How to apply

You must make your undergraduate application to The University of Manchester through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Please read the following guidelines to find out exactly how and when to apply:

  • You can apply to UCAS from 1 September for entry the following autumn.
  • For 2023 the closing date for receipt of applications is 25 January, after which you can apply through UCAS Extra. 
  • If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or for courses leading to a professional qualification in medicine or dentistry, the closing date is 15 October in the year prior to entry.
  • In many cases, you can defer entry by one year, especially if you wish to gain relevant work experience or improve your language skills. Please check with the admissions team for the relevant subject before submitting your UCAS form.

Our UCAS code is M20 MANU.

For more information on the application process, visit the UCAS website. We also have guidance for referees on what we're looking for in an academic UCAS reference.

Specialist information for different applicants

International applicants

You apply via UCAS in the same way as UK applicants. You will need to satisfy our general entry requirements, along with a specified level of ability in English language.

Find out full details of our international admissions process.

Disabled applicants

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity through the best possible level of support to prospective and current disabled students.

If you have a disability or medical condition, or you require additional support needs, we encourage you to disclose it on your UCAS application form. This information will enable us to contact you to identify what adjustments can be made and what support you will require once you arrive.

For further guidance around this please visit the Disability Advisory and Support Service website or contact dass@manchester.ac.uk

Minors (under the age of 18 on 1 September in your year of entry)

If you have not reached the age of 18 at the start of your course, you are legally considered to be a minor (ie not yet an adult).

We will carry out a risk assessment to determine what special arrangements, if any, need to be agreed before we can make you an offer.

Mature applicants

We welcome applicants who are returning to education after employment or other experiences.

While we consider your application against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you apply, we do recognise that standard selection measures and procedures may not allow you to demonstrate your full potential.

Depending on your course choice and your individual circumstances, our admissions staff may invite you for an interview, or to take an additional test. They may also ask you to provide additional information to ensure that we can make an informed decision on your application.

Find out more information for mature students.

Care leavers

If you have spent any time in local authority care, we encourage you to disclose this on your UCAS application form. Having this contextual information will enable us to make a more rounded decision on your application.

We offer information, guidance and support to help you with the application process and once you have started your course. As a care leaver, you will be entitled to financial support and year-round accommodation at Manchester.

When you make contact with us, we will assign you a nominated advisor, to whom you can refer as a permanent and ongoing source of information and guidance throughout your academic career.

Applicants with criminal convictions

The University of Manchester is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants to join a course of study, including individuals with a criminal conviction.

However, the University has a duty to ensure the safety of its students, staff and all other members of our community. As a result, there are levels of disclosure that applicants must follow dependent on the course.

For courses where a Disclosure and Barring Service record check is required, including teaching, health, social work, pharmacy and others where interaction with children or working with adults in regulated activity is required, applicants must declare all criminal convictions. This includes spent sentences, cautions and bind-over orders. These courses are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

For all other courses, applicants are required to declare any relevant unspent convictions at the point of accepting an offer (and on a continuing basis).

Applicants with mitigating circumstances

Mitigating circumstances may include:

  • personal or family illness, or other family circumstances;
  • change of teachers during a course;
  • problems with school facilities;
  • an unusual curriculum followed by your school or college.

We recommend that information on mitigating circumstances that have affected or are likely to affect your academic performance is included in your referee's report.

We cannot usually take into account information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting academic School. If you encounter mitigating circumstances after you have submitted your application, please inform the admissions staff in the School to which you applied as soon as possible.

Where mitigating circumstances have already been taken into account – eg by the relevant exam board – we cannot make further allowances.

Applicants for courses requiring a medical fitness assessment

Some courses may require you to undertake a medical fitness assessment in order to comply with the requirements of relevant professional bodies. The admitting School will guide you through this process if necessary.

To find out more, download our Procedure for Admission to Courses Requiring Medical Fitness Assessment (Word document, 56KB).

Applicants who are re-applying to Manchester

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again. We will consider your application against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. 

In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations as a student at our University when we assess your suitability for your chosen course.

If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing, you must meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing, all places are subject to availability.

Applicants who are deferring entry

We welcome applicants who are planning to defer their entry, and will consider your application equally alongside other applications up to the point of confirmation.

Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of our admissions staff. Some Schools wish to ensure that you use your gap year constructively before they accept your deferral, so please contact the admissions staff for your chosen course before you apply.

Deferred entry is normally granted for one year only and for two years at the maximum. Please also be aware that some English language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are only valid for two years from the test date.