Manchester Metropolitan University

History

• Manchester Metropolitan became a polytechnic in 1970 and a university in 1992.
• Initially developed from the Manchester Mechanics' Institution (1824) and Manchester School of Design (1838). L. S. Lowry attended.
• Later added were schools of Commerce, Education and Domestic Science and colleges at Didsbury, Crewe, Alsager and Hollings.

Location and transport

• Manchester City Centre (All Saints Oxford Road, Aytoun campus near Piccadilly, Elizabeth Gaskell and Hollings), Didsbury, Crewe and Alsager.
• Manchester is vibrant yet compact synonymous with innovation and urban cool. Cheshire is rural and homely - a perfect mix.
• Three city centre railway stations, Metrolink, free city centre buses, excellent road links and a £3-billion investment proposal.

Entry standards

• Read more about entry requirements at Manchester Metropolitan University online.
• Applicants without formal qualifications who can demonstrate other means of suitability are also welcomed.

Student mix

• Ratio of male to female is 42:58, although this varies considerably by subject.
• A student population of around 34,500, about 10% non-UK students, from 146 different countries.
• 96% of young, first year full-time, undergraduate entrants are from state schools.
• Highest applications to places ratio is over 55 : 1, for BA(Hons) Acting.
• Average over all full-time, undergraduate courses is 5.5 : 1.

Course flexibility

• Read more about entry requirements at Manchester Metropolitan University online.
• Applicants without formal qualifications who can demonstrate other means of suitability are also welcomed.

Teaching standards

• 90.5% of International students expressed overall satisfaction with all aspects of the student experience in 2011.
• 81% of students at MMU were satisfied with the quality of their course in 2012.
• MMU achieved a successful outcome to the QAA Institutional Audit in November 2009.
• In order to enhance employability all undergraduate programmes at MMU have graduate outcomes that students must achieve throughout their studies.

Research standards

• MMU has a rich portfolio of world leading research in: health; biomedical sciences; environmental science; material science and engineering; computer sciences; business and management; social work and social policy; and drama, dance and the performing arts.
• Education and allied health professions research are ranked in the top 10 universities in the UK.
• With more than 60 experts, MMU hosts the largest community of art and design researchers outside of London and is the 4th largest research group in the UK.
• Within the new universities, MMU is ranked 4th for attracting HEFCE funding and hosts the largest number of postgraduate research students.

Academic strengths

• Strong vocational links with business, industry, art and science and with more than 70 professional bodies and associations.
• Size of university enables us to offer students a breadth of choice in academic subjects in all levels of study.
• Business and management, accounting, philosophy and politics, art and design, biology, environmental science, material science, psychology, education and English.

Student facilities, including libraries and computing

• There are seven libraries, with over 800,000 books and 13,000 journals in hard copy and electronic, with 24/7 online access.
• There are 6,300 student workstations in various areas of all campuses as well as wi-fi throughout the whole university.
• Students can borrow a range of technical equipment, including digital cameras, camcorders, audiocassette recorders, laptops and other audio-visual equipment.

Disabilty services

• MMUnion is one of the largest student-led organisations in the UK, representing the 38,000 students at MMU.
• There are over 150 different sports clubs and societies to join, covering a wide range of interests, from rugby to gardening, politics and sky diving.
• We have an impartial student advice centre, which offers specialist assistance in many aspects of student life including finance, housing and academic services.
• MMUnion has an active campaigning role, representing the views of students locally and nationally.  

Sport

• A purpose built Exercise & Sport Science facility on our Crewe campus.
• 2 sport centres, 3 state of the art fitness suites, 2 X 50m swimming pools as well as synthetic & grass pitches.
• We offer a range of coach education courses ranging from Coach UK minimum operating standard awards to National Governing Body of Sport Level 1 & 2 qualifications.
• A Campus Sport programme providing intra-mural & recreational opportunities in a range of sports.
• Athletic Union sports clubs across our Manchester & Cheshire campuses providing opportunities in a wide range of sports.

Recent/prospective new builds

• £350 million is being invested to support teaching, student services and research through campus developments.
• 2012 has seen the opening of an award-winning new Business School and Student Hub.
• 2013 heralds the opening of an innovative new Art & Design building offering contemporary gallery and presentation spaces for student collaboration.
• 2014 will mark the opening of the new Birley Fields Education and Health campus with 1,200 student beds in a mix of townhouses and apartments on a 15 acre city centre regeneration site.

