Student Guide to Manchester: Accommodation, Transport & Cost

Manchester is unquestionably a vibrant and welcoming city in England. It provides a bursting with unmissable experiences for people. People from different parts of the globe visit Manchester for varied purposes. Some people visit here for tourism purposes for a few days. Besides, it also hosts many job seekers and other career-oriented individuals. Manchester is also a world-famous sporting hub, so it is also a good place for sports lovers. Manchester United F.C. and Manchester City F.C., Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, and National Cycling Centre are the key highlights for sports lovers.

Apart from all the abovementioned aspects, Manchester is also highly popular among international students. Many overseas students who want to study in UK choose Manchester. This city has some excellent universities and educational institutes. Besides, it offers excellent accommodations to students. This post will act as a student guide to Manchester.

Universities and Other Educational Institutes

Here are the three major universities in or near Manchester with their rankings:

So, the University of Manchester is the top university here, which is among the top 50 universities in the world. The University of Salford is located near Greater Manchester.

Besides, we can take the name of two other educational institutes:

• Royal Northern College of Music: It is a world-class specialist music conservatoire.
• University Academy 92 (UA92): It is a higher education institution co-founded by Manchester United’s Class of ’92.

Accommodation

Manchester offers a wide range of accommodations of different types for students. Here, you can find accommodations as per your budget and preferences.

Some of the popular types of accommodations available here are:

#1. Halls of Residence

These are the university accommodations owned by universities that you find on campus or attached to the campus. The cost of halls of residence ranges between £120 and £250+ per week.

#2. PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation)

These are the ideal alternatives to university accommodations but they are developed and owned by private developers. They offer high-end features like gyms, cinemas, games rooms, study rooms, and more. This type of student accommodation Manchester ranges between £155 and £310 per week.

#3. Private Rental Apartments

Students also have the option to rent accommodation in private rental apartments. They can either rent a room in an apartment or rent the full apartment. The rent for this type of accommodation starts from £130 per week.

#4. Homestays

Students can also get homestays and can live with families in Manchester, which also helps them to immerse themselves in the culture of the city. They get an opportunity to see the daily life of a family in Manchester. The cost of homestays usually starts from £145 per week, but it depends on the owner of the home. You can also find homestays in the less price than this.

• Accommodation Variants

There are different accommodation variants available in halls of residence, PBSA properties, and private rental apartments. Here are the major accommodation variants that you can find:

Shared Rooms: These are the rooms shared by two or more occupants, and they share everything from kitchen to washroom.

Ensuite Rooms: An ensuite room accommodates one person at a time, and each ensuite room has its attached bathroom. But kitchens, lounges, and other spaces are usually shared by all the residents of the bigger unit where it is available.

Non-Ensuite Rooms: Non-ensuite rooms also accommodate one person at a time, but they don’t have their own attached bathroom. Residents are required to use the shared bathroom in the bigger unit. Kitchens, lounges, etc. are shared in the case of these types of rooms also.

Studios: Studios are the self-contained units, and they have large spaces with a living area, kitchen area, bathroom, etc. in the unit. There are studios available with single or dual occupancy.

Apartments: An apartment may contain one or two bedrooms, and depending on the apartment, each bedroom accommodates one or two students. Kitchens and lounges are shared in these apartments. Bathrooms can either be shared, or there may be attached bathrooms. There are two types of apartments available, which are student apartments in student complexes and private rental apartments.

Transport in Manchester

There is a student-friendly public transit network managed by Bee Network available in Manchester. The single bus fare in this costs £2. Students can also get the term pass at £105. National Rail is also available, and students aged 16–25 can buy a 16-25 Railcard (£35/year) to save a third on train travel. There are also Metrolink trams which connect Salford, Bury, and Altrincham to the city centre.

Final Thoughts

Manchester is one of the most liked cities among international students for higher education. The city offers accommodation, transport, etc. at reasonable prices. The quality of education you get in Manchester is recognized worldwide.