Applications are open
Applications for 2026 are now open and will close on Sunday, 14 December (11.59pm).
Essential criteria
The priority criteria has recently changed for the first time in many years. Please take a moment to read the information carefully so you know what’s needed before applying.
You'll need to meet all of the following to apply:
- live in Greater Manchester, or study at a school or college in Greater Manchester;
- be a Year 12 (lower sixth) student when you apply;
- have at least five GCSEs at grade 6 or above (or equivalent, such as GNVQ, BTEC) when you apply. You'll also need at least a grade 4 in English Language and Mathematics;
- have only attended non-fee-paying schools for your education (this includes schools that charge any type of fee and international fee-paying schools in countries where GCSE- equivalent education was available in the state system at no cost);
- attend a state, post-16 school or college, and be studying a two-year Level 3 qualification equivalent to three A-levels;
- be a home registered student or expect to be a UK national or have 'settled status' (as per the government guidance) by the time you start a university degree.
In addition to the essential criteria, you will also need to meet one Category A priority criteria (see below).
If you are interested in the Medicine or Dentistry strands, there are some additional essential criteria for you to meet (see below).
In addition to the essential criteria, you’ll also need:
- Six GCSEs at a minimum of grade 7;
- Grade 6 or above in GCSE English Language, Mathematics, and two science subjects. If it's a Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science, the minimum needed is 6,6;
- Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction or above) in place of one GCSE;
- You'll need to be studying three A-levels including Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology, and one of either: Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics.
In addition to the essential criteria, you’ll also need:
- Six GCSEs at a minimum of grade 7;
- Grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Mathematics, and two science subjects. If it's a Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science, the minimum needed is 6,6;
- Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction) in place of one GCSE;
- You'll need to be studying three A-levels including Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology.
Every year, more students who meet the essential criteria apply to the Manchester Access Programme than we have spaces available. To make sure places go to those who will benefit most, we also take into account applicants’ personal and socio-economic backgrounds when making our decisions.
In addition to the essential criteria, you must meet at least one of the Category A priority criteria:
Category A criteria
- received Free School Meals or pupil premium at secondary school;
- receive Free School Meals at your current school or college;
- neither parent nor carer has a university-level degree or equivalent (this refers to any parent/carer that you live with on a regular basis) – does not apply to care experienced applicants*. Your application may be considered if a parent/carer is currently studying their first degree or graduated in the last ten years;
- have experience of Local Authority Care for any length of time at any point in your life*;
- estranged students who have had no communicative relationship with their parents/guardians for at least six months, with the situation unlikely to change;
- sanctuary seekers (such as asylum seekers or refugees);
*Care experienced
The term 'care experienced' refers to a young person who's been in Local Authority care (either public care, foster care, kinship care, semi-independent living or residential care homes) for any period of time. The University recognises that any time spent in care can have a significant impact on young people’s lives.
Please note the University distinguishes between 'care leaver' and 'care experienced' when allocating bursaries. See our website for the definitions of each and our scholarships and bursaries pages for further information.
Category B criteria
We also prioritise the following Category B priority criteria. These will only be considered if they are used in conjunction with at least one Category A priority criteria.
- young carers (if you’re under 18 and regularly help care for a family member or friend with a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or a drug or alcohol dependency (who could not cope without your support), you are considered a young carer, see UCAS's definition of young carers);
- disabled students who receive a Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance, or who are registered with their current school/college for their disability;
- students from a military or service family, this applies to you if a parent or carer serves in the UK Regular Armed Forces, or as a Reservist, or has done at any point during your life;
- live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education or a high level of financial, social or economic deprivation. Check your postcode on our contextual admissions page;
- attended a high school where the average Key Stage 4 performance is lower than the national average. You can check your secondary school, current school or college key performance data on our contextual admissions page;
- attend a school or college where Key Stage 5 performance is lower than the national average;
- receive discretionary learner payments/16–19 bursary at your current college;
- students who identify as one of the following ethnic groups, currently underrepresented at The University of Manchester and within higher education, particularly within higher tariff universities: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (we use the Office for Student's definition);
Black African, Black African Caribbean, mixed-race Black African or mixed-race Black African Caribbean.
We understand that difficult family or individual circumstances may affect your exams or the opportunity to go to university, which is why we’ll assess your application on an individual basis if you don’t meet the essential criteria.
Individual circumstances include:
- Living independently from your family;
- Experiencing significant family issues;
- A disability/health condition that affects your education.
If your situation isn't listed above, please talk to your MAP Link Coordinator (the teacher who coordinates MAP at your school or college).
Your MAP Link Coordinator can help you add these to your application form, including the dates you have been affected and how they've impacted your education.
