Applications for the 2025 Scheme are now open.
The Manchester Distance Access Scheme (MDAS) is an online access programme designed for students who hold an offer from The University of Manchester for courses starting in September 2025 or deferred entry in 2026. If you're here because it was mentioned in your UCAS offer, then you're in the right place.
Benefits of completing the scheme
You'll receive an offer of one A-level grade below the standard offer for your course at the University (for example, if your offer is AAA, it would become AAB).*
- You’ll receive university-level teaching before starting your course.
- You’ll enhance your academic skills, preparing you for university.
- You’ll learn about university-style assessments before starting your course.
66% of students who completed the Manchester Distance Access Scheme in 2024 progressed onto an undergraduate course at The University of Manchester.
* Offers are decided by the academic School and some courses may still need specific grades in certain subjects. If you're studying for a different qualification (such as a BTEC Extended Diploma), email your academic School to see if you can take part.
The scheme comprises two elements.
Firstly, you’ll complete an Academic Skills Module consisting of five tasks, each with a different focus:
- Understanding your task.
- Writing your essay.
- Referencing your sources.
- Avoiding plagiarism.
- Planning your presentation.
Secondly, you’ll complete an academic piece of work on the subject you’ll be studying at degree level. This could be a written assignment, online assessed unit or problem-solving quiz.
2025 dates
These are subject to change and depend on A-level exams. If there are any major changes to the timeline below, we'll contact you as soon as possible.
Part one: Academic Skills Module (April to end of June 2025)
The Academic Skills Module should take five hours to complete and will sharpen your skills for university-level studies. The Module consists of five tasks that enhance your existing skills like essay writing to suit a university setting.
It also introduces you to less familiar topics (such as plagiarism) to boost your confidence in handling first-year assessments. You can easily fit this Module around your Level 3 qualifications, and enrolment occurs on a rolling basis once you’ve received a study offer.
Part two: Mini Degree Module (July to beginning of August 2025)
The Mini Degree Module is your preparation for university assessments. Whether it’s short-answer questions or online quizzes, this Module eases your transition from sixth form or college to university.
87% of those who completed MDAS 2023 said that the programme made them feel more confident in starting their university studies, and 98% said that the scheme made them feel more prepared to start their first year.
Once you’ve completed the Scheme, you’ll receive confirmation before A-level results day and enjoy a one-grade differential offer during results confirmation and clearing.
Only a selection of foundation courses are eligible for MDAS, these are listed below.
The academic Schools and courses involved in the Manchester Distance Access Scheme for 2025 are:
Arts, Humanities and Languages
- Accounting
- American Studies
- Ancient History (all courses)
- Archaeology (all courses)
- Architecture
- Business Accounting
- Classics
- Classical Studies
- Creative and Cultural Industries
- Digital Media, Culture and Society
- Drama (all courses)
- Education
- Education, Leadership and Culture
- Educational Psychology
- English Language (all courses)
- English Literature (all courses)
- Environmental Management
- Film Studies (all courses)
- Geography (all courses)
- Global Development
- History (with American Studies, Modern Language, Sociology)
- History of Art (all courses)
- International Business, Finance and Economics
- International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response
- International Management
- International Management with American Business Studies
- IT Management for Business
- Latin (all courses)
- Liberal Arts
- Linguistics (all courses)
- Management / Management (Specialisms)
- Modern Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish)
- Music
- Planning and Real Estate (all courses)
- Politics and Modern History
- Religions and Theology
- Theological Studies in Philosophy and Ethics
Science, Materials and Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Chemistry (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Chemical Engineering (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Civil Engineering (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Environmental Science (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Materials Science (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Mechatronics (all courses except Foundation Year)
- Fashion Buying and Merchandising
- Fashion Management
- Fashion Marketing
- Fashion Product Innovation
- Foundation Year - Computer Science
- Foundation Year - Maths
- Foundation Year - Mechanical Engineering
- Foundation Year - Physics
Health and Medicine
- Nursing (Adult, Child and Mental Health)
If you don't see the course you’re interested in listed here, then it might not be available for MDAS 2025 entry at the moment but you can check back throughout the year to see if it becomes available.
The School of Social Sciences also run their own access scheme.
To be part of the Scheme, you'll need to have an offer from The University of Manchester and if you choose Manchester as your ‘Firm’ choice, you'll be able to join the Mini Degree Module and complete the scheme.
You'll also need to meet certain background criteria, including:
- be a permanent resident in the UK;
- be under the age of 21;
- be studying at a UK education provider;
- live in an area with low progression to higher education, or a less advantaged neighbourhood;
- have not attended an independent or fee-paying school;
- not already holding a higher education qualification;
- not already taking the Access to Higher Education qualification;
- have not completed the Manchester Access Programme;
Postcode target areas
Visit our eligibility page and enter your home postcode to find out if you live in one of our postcode target areas. If your ‘Home postcode flag’ is marked as ‘Yes’ this means you could be eligible to join MDAS in 2025.
MDAS with contextual offers
If you're a UK applicant under 21, we'll consider your background and achievements (called contextual data) along with your undergraduate application, to make sure we find and accept talented individuals no matter your background.
If you live in an area with lower progression to higher education and your school or sixth form has performed below the national average, or you’re care-experienced, you may be eligible for a contextual offer. This means you could get an offer one grade lower than the standard entry requirements without having to apply separately.
Any MDAS offer will be made in addition to the contextual offer. If you meet the WP Plus criteria, choose Manchester as your 'Firm' choice and successfully complete MDAS, you could receive an offer with even lower entry requirements (for example, if the standard offer is AAA, your offer would be ABB).
For more details on contextual data and the meaning of WP/WP Plus, visit our contextual data pages.
Applications for the 2025 scheme are now open.
To apply, please fill out this survey.