How to apply

To apply for The University of Manchester’s fee-paying Study Abroad Programme, use our online application system.

As part of the application process, you must complete, scan and upload (and in some cases, email) certain supporting documents.

If you are a fee-paying study abroad student, you will need to supply:

  • your most recent academic transcript;
  • English Language Proficiency Certificate (if applicable);
  • fall assessment approval form (if applicable) (PDF document, 50KB).

The above documents can be submitted via the online application system.

You will also be required to supply the name and contact details of an academic referee.

Additional documents

There are some additional documents that some fee-paying applicants may need to email to us, such as:

Proposed Study Plan

All applicants should complete a Proposed Study Plan (Word Docment, 32KB) and let us know the course units you are interested in studying. Please email completed forms to exchangestudy@manchester.ac.uk.

Agent Nomination Form

If you are using the services of a third-party agent, such as the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University, the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF), or the British Education Office, you will also be required to email us the completed exchange partner or agent/representative nomination form (PDF document, 50KB). Please email this to exchangestudy@manchester.ac.uk.

If you are not applying through one of the providers listed above, you do not need to complete this form.

Financial Confirmation letter

If your home university or a third-party provider (such as Arcadia, SAF or BEO) are paying your tuition fees on your behalf, you should ask them to write a letter, on headed paper, confirming that they will pay your tuition fees (and accommodation fees if applicable). Please email this letter to exchangestudy@manchester.ac.uk.

If you are paying your own tuition fees, you do not need to supply a letter.

There is no need for you to send us hard copies of anything once you have submitted your application online.

Remember that your home university may require you to apply through their International Programmes Office in the first instance. You should complete our online application after you have received their approval to study abroad.

Online application

  • Apply online (Following this link will take you to a screen headed 'Postgraduate Applicant Sign On'. Please ignore the heading; this is the correct form to complete).

Application deadlines

For September entry – 1 June

For January entry – 1 November

Please note that for January entry you should apply as early as possible, particularly if you wish to study any of our high-demand course units. 

We review and process applications in order of the date received. At busy times, it may take 4–6 weeks for us to process an application and issue an offer letter.

If you have any external deadlines that you are working towards (such as a deadline for an external scholarship), please make sure you submit your application to us at least six weeks before your external deadline.

Applying for accommodation

If you wish to apply for University accommodation for the duration of your study with us, there is a separate online accommodation application procedure that you must complete.

You cannot apply for accommodation until after you have received a formal offer letter from us. Your offer letter will contain details of how to apply for accommodation online.