Manchester Metropolitan University

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Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University coat of arms.png
Coat of arms
Manchester Metropolitan University
Former name
Manchester Polytechnic
MottoMany Arts, Many Skills
Type Public
Established1992 – Manchester Metropolitan University
Predecessor institutions:
1970 – Manchester Polytechnic
1956 – Manchester College of Science and Technology [1]
1918 – Manchester Municipal College of Technology [1]
1892 – Manchester Municipal Technical School [1]
1883 – Manchester Technical School and the Manchester Mechanics' Institution [1]
1838 – Manchester School of Design
1824 – Manchester Mechanics' Institution
Endowment £1.46m (2021) [2]
Chancellor Peter Mandelson [3]
Vice-Chancellor Malcolm Press [4]
Students39,095 (2022/23) [5]
Undergraduates 29,890 (2022/23) [5]
Postgraduates 9,210 (2022/23) [5]
Location
Manchester
,
England, UK

53°28′N2°14′W / 53.47°N 2.24°W / 53.47; -2.24
CampusAll Saints, Birley Fields
Scarf
         
Website mmu.ac.uk
Manchester Metropolitan University logo.svg

Manchester Metropolitan University is located in the centre of Manchester, England. The university has 40,000 students and over 4,000 members of staff. [6] It is home to four faculties (Arts and Humanities, Business and Law, Health and Education and Science and Engineering) [7] and is one of the largest universities in the UK, measured by the size of its student population in 2020/21. [8]

Contents

History

Manchester Metropolitan University was developed from mergers of various colleges with various specialisms, including technology, art and design. Its founding can be traced back to the Manchester Mechanics Institute, which was established in 1824 entirely through private initiative and funds to teach artisans the basic principles of science by part-time study, and the Manchester School of Design (f. 1838) latterly known as the Manchester School of Art. The painter L. S. Lowry attended in the years after the First World War, where he was taught by the noted impressionist Adolphe Valette. Schools of Commerce (f. 1889), Education (f. 1878), and Domestic Science (f. 1880) were added alongside colleges at Didsbury, Crewe, Alsager and the former Domestic and Trades College (f. 1911). The Manchester College of Science and Technology, which had originally been the Mechanics Institute and would then become UMIST, transferred its non-degree courses to the School of Art by 1966. The institution renamed itself as Manchester Polytechnic in 1970, which was followed by series of mergers with the Didsbury College of Education and Hollings College in 1977, as well as City of Manchester College of Higher Education in 1983. In 1987, the institution became a founding member of the Northern Consortium, and became a corporate body on 1 April 1989 as allowed by the terms of the Education Reform Act. [9]

On 15 September 1992, Manchester Polytechnic gained university status under the wide-sweeping Further and Higher Education Act 1992, and then became Manchester Metropolitan University. [10]

After earning university status, Manchester Met absorbed Crewe and Alsager College of Higher Education, and in 2004 the Manchester School of Physiotherapy (MSOP), an institution officially formed in 1991 through the amalgamation of the Schools of Physiotherapy of the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and of Withington Hospital. MSOP was previously affiliated with the Victoria University of Manchester, which conferred degree-level courses by extension until the final class of 2005. MSOP joined Manchester Metropolitan University as the Department of Physiotherapy in 2004, and was later renamed as the Department of Health Professions. [9]

The university's logo is derived from the upper part of the shield of the university's coat-of-arms, with six spade-irons positioned together, suggesting hard toil and entrenchment.

Ormond Building Ormond Building (14938453242).jpg
Ormond Building

Campus

Didsbury Campus Didsbury Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University (3).JPG
Didsbury Campus
Brooks Building Brooks Building, MMU, Manchester, November 2016 (01).JPG
Brooks Building

The university was previously located on seven sites: five in Manchester (All Saints, Aytoun, Didsbury, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Hollings) and two in Cheshire (Alsager and Crewe). However, the university later closed six of the seven sites to rationalise its estate. The university moved the work of the Alsager campus to Crewe, while the Aytoun campus was closed in 2012 following the opening of a Business School on the main campus. The Elizabeth Gaskell, Hollings and Didsbury campuses were closed in 2014, with faculties being relocated to the main city centre campus in Manchester. The Crewe campus closed in summer 2019, a decision taken following a review conducted by financial advisory firm Deloitte. [11]

Manchester Metropolitan University comprises four faculties led by faculty pro-vice-chancellors, 10 Professional Services Directorates and a range of departments, schools and institutes. [12]

The four faculties are:

Arts and Humanities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has more than 11,000 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. Home to Manchester School of Art (f. 1838), Manchester School of Architecture and Manchester Writing School, the faculty is one of the largest in the UK. It offers a range of subjects, from design to fashion, creative writing to architecture, linguistics to languages, digital arts to journalism, and history to sociology, across 9 departments and schools. [13]

Business and Law

The Faculty of Business and Law has more than 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled on 120 different degree programmes. The faculty consists of the Business School, which holds the globally recognised trio of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, and the Manchester Law School. The faculty is also home to the majority of the university's Degree Apprenticeship programmes, with more than 2,400 apprentices studying across 15 programmes with 530 employer partners. [14]

