University of Manchester Admissions Statistics

Based on numbers of applicants, the University of Manchester is the most popular university (opens in a new tab) in the Russell Group (opens in a new tab). With applications significantly increasing each year, it’s important to know both how competitive it is and how to make your application stand out.

With our latest admissions statistics, insights on what Manchester University is looking for, and like-for-like comparisons with other universities, you’ll have everything you need to maximise your chances of securing a place at one of the UK’s top 10 universities (opens in a new tab).

Top 5 University of Manchester Admissions Statistics

• From 2020-25, the number of applicants to the University of Manchester increased by 23% (opens in a new tab)

• Between 2023-24, 40% of the University of Manchester's students were from outside the UK (opens in a new tab)

• The University of Manchester’s overall acceptance rate (opens in a new tab) stands at around 56.1%

• In 2025, 93,195 prospective students applied (opens in a new tab) for a place at the University of Manchester

• In 2025, Law at Manchester had the lowest acceptance rate at 7.7%

University of Manchester Acceptance Rate Overview

Manchester’s overall acceptance rate is approximately 56.1% (opens in a new tab). This means that, on average, just over half of all applicants are accepted to Manchester University.

University of Manchester Admissions Statistics by Course

The table below features Manchester’s undergraduate main scheme application and acceptance data from 2025 (opens in a new tab):

Key Trends from 2025

Manchester’s most popular subject groups also tend to be the most competitive, and therefore usually require top A Level grades.

Achieving above the minimum grade requirements can strengthen your application. For instance, if you want to study a subject that has a minimum entry requirement of AAA at A Level, achieving at least one A* in a relevant subject can help you stand out to admissions officers.

The table below lists some of Manchester’s most popular and competitive courses from 2025, minimum entry requirements for A Level, and some of the A Level subjects admissions officers prefer or require you to have studied.

For more detailed information on the entry requirements and how to apply, visit Manchester’s official web page (opens in a new tab) for each course.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that students eligible for contextual admissions (opens in a new tab) may be accepted onto these courses with lower grades, such as AAB instead of AAA.

How the University of Manchester Makes Admissions Decisions

If you’re looking to study undergraduate courses at Manchester (opens in a new tab), you’ll need to apply via UCAS (opens in a new tab). Below are the main steps in the process:

Academic Requirements

• Minimum grades, e.g. at least seven Grade 7-8 GCSEs or AAA at A Level

• Specific A Level subjects, e.g. Electrical and Electronic Engineering (opens in a new tab) requires A Level Maths

Personal Statement

• A written description of information about yourself, your extracurricular skills and achievements, and why you want to study your chosen course

• Manchester’s advice (opens in a new tab) is that your personal statement should be specific, clearly-written, and planned out – all very much in line with our advice!

Additional Requirements

• Alongside your UCAS form, some courses also require candidates to complete admissions tests, attend interviews, or submit a portfolio of work

• Below are two examples of courses with these additional requirements:
  

  • Medicine

    • The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) (opens in a new tab) assesses the appropriateness of your cognitive abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours as an aspiring healthcare professional

    • The interview (opens in a new tab) is designed to see if you have the non-academic behaviours and values of Manchester expects of their medical students

  • Architecture (opens in a new tab)

    • Candidates who meet the entry requirements will be asked to submit a portfolio (opens in a new tab)

    • Your portfolio should include recent work that demonstrates your creativity and style

Overall, Manchester emphasises that the process behind its decision-making on admissions is transparent, fair, and committed to providing opportunities to outstanding students from all educational backgrounds. 

You can find more information on Manchester’s approach to contextual admissions here (opens in a new tab).

How Competitive Is the University of Manchester Compared to Similar Universities?

The table below compares Manchester’s acceptance rates (both for a highly competitive subject, Law, and overall) to two universities ranked similarly to Manchester in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Note that while Manchester had the lowest acceptance rate for Law in 2025, its overall acceptance rate is a fair bit higher than Edinburgh’s, and significantly higher than King’s. This shows how big a role your chosen course plays in how competitive a university is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of University of Manchester applications get accepted?

While the acceptance rate for individual courses varies, approximately 56.1% of all University of Manchester applications get accepted.

Which course at the University of Manchester is the hardest to get into?

Manchester lists Medicine and Dentistry among its most selective courses (opens in a new tab), while the 2025 data shows that Law had the lowest acceptance rate at 7.7%.

The difficulty with Medicine and Dentistry lies more in the fact that these courses have additional requirements, such as the interview and UCAT, alongside AAA at A Level. Law, on the other hand, does not have these additional requirements, but requires at least one A* at A Level.

The ‘hardest’ course will therefore vary from student to student; while some might find admissions tests and interviews difficult, others might find it hard to secure the top grades at A Level.

What percentage of University of Manchester students drop out?

Manchester has a 3.8% dropout rate (opens in a new tab). It stands with Exeter in 15th place out of the 24 Russell Group universities (where 1st place has the highest dropout rate and 24th place has the lowest). 

Manchester’s dropout rate is significantly better than the average UK university dropout rate of 6.3% (opens in a new tab).

Final Thoughts

The University of Manchester is an increasingly popular choice for students. Its high standards for admissions reflect this, but don’t let that put you off; its commitment to fairness, as well as its focus on increasing opportunities for outstanding students, make it worth genuine consideration in your UCAS application.

Though facts and figures can be overwhelming, using our simple, data-driven insights on the University of Manchester will help you see how it compares with similar universities. Above all, interpreting admissions statistics highlights what admissions officers are looking for in your application, helping you to stand out in an ever-growing crowd.

Bookmark this page, strengthen your application, and increase your chances of studying at a world-class institution. 

Good luck!

References

• The Degree Gap: Understanding the Acceptance Rate at the University of Manchester for 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• QS World University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab)

• Russell Group (opens in a new tab)

• Student Tenant: University of Manchester Acceptance Rate: A Comprehensive Guide (opens in a new tab)

• The Tab: The least popular Russell Group unis (opens in a new tab)

• The Tab: The Russell Group unis with the worst dropout rates in 2025, revealed (opens in a new tab)

• The Tab: University of Manchester sees significant increase in applicants over past five years (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS Undergraduate end of cycle data resources 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• University of Manchester (opens in a new tab)

• Whatuni: Universities With Highest and Lowest Dropout Rates (opens in a new tab)