Availability of part-time work

• The Careers and Employability Service organises a range of employer events on campus and advertises hundreds of part-time roles, graduate jobs, placements and internships to MMU students via the online job search system, Opportunities Online. Students can register for our on campus employment scheme, Jobs4Students to gain valuable experience working for the university, as well as earning extra cash.
• Opportunities are also available to undertake voluntary work for local and national charities and not-for-profit organisations.
• For more information go to www.mmu.ac.uk/careers/students.

Notable alumni

The Manchester Metropolitan University is proud of the achievements of all members of the alumni community. Below is a selection of those alumni who have achieved success or fame through their work, as well as those who are highly respected in their chosen fields.

Arts

• John Bishop, Comedian
• Cerri Burnell, TV Presenter, CBeebies
• Amanda Burton, Actress
• Sarah Burton OBE, Creative Director at Alexander McQueen
• Johnny Capps, TV Producer
• Steve Coogan, Actor, impressionist and comedian
• Tony Davidson, Executive Creative Director, Wieden & Kennedy London
• Jenny Eclair, Comedian, Actress and Novelist
• Professor Malcolm Garrett, Graphic Designer, Joint Creative Director of Applied Information Group
• Kevin Gopal, Editor, The Big Issue In the North
• John Griffin, TV Producer
• Richard Griffiths OBE, Actor, TV, Film and Theatre
• Thomas Heatherwick, Designer, Maker, Sculptor
• Bernard Hill, Actor
• Tom Hingley, Singer, Inspiral Carpets
• Peter Hudson, Vice President, Global Innovation at Converse
• Gethin Jones, TV and Radio Presenter
• Liz Kessler, Children’s Fantasy Writer
• Eamonn O’Neal, Managing Editor, M.E.N. Media
• Martin Parr, Documentary photographer, photojournalist and collector
• Peter Saville, Graphic Designer, Art Director and Co-founder of Factory Records
• Sir Anthony Sher, Actor, Novelist and Painter
• Liam Spencer, Artist
• David Tazzyman, Illustrator Mr Gum children’s books
• John Thomson, Actor
• David Threlfall, Actor
• Alastair Waite, Head Designer, Next Plc Menswear
• Julie Walters, Actress

Business and the Professions

• Paul Jones, Product Line Director, Continental Series, at Bentley Motors Ltd
• Jim Waller, Group Commercial Director, Carphone Warehouse
• Professor Martin Cole, CEO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Food and Nutritional Sciences.
• Richard Woolfe B. Ed (Hons), Former Channel Controller for Sky One and Channel 5, Currently Creative Director at Prime Focus Productions
• Richard Banks, Former Chief Executive Officer at Bradford & Bingley. Current Chief Executive Officer at UK Asset Resolution Ltd
• Edward Morland, Chief Executive at Health & Safety Laboratory
• Michael Boote, CEO and Founder, The Gift Company
• David Fairhurst, Senior Vice-President of People, McDonald’s Restaurants
• Simon Kossoff, CEO, Carluccio’s
• Dominic Mansour, CEO, The Health Lottery
• Jonathan Mildenhall, Vice-President, Global Marketing Strategy and Creative Communications, Coca-Cola Co
• Sam Pemberton, Chief Executive Officer, Softel Group
• Michael Shaw, Managing Director, Cobbetts
• Mike Turner, Former CEO, BAE Systems
• Paul Walsh, CEO Diageo (Guinness, Gordon’s, Moet, Bailey’s)

Public Sector

• Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
• Councillor Anthony Ramsay, Mayor of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham 2012-2013
• Lord Bradley, Former MP for Withington, Minister of State 2001/2. Chairman The Christie Charity NHS Foundation Trust
• Tony Cunningham, MP for Labour, in Workington
• Paul Goggins MP, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East
• His Honour Judge Iain Hamilton, Circuit Judge, Manchester
• Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland
• Grant Shapps, Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield and Conservative Party Co-Chairman
• Professor Antony Sheehan, CEO, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Sport

• Mark Cueto, Rugby Player, Sale Sharks and England
• Roberto Martinez, Manager of Wigan Athletic FC
• Jordi Cruyff, General Manager of football Maccabi Tel Aviv.  Former professional footballer for Manchester United and Barcelona FC
• Mumtaz Bashir JP, Formerly Head of the Pre-Volunteer Programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
• Danny Grewcock MBE, Former England Rugby Union Footballer
• Magnus Lund, Professional Rugby Union Player for England and Professional Rugby Player for Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
• Duncan Ogilvie, Basketball Player, Manchester Magic
• Gladstone Small, Former England Cricketer
• Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive, The Professional Footballers’ Association
• Tony Whelan, Assistant Academy Manager, Manchester United Football Club

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