Manchester University - Student View

Screw up your eyes and Manchester in May could look like Venice in January - the university's central square shows more than passing resemblance to St Mark's Square for the romantically inclined (difference being that one is surrounded by water, the other suffused in drizzle).

The university takes many of its characteristics from its mother city: it's gruff, grandly built, hard-working and friendly. Student body of over 30,000 allows for huge range of tastes; somewhere in the mass of the university there is someone who shares your interests and desires, whatever they may be.

The main university and UMIST are next-door neighbours on Oxford Road, with a long history of co-operation (eg in research, shared halls, student services etc), now merged from 2004. Halls of residence (especially Whitworth Park, known as the Toblerones) are basic but a good bet for first years trying to establish a social niche.

The university kicked off the social science revolution in the 60s. Before that, it had established firm reputation in classics, arts and sciences. Reputations all still well-founded.