regarding your application/offer from Manchester yoU're welcome to contact us, but please check our FAQs below first where we've aimed to answer your queries. Any updates will appear on this page as soon as they are confirmed.