Interdisciplinary learning at Manchester

As one of the UK's largest campus-based universities, we are proud of the advantages our size brings: a fantastic breadth of knowledge, the cross-pollination of skills and disciplines, and the buzz of a large, diverse student community.

At Manchester we use our range and depth of knowledge to give you more opportunities and greater control over your learning, with flexible, multidisciplinary courses that you can tailor to your interests and career ambitions.

University College of Interdisciplinary Learning

Our University College runs courses that are available to all our undergraduates. They allow you to broaden your horizons and get the full benefit of a Manchester education.

Drawing on the best teaching talent from across our University, these courses showcase the cream of Manchester’s world-leading research and challenge conventional thinking – exactly what university is all about.

You can attend signature lectures from some of the world’s leading minds in their fields, or gain experience in enterprise and leadership, to give you the edge in the graduate jobs market.

You can also gain a unique selling point in the graduate employment market by taking one of our prestigious Manchester Programmes and Challenges.

Optional course units

Flexibility and multidisciplinary interests are built into all of our degrees. Undergraduate courses are divided into units, some of which are optional. The range of optional course units typically increases as you progress, often including units from other courses, or delivered by other University departments, allowing you to dip your toe into a wide variety of disciplines.

Course units in the history of science, technology and medicine

Each year, 900 undergraduates at Manchester take optional course units through our Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM). These units allow you to earn credits towards to your degree. See what subjects you could study at the CHSTM website.