University of Manchester Direct Enroll

More Information on the University of Manchester

The first of Britain's great modern cities, Manchester is a true original; a confident, creative, contemporary city that likes to do things differently. Their reputation is built on research and they have the credentials to match, ranking as the 10th best university in Europe. There, you'll have access to pioneering facilities and take courses led by distinguished tutors working at the forefront of their subjects. They welcome students from 170 countries each year from all over the world, creating a truly multicultural University with an exciting and friendly community.

Visit the University of Manchester's Study Abroad page for general information.

MIT students on the exchange will be studying at Manchester for the equivalent of MIT’s fall or spring semester.

Fall Semester Dates: Late August to mid-December

Spring Semester Dates: End of January to the mid-June

Program start/end dates vary by program. Verify start/end dates with Manchester University: Manchester Academic Calendar

You must meet the admissions standards outlined by the program to which you are applying. Requirements vary; refer to your program provider/host university for details.

To be approved by MIT to study abroad, applicants should be:

In good academic standing
In good judicial standing

For Academic Year, Spring, or Fall terms applicants should ensure they are:

Up to date with the Communication Requirement
Up to date with HASS courses

Contact MISTI if you have questions about your particular situation.

Two-part process:

Apply directly to the partner program (university or program provider) by the stated deadline for the program/term you wish to study abroad: Please visit the University of Manchester's website for information about how to apply.
Apply here for MISTI approval to study abroad. Apply by the deadline for the term in which you plan to study abroad.

Courses and Credits

The University of Manchester course catalog can be found here. There is a wide range of topics available to study abroad students, but please note that some academic disciplines are not available to visiting students (see 'Availability' tab at the above link). Review the available courses closely to make sure that you satisfy all requirements for the course. Visiting undergraduate can only enroll in undergraduate courses.

Students should take 50–60 credits per semester (or 100–120 credits for the academic year) - these credits translate as taking 3 to 6 modular course units per semester.

Transfer Credit

Information on the transfer credit process at MIT can be found here.

All Study Abroad and exchange students will receive an official transcript in the July/August following the completion of their studies at The University of Manchester.

Students studying abroad for Semester 1 only (September–January) or for a calendar year (January– January) will receive an interim transcript in the March/April following their time in Manchester. They’ll then be provided with an official transcript in the July/August after the end of the academic year. More information can be found here.

Scholarships for IAP or summer:

Apply for the program and scholarship by the MIT deadline for direct enroll/provider programs. Note: The scholarship application is distinct from the program application.

To apply for a scholarship from MISTI, please submit the scholarship application by the program application deadline. The scholarship application may be accessed through this link: Summer and IAP Scholarship Application.

Financial aid for year or semester programs:

Aid is portable. A few months before departure, SFS and MISTI will share with the students and the most up-to-date budget for the participation on the program based on an agreement with the host institution. Admitted students who receive financial aid should make an appointment with the financial aid representative to whom they are assigned to discuss the particulars; they should bring the budget received from MISTI to that meeting.

Students coming for one semester only are not guaranteed a room, but under normal circumstances are usually allocated one. Review the University of Manchester study abroad office's website for more information.

UK Visa

Consult the UK Visas & Immigration website for more details.

UK ETA

Starting January 8th 2025, US passport holders (and many other nations) will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation in order to enter the UK. It typically takes 3 business days to process (but be prepared in advance, because it occasionally takes longer).

Do not simply google “UK ETA” and click on the first sponsored link, as this will take you to third party services which will charge you an exorbitant and unnecessary fee to process. Rather, please visit this UK government website, download the UK ETA app on your smartphone, and follow the instructions. The cost is $13/£10.

Once approved, you will get an email confirming you have got an ETA. It will be linked to the passport you applied with. Your ETA lasts for 2 years. You can enter the UK as many times as you want during that time, up to 6 months stay.