Iraq

Introduction

With academic roots stretching back to 1824 and claims for 26 Nobel prizes, The University of Manchester is one of the world’s leading institutions. This is confirmed in numerous rankings, including the QS World University Ranking 2024 which places the University 32nd in the world.

Our world-class campus has benefited from a £1 billion investment in teaching and research facilities. These include the new £400 million engineering campus, the £150 million Paterson Cancer Research Centre, the £105 million Henry Royce Institute, which is the UK’s National Institute for Advanced Materials Research and Innovation, as well as an £85 million refurbishment of the ‘triple-crowned’ (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) Alliance Manchester Business School

These facilities, together with our acclaimed teaching and student outcomes, give our students opportunities to enjoy an engaging and enriching student experience across our portfolio of programmes.

Our provision spans the disciplines of engineering, humanities, medicine, sciences and social sciences.

Students from Iraq regularly express interest in our science and engineering foundation programmes as well bachelor's, master's and research degrees in a wide range of subjects, including: 

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biochemistry
  • Business and Management
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology
  • Physics

Visit QS World University Subject Rankings 2024 for individual subjects rankings.  

With select students having been supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, the Higher Committee for Education Development as part of the Iraq Education Initiative, and students with scholarships from the Kurdistan Regional Government, we’re delighted to be a premier institution of choice for Iraq’s talented students and their sponsors.

The University of Manchester is a member of the British Universities Iraq Consortium (BUIC), which is a group of British universities working together with the British Council and other agencies to support the development of higher education in Iraq.

Our long tradition of giving international students a warm welcome and helping them to make Manchester their ‘home from home’, complements the diverse, dynamic and cosmopolitan community we enjoy today as the University is home to students from approximately 165 countries.

On these pages, you will find key information for students from Iraq, including an overview of entry requirements, exhibitions and visits. 

Manchester

The single-site campus is at the heart of the city of Manchester. Manchester is one of the UK’s, and world’s, most popular student cities – a buzzing modern metropolis and a vibrant, cosmopolitan, friendly place to live and learn.

Manchester has one of the most diverse populations in the UK with more than 200 languages spoken, restaurants and shops to cater to a wide range of taste and dietary requirements, as well as faith facilities to support those who follow the world’s major religions. 

We understand the needs of our Muslim staff and students, as well as those of other faiths and beliefs. Our food outlets sell halal food and prayer rooms are widely available on campus. In addition, there are a number of mosques close to the University and within the city itself, as well as Islamic stores offering adhaan clocks, hijabs, jilbabs, Islamic books and much more.

It is budget-friendly for international students as rent tends to be more reasonable than in other locations. Many amenities are within walking distance of the campus with most of the shops, theatres, cafes and restaurants just a short stroll away.

Employability

We're the second most targeted university by the UK's top graduate employers (The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research) and among the leading institutions for global graduate employability (QS and Times Higher Education’s respective rankings).

World-leading research

We are recognised as a global powerhouse of research, with 93% of the University’s research activity assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

The impact of that research makes a real difference, examples include:

World rankings

Using different methodologies, international rankings typically compare universities from across the globe for their research performance and academic reputation.

League tableWorldEuropeUK
QS World University Ranking 2025 34 10 6
QS World University Rankings: Europe (2024)   7  
Academic Ranking of World Universities (2024) 52 15 6
Times Higher Education (2025) 53    
Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings (2024)  2 1 1
Times Higher Education ‘Most International University’ rankings (2024) 23    
QS World University Sustainability Rankings 3 1 1