Student terms and conditions, policies and procedures

We aim to consider all applications reasonably and in line with our procedures, as our decisions are made based on your overall application against the set entry criteria, unfortunately, many academically well-qualified applicants may not receive an offer from us. If you wish to receive feedback, please read the appeals procedure for applicants and follow these steps:

1. Feedback – contact admissions staff in your specific School to request feedback within 20 working days of receiving confirmation that your application was unsuccessful.
2. Appeal – if you wish to appeal, complete our stage 2 appeals form  (Word Document, 132KB) within the same 20 working days of receiving confirmation that your application was unsuccessful. We'll forward your appeal to the relevant School for investigation who will usually respond within 20 working days.
3. Re-appeal – if you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal, you may escalate it to the next stage by completing a stage 