How to apply

Source: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/how-to-apply/

Undergraduate

How to apply

Find out how to apply to your chosen course.

Here you’ll find everything you need to know about applying for undergraduate study, including key dates and information for individual circumstances. Please read the guidance before you complete your application.

Applying for a course beginning in September 2026

• You can apply via UCAS for 2026 autumn entry from 2 September 2025.

• For 2026 entry, the closing date for receipt of applications to be given equal consideration is 14 January 2026 at 6pm (GMT).

• After this date, you can still apply if courses have vacancies, up to 30 June 2026.

• After 30 June, new applications will be considered in clearing. Vacancy status can be checked on the UCAS website.

• If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or for courses leading to a professional qualification in medicine or dentistry, the closing date for 2025 entry is 15 October 2025 at 6pm (GMT).

• Note: applications open for 2026 entry on 14 May 2025. From this date, you can start your application in the UCAS hub.

How to apply

• You make your undergraduate application via UCAS.
• The UCAS code to apply to The University of Manchester is M20 MANU.
• You can find the course code on each individual course page.

Additional information for applicants

International applicants

International applicants apply via UCAS in the same way as UK applicants.

You’ll need to meet our general entry requirements, along with a specified level of ability in English language.

You can check the accepted qualifications listed for your country on our international pages.

Contextual admissions and access schemes

We want to ensure we identify and attract the most talented applicants to Manchester, regardless of their backgrounds.

Contextual admissions and widening participation access schemes are some of the ways we do this.

We offer a number of widening participation programmes to help you get a taste of the university experience and take the first steps towards higher education.

If you're from a group currently underrepresented in higher education, you may be eligible for a contextual offer – a reduced offer to one or two grades below the standard A-level entry requirements for your course.

Deferred entry

Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of our admissions teams. 

Applications for deferred entry are considered under the conditions for entry in the UCAS application year in which they applied. 

You must have satisfied the conditions of your offer by the end of that application cycle. 

If you're applying for entry in September 2026, you must have met the conditions of your offer by 31 August 2026.

Direct entry to year/level two

• We're happy to consider applications for entry to the second year of an undergraduate course. You should normally have met the course's standard A-level requirements (or equivalent). You should also show us that you've undertaken and successfully completed a programme of study equivalent to the first year of the course that you're applying for.
• We reserve the right to determine whether you've covered an equivalent area of study. In assessing this we may ask you to provide further information on your studies to date, including course syllabuses.
• Please note that some academic Schools/Departments do not accept any transfers into year/level two. You should contact the admissions team for the course you are interested in for further information.

Care experienced students

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 can offer information, guidance and support to help you with the application process through our named pre-entry contact.

We’re committed to supporting care experienced students on-course; we have additional financial support for students who are care experienced, flexible accommodation for 52 weeks if needed, and additional pastoral support.

When you make contact with us, we will introduce you to the Student Support team, to whom you can refer as a permanent and ongoing sources of information and guidance throughout your academic career.

Read more about the support we offer Care Experienced students.

Mature students

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 about applying as a mature student on the UCAS website.

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

If you start your course before you turn 18 years old, you’re legally considered a minor under English law. In these cases, we have an ‘enhanced duty of care’ and will carry out a risk assessment to determine what special arrangements, if any, need to be agreed before we can make you an offer.

Download our process of admitting minors (PDF document, 204KB) for more information.

Disabled applicants

We’re committed to providing equality of opportunity through the best possible level of support to prospective applicants and current students.

• If you have a disability or medical condition, or you require additional support needs, we encourage you to disclose it in on your UCAS application so that we can assess any support needs you might have.
• We do this separately from our academic assessment of your application. 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.

Applicants with mitigating circumstances

We understand that your studies can at times be disrupted due to mitigating circumstances, which 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 consider information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting academic School/Department.

If you encounter mitigating circumstances after you have submitted your application, please inform the admissions staff in the School/Department to which you applied as soon as possible.

Where mitigating circumstances have already been considered by the relevant awarding organisation (exam board) we cannot make further allowances.

Applicants with criminal convictions

We’re committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants to join a course of study, including individuals with a criminal conviction.

However, we have a duty to ensure the safety of our 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 (DBS) 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).

Courses requiring a medical fitness assessment

Some courses may require you to undertake a medical fitness assessment to comply with the requirements of relevant professional bodies.

The admitting School/Department will guide you through this process if necessary.

• Procedure for admission to courses requiring medical fitness assessment (Word doc)

Reapplying to Manchester

If you previously applied and your application was not successful, it might be possible for you to apply again. You should contact the admissions team in the relevant School/Department.

For some Schools/Departments if your application was not successful on two consecutive occasions, future applications will not be considered.

Your application will be considered 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

Fraudulent statements and omissions

Offers of a place are made in good faith by the University and are based on the information you provide at any point during the application process.

False statements or omissions of relevant information may lead to the withdrawal of an offer or a place.

Verification of admissions documents

Learn about how the University verifies admissions documents to ensure authenticity.

[## After you apply

Find out what happens after you apply, including how we process your application.

Read more](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/after-you-apply/) [## Student terms and conditions

Read the terms and conditions for applicants to our courses. 

Read more](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/student-terms-and-conditions/)