Why is Manchester the best city in the UK for new students?

What can students enjoy in Manchester?

With a huge student population in and around the city, and an estimated 100,000 students living in Manchester, there are quite literally thousands of students who love living and studying here. With a mass of events and places to visit, there’s a lot on offer for anyone looking for a good time, so we’ve made it easier for you and picked out our favourites, just for you.

Home to a world-famous music scene

Manchester is home to some of the most iconic names in music, including Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, and The Stone Roses – meaning Manchester is constantly delivering only the best music across all its venues. From the Deaf Institute and the Albert Hall for anyone who prefers a more intimate venue, to the AO Arena if you’re going in for the full-on head-banging jumping-around-in-the-pit kind of vibe, these big venues are perfect for you. No matter your music taste, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the city, and plenty of smaller independent spots to catch some live music and a drink (we love Band on the Wall!).

A city full of festivals

Manchester really is the life and soul of the party, offering up a great spread of festivals throughout the year for us to enjoy. Pride in Manchester is always a massive event that you don’t want to miss out on, but Manchester’s International Festival is also one to book a ticket for ASAP. You also can’t forget about Parklife, arguably Manchester’s biggest music festival that sees people travel across the world to attend alongside some of the biggest names in music – but you’ll want to book these as soon as they go live as they sell out almost instantly!

We’re sports-mad

Home to two premier league football teams, the famous Manchester United and Manchester City, and their respective stadiums Old Trafford and the Ethiad, you’ll never be short of football games when you’re living in Manchester. If football isn’t your thing, then there’s plenty of other sports on offer, with the Manchester Aquatics Centre, Regional Athletics Arena, the National Squash Centre, and the Manchester Velodrome to name a few – plenty to cheer on and get involved with!

Why do international students choose Manchester?

With an estimated 41,000 international students in Manchester, the city welcomes people from all over the world to both start and continue their studies. But why is Manchester so popular with international students?

We have world-class universities

Manchester is home to four world-class universities, so it’s no wonder students travel internationally to study here. The University of Manchester specialises in academia and humanities and the Manchester Metropolitan is one of the best places to study art – but if you’re looking for alternative studies, there’s still lots on offer for any student. With Manchester’s Business School, Manchester Computing Centre and the Royal College of Music, Manchester quite literally offers it all, no matter what you’re looking to study.

A more affordable cost of living

Manchester is an incredibly affordable city, and is known as one of the best cities in the UK to live in. With a huge range of rental options for students to fit any budget, and plenty of more affordable (or even free!) entertainment on offer within the city, it’s no wonder it’s so popular with students. With student-central areas too like Fallowfield and Rusholme, you’re always surrounded by student bargains – even better!

An unbeaten culture

Manchester has something to offer everyone, from the art galleries and high street stores to the UK’s second-largest Chinatown and the famous Curry Mile, so if you’re looking to expand your cultural interests, or you’re on the hunt for something that reminds you of home, you’ll be able to find it in Manchester.

I want to move to Manchester – where do I start?

Whether you’re looking to come to Manchester as a student or just looking to develop your career, there’s plenty of options for you in the city. The first step is looking at where you’re going to live, which is where we can most certainly help. With apartments in the city centre starting at only £151pw, get in touch today to see how we can help you kick-start your new life in the UK’s number-one city.