COVID-19
Unfortunately, we’re unable to consider the general disruption caused by the pandemic as extenuating circumstances. However, if you consider the impact of COVID-19 on your personal circumstances to be extreme, then we may be able to review this on a case-by-case basis.
Please indicate on your application form if any of these circumstances apply to you, including the dates you've been affected and any impact on your academic achievement.
- For the general strand, use this application form.
- For the medicine or dentistry strand, use this application form.
- Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday, 14 December 2025.
Make sure you're applying to the correct strand as you can only apply for one, if there are multiple applications, we can only consider the most recent one. Please note that medicine and dentistry are separate strands and you cannot apply for both or switch strands when you're on the Programme.
Before you apply, check that the Programme is right for you and that you meet all the essential and at least one of the priority criteria.
Before starting your application please be aware that:
- the application form will take around one hour to complete;
- you need to complete all fields on the form, we may not be able to contact you if information is missing;
- there's an opportunity within the form to talk about any extenuating or challenging circumstances you’ve faced;
- you can complete your application over more than one session. However, you’ll need to use the same device and browser (such as your laptop and Google Chrome), as the platform uses cookies to remember your answers;
- we're only able to consider one application. If you submit more than one, we can only consider the most recent.
The application form will ask you for your personal details and questions relating to our essential and priority criteria. You will need the following information to hand:
- the postcode of your current school or college;
- the postcode of your previous Level 2 school;
- details of your Level 2 qualifications (GCSEs or equivalent);
- details of your current qualifications, including exam board;
- details of your parent(s)/carer(s)’ educational background, including the name of their highest education qualification (this does not apply to care experienced students);
- if your parent(s)/carer(s) have an undergraduate degree-level qualification (or you think they might), you will need details of the course studied, where they studied, how long they studied for, and when they obtained their qualification (this does not apply to care experienced students);
- if you're applying to the medicine or dentistry strands you will need to put all of your GCSE (and equivalent) results slips or certificates into a word document ready to upload. If you're in receipt of Free School Meals, you'll also need a document of evidence for this. You can find instructions on how to do this by watching this video;
- before you submit your application, check that all of your information is correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you haven’t missed any sections of the application;
- make sure that the information you provide on your application is accurate. If inaccuracies are discovered during the application period or on the Programme then it is likely that your application will be cancelled or you will be removed from the Programme.
Applied for MAP 2026 after applications?
Once you've completed your MAP 2026 application, we'll email you in early March 2026 with the outcome.
We may contact you for supporting information before then, so please check your inbox, junk and spam folders regularly for any emails from 'map@manchester.ac.uk'.
We may ask for evidence to support your application (such as a letter from your school confirming you get Free School Meals, GCSE certificates, evidence of 16-19 bursary). If you're unable to provide this evidence, we may not be able to offer you a place on the Programme.
If you applied for the Programme but haven't received a response from us by mid-March 2025, please email map@manchester.ac.uk.
- We begin by looking at whether you meet all the essential criteria (including one Category A priority criteria). If you don't meet any Category A criteria, we unfortunately cannot consider your application.
- We then give your application a score based on how many Category A and Category B priority criteria you meet. This scoring system is based on a strong evidence base and aligns with the University’s Access and Participation Plan. Students with the highest scores will be offered a place until the programme reaches capacity.
- Students applying for the Medicine or Dentistry strands, you will need to upload your supporting documents including exam certificates/slips and proof of Free School Meals at the time of application. These will be verified to ensure you meet the course entry requirements.
- Students applying to the general strand may be asked to provide supporting documents after we’ve reviewed your application. It’s important that the information you provide matches your application, as we won’t be able to proceed if we can’t verify it.
- We are unable to operate a reserve list.
- Application outcomes will be given early March 2026.
- Application outcome appeals can only be considered until 1 April 2026.
If you are not eligible for MAP, you can explore the different access schemes on offer at The University of Manchester that you may be eligible for.
Frequently asked questions
No, we do not accept Year 13 students on to MAP, as the intensive programme of activities and academic work may interfere with your A-level studies.
As the scheme is highly competitive, a place is not guaranteed, so we would not recommend that you resit Year 12 solely to apply to MAP.
However, if you are considering resitting Year 12 for other reasons, we would advise that you contact the admissions office for any courses that you are planning to apply for.
They will be able to provide guidance on how they’ll view this decision, as some courses may make higher offers to students who have repeated Year 12 and some may not be considered at all.
You can find contact details for all admissions offices at The University of Manchester through the individual course profiles on our website.
Yes – if you meet the essential criteria, you may still apply.
If you have appropriate equivalent qualifications to GCSEs, we encourage you to apply. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you’ve not been able to catch one of our information talks at your school or college or if you're a parent or carer, then we encourage you to join us on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 5.30pm when we will be hosting an online information session about MAP. We will cover eligibility, applications and course content.
If you would like to attend please fill out this short registration form.