International students
The Department of Chemistry has an international reputation for research excellence and chemical innovation, from John Dalton’s pioneering work to Nobel laureates and Manchester graduates John Polanyi and Michael Smith.
Manchester is one of the prestigious and world-class universities, with progressive research in biotechnology.
The working atmosphere in my group is great, and people are very supportive.
Fenryco Pratama / Indonesia
Our degree programmes are designed to train the next generation of chemical scientists and equip them with in-depth knowledge of advanced topics related to current research in chemistry. Our programmes also provide Manchester graduates with both transferable and specific skills needed for different careers, giving excellent employment prospects and making Manchester the best place to start or continue your career.
Our international student community is broad and diverse with 220 international undergraduate and postgraduate students currently studying with us.
Explore everything you need to know as an international student in Manchester below.
English language courses
The University Language Centre offers language courses to suit all levels. The Centre’s pre-sessional courses are designed to help international students develop the academic skills needed to progress to undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.
If you have applied to the Department of Chemistry but have not yet fully met the English language requirements, you may be eligible to study a pre-sessional English language course.
The University Language Centre also provides a range of English language support services for registered students whose first language is not English.
Fees, funding and scholarships
Find out about awards and financial support from The Department of Chemistry and international sponsors.
International Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship
The Faculty of Science and Engineering International Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships are worth £2,000 per year for well-qualified international students. All international students who are holding an offer of a place will be automatically considered for a scholarship.
Details of country-specific funding available to international students can be found within our international finance pages.
Indian Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship
Any Indian student who can demonstrate high levels of attainment while studying the International Baccalaureate or Standard XII is eligible for £3,000 per year for up to three years.
Five individual scholarships will be available. These prestigious Faculty awards will be made on the basis of an applicant's UCAS form - no special interview or extra work commitment is involved.
Eligible candidates need to accept an offer from the University by the end of June and the five successful applicants will be informed of their awards by the admissions team, providing them with valuable savings on their studies.
President’s Doctoral Scholar Award
The University of Manchester offers more than 100 studentships every year through the President’s Doctoral Scholar Award scheme, launched by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. These awards allocate full funding for doctoral study, as well as a £1,000 enhancement.
PDS Award holders will also be invited to attend a series of exclusive events where they will have the opportunity to meet the President and Vice-Chancellor, interact closely with the University’s academic community, and network with other PDS Award students. In addition, each PDS Award holder will receive a President’s Doctoral Scholar medal at graduation.
- Find out more about the President's Doctoral Scholar Award on the University website.
CSC-University of Manchester Joint Scheme
The University of Manchester has a formal agreement in place with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to develop research collaborations between the UK and Chinese universities/research institutions. The University will cover the full tuition fees for the period of the relevant Programme as outlined in the formal offer letter (usually three years). CSC will provide living allowances as prescribed from time to time by the Chinese Government, and will cover the round trip international airfare for students from China to the United Kingdom, via and passport application fees.
- Further information and entry criteria can be found on the Faculty of Science and Engineering website.
Faculty PhD Studentships
The Faculty of Science and Engineering has historically made up to a further 10 PhD studentships (also known as Dean’s Awards) in previous years although this is not normally announced until around February time. These awards are open to all nationalities and research areas within the Faculty. The awards have been allocated to outstanding applicants seeking PhD training opportunities, based on the academic track-record of applicants and evidence of research potential.
- Further information and entry criteria can be found on the Faculty of Science and Engineering website.
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has scholarships opportunities to study in the UK.
Please ensure you submit your online application in plenty of time ahead of the deadline to enable us to process it.
University funding opportunities
Cost of Living in Manchester
For international students looking for an affordable cost of living when they come to university, Manchester is a great option. Compared with other cities, particularly those in the south of the UK, Manchester is an affordable place to live and very popular with students on a budget as it t is consistently shown to be one of the cheapest places in the UK for students to live. If you require a visa to come to the UK, you are granted it on condition that you can pay your tuition fees and living expenses (for you and your family, if they are accompanying you) without having to depend on finding work in the UK. Therefore, we aim to provide as much information as possible on the essential living costs for an average Manchester student (Please note, these costs are intended as a guide only).
Arrival and orientation
The Department of Chemistry has a large international student community, and each year we welcome students from almost 50 countries around the world. We will help to make your transition to Manchester as smooth as possible.
Students from outside the UK will be given guidance to Manchester and the University campus. The University offers a comprehensive programme of Orientation events to help international students settle in following their arrival in Manchester.
Postgraduate and international societies
The International Society is an independent, not-for-profit organisation unique to Greater Manchester. The society has over 3,000 members from over 150 different countries.
It provides a warm and welcoming place to meet friends and make contacts during your stay. Its members, many of whom have themselves experienced living away from their native country, aim to ensure students have a rewarding experience in the UK.
The society arranges weekend trips around the UK, offers over 40 different classes each week and organises more than 100 different social events throughout the year, helping you to make the most of your time in the UK.
For full details of forthcoming events and to find out more about the society, visit the International Society website.
Our ambassadors
We have a number of international student ambassadors in the Department of Chemistry who have shared their experiences of coming to Manchester from overseas.
Hear what they think about the University by reading their accounts on our Department blog.