Health and Education

Home to around 9,000 students across 5 departments, the Faculty of Health and Education provides an inclusive learning and training environment based in the Brooks building. [15]

Science and Engineering

More than 6,000 students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering benefit from nearly 100 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in a variety of subjects. A new, £115m base for the faculty opens in 2024, which will include teaching and research spaces, a 200-student super lab, study areas and green spaces. [16]

Library

The Library offers a study skills service and houses a number of special collections mainly relating to the fine and applied arts, like the Laura Seddon Greeting Card Collection, a collection of Victorian and Edwardian greeting cards. [17] [18] The North West Film Archive is managed by Manchester Metropolitan University's Library and is located within the Central Library. [19] In 2021, the Manchester Poetry Library opened in the Grosvenor building. [20]

The Library can be accessed 24/7 by MMU students during term times and by visitors during term times on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:00 and 17:00. [21]

Campus investment

The university's 10-year Estate Masterplan 2017–2027 was complemented by a £379m commitment to the Estates Investment Programme until 2024, delivering a range of projects including: the Arts and Humanities development, the Science and Engineering development, the School of Digital Arts (SODA), Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport, and the Student Residential portfolio. [22]

Organisation

Governance

In common with most universities in the United Kingdom, Manchester Met is headed formally by the chancellor, currently Lord Mandelson [23] but led by the vice-chancellor, currently Professor Malcolm Press CBE. [24]

The university's board of governors is responsible for determining the educational character and mission of the university. It also falls to the board of governors to ensure that the university's resources are used in line with the university's Article of Government. It also safeguards the university's assets and approves the annual estimates of income and expenditure. [25]

The board of governors is responsible for broad policy, but the vice-chancellor, along with the University Executive Group, is responsible for overall management, policy implementation, organisation, operations and direction of the university.

In December 2014, it was announced that Malcolm Press had been appointed to succeed John Brooks as vice chancellor on 1 June 2015. [24]

Manchester Met has around 40,000 students[1], making it currently the 11th in the UK for the biggest student population in 2020/21. [8] The university employs over 4,000 staff. [6]

Finances

In the financial year ending 31 July 2021, Manchester Metropolitan University had a total income of £369m. [26]

Rankings

Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025) [27] 56=
Guardian (2025) [28] 57
Times / Sunday Times (2025) [29] 46=
Global rankings
ARWU (2024) [30] 601–700
QS (2025) [31] 601–610
THE (2025) [32] 601–800

Manchester Metropolitan University is the ninth most popular university by applications in the UK (UCAS 2021/22 entry). [33]

Manchester Metropolitan University was the highest LGBT+ recruiting university by the number of accepted applicants in 2020 at 720.

Research

30% of Manchester Met's overall research has been rated at the highest 'world leading' (4*) level and 90% of its research impact is rated 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent', (3*) across more than 740 academics. [34]  

The university has fourteen research centres: [35]

Students' Union

MMU Students' Union Manchester Metropolitan University Students' Union.jpg
MMU Students' Union

The Students' Union exists to represent all members at the Manchester Metropolitan University and students on accredited external courses. The Union is led by the Union Officers Group formed of five students of the university, elected by the students to lead the Union on their behalf. A shop and café catering to university students has also been set up inside the Students' Union. The Students' Union moved in January 2015 to a new purpose-built building on Higher Cambridge Street, next to Cambridge and Cavendish Halls of Residence. [36]

Notable alumni

Some in the list attended institutions which became part of present-day Manchester Metropolitan University. [37]


Academia

Arts and Creative

Business

Public sector and law

Sport

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Archive of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology Students Union". archive hub jisc. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Annual Report and Financial Statements, Year ended 31 July 2021" (PDF). Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  3. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Story, Manchester Metropolitan University". www.mmu.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "PRESS, Prof. Malcolm Colin" . Who's Who . Vol. 2015 (online Oxford University Press  ed.). A & C Black.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. 1 2 3 "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) www.hesa.ac.uk. 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 "About us - Our People". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Our Faculties". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Where do HE students study? | HESA". www.hesa.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  9. 1 2 "History and Heritage". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Organization, European Higher Education (27 September 2021). "Manchester Metropolitan University". European Higher Education Organization. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Story, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Your campus". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  13. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Faculty of Business and Law, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Faculty of Health and Education". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  16. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Library homepage". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "Special Collections Museum". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "North West Film Archive". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Manchester Poetry Library home page". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Visitors". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "Investment in our campus and digital infrastructure". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "University Chancellor". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  24. 1 2 "Professor Malcolm Press CBE". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "Governance". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  26. ↑ "Annual Report and Financial Statements". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  27. ↑ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024.
  29. ↑ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
  30. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. 15 August 2024.
  31. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 4 June 2024.
  32. ↑ "THE World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education. 9 October 2024.
  33. ↑ "UCAS Undergraduate sector-level end of cycle data resources 2021". UCAS. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  34. ↑ "Research Excellence Framework 2021 results". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  35. ↑ "Research centres". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  36. ↑ "Manchester Metropolitan University Students' Union". www.theunionmmu.org. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  37. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Meet Our Alumni, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
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