What schemes are available?
We run a number of schemes which may be of interest to students in Year 12 and 13. Some are just for local students, others are national schemes. Some take place on campus and others take place online; some are for specific subjects; others are for all subject areas. To get an idea of what is available please have a look at the schemes page.
What are the benefits?
The benefits your child may receive from undertaking an Access Manchester scheme may include:
- A reduced offer in the A-level grades required to study at The University of Manchester.
- Advice and guidance in applying to university and help to feel confident in applying to Manchester and other research intensive universities.
- Opportunities to complete work experience that can help decide on a programme of study or career and help strengthen a university application.
- The chance to become familiar with university study and get a feel for student life.
Who is eligible?
Our Access Manchester schemes are aimed at potential students who are from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in higher education. As such, each of our Access Manchester schemes has eligibility criteria based on things such as home postcode, entitlement to school bursaries, experience of local authority care, etc. Each scheme has slightly different eligibility criteria. Your young person can either click through each scheme to find out what they might be eligible for, or they can complete the eligibility checker.
To ensure we work with students who have the academic potential to succeed at Manchester our Access Manchester schemes also have academic criteria such as performance at GCSE.
Unfortunately students would not be eligible for any Access Manchester scheme if they are:
- An international student.
- Attending or have attended an independent school.
- Currently in Year 7-11 (our schemes are aimed at Year 12 and above. We do encourage students in Year 11 to start considering their options).
The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is one of the top research intensive universities in the country. Academics conduct their own research alongside teaching, and this research then feeds into their teaching. This ensures that the teaching delivered at research intensive universities is cutting edge and at the forefront of what is going in that particular subject area.
We have state of the art facilities to help with research, teaching, and learning at every level of university study. This includes things like laboratories, interactive learning spaces, subject specific libraries, medical education facilities, e-learning facilities as well as sports facilities and social spaces.
Degree programmes
The University of Manchester offers a huge range of academic courses. You can use our website to search for a course or subject area. We offer courses in most subjects except for sport, art and design, and veterinary science.
Entry requirements for degree programmes
- Each degree programme at Manchester has different entry requirements. Entry requirements for each course can be found in detail on the course profile page for each degree.
- Entry requirements change from year to year. Make sure you are looking at the entry requirements for the specific year your young person will be starting university.
- All of our degree programmes accept A-level qualifications, however not all of them accept BTECs. It is worth spending some time thinking about what subject your young person might want to study at degree level to make sure that the qualifications they choose to study at college will allow them to study their desired course at university.
- All of our degree programmes also have GCSE qualifications which must be met to be considered for the course.
Beyond Manchester
Will degree subject impact on career prospects?
Two thirds of graduate jobs are available to anyone with a good degree, regardless of the degree subject. A good degree will improve your young person’s overall career prospects. There are, of course, certain professions that require a particular degree e.g. Medicine, Architecture, Engineering etc.
There is also often more than one way into a career – for example you do not have to do a degree in Accounting to become an accountant, and the same is true for solicitors and Law, teachers and Teaching, journalists and Journalism.
Ultimately it is your child’s choice. They are more likely to enjoy their studies and get a good mark if they study a subject that interests them. They are more likely to drop out or become disengaged with their studies if they do not like the subject they are studying.
Careers advice and guidance
The University has an award winning Careers Service, which is available to every University of Manchester student. It can help with finding work experience, applying for jobs and funding internships.
Open days
University open days are the best way for your young person to make a decision about what and where they want to study. Your young person won’t really know which is the right university for them without visiting a range of different institutions to get a feel for each place. There will be an opportunity to attend subject talks, learn more about course content and teaching methods, speak to current students, ask questions to teaching staff, have a campus tour, visit accommodation and have a walk around the city of Manchester.
Our next open days are on 1st and 15th October 2022. Registration will open in mid-August.
Student finance
We have lots of information available about student finance and what help The University of Manchester might be able to offer students on our student finance pages. The University of Manchester has a very generous bursary scheme that students who take an access scheme may be eligible for. Please note that student finance changes year to year according to government legislation. Please make sure the information you read is relevant to the year of entry into university.
There are lots of other resources available for advice and information about how student finance works:
- The official Student Finance England website.
- Money Saving Expert provide great student finance myth busting.
Student support
The University of Manchester wants to ensure that every student who studies here has the best possible student experience. We understand that some students may need extra support while enrolled at the University, from financial help to learning needs and emotional support. You can find out about the wealth of support we offer our students here.
The University of Manchester Students’ Union also offer help and advice to students.
UCAS applications
Your young person’s school or college should help them through the application process when they start Year 13, but it is helpful for you to understand key dates and actions of the UCAS process. UCAS is an organisation that manages applications to universities in the UK. Universities only accept applications through UCAS.
You can find more information on their dedicated page for parents and guidance.
| Throughout Year 12 and beginning of Year 13 | • Research courses and universities. • Attend UCAS conventions and Open Days. • Decide which five universities or courses to apply for. • Think about writing their personal statement. • Complete work experience if it is required. |
| September – January of Year 13 6 September – UCAS applications open. 15 October – deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge and to courses in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. 25 January – deadline for applicants to be guaranteed consideration for every other university course. Students are advised to apply by this deadline. | • Fill out the UCAS form and complete the personal statement • A teacher will write an academic reference and supply predicted grades. • Students who apply before the stated deadlines are guaranteed to have their application considered. There is no benefit to apply really early as places are not allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. |
| September of Year 13 onwards
The length of time between application and decision varies massively between institutions. This will also depend on when the UCAS form was submitted. | • Offers/declines/invitation to interview arrive through UCAS Track, the online service that shows the status of an application. • Attend interviews, or subject open days for courses/institutions that have made your young person an offer to help make a decision over where to study. |
| May/June of Year 13
Applicants will be informed by UCAS of the exact deadline. | • Inform UCAS of which offer is the Firm choice (first choice) and Insurance choice (second choice). |
| August after Year 13
Results Day | • Firm/insurance offer grades will either be met or not met. If not then your young person can enter clearing where they can apply for other courses, which still have places available. • If your young person meets the conditions of their offer, their place at university will automatically be confirmed. This can be checked on your young person’s UCAS Track. |
| September/October after Year 13 | • Start course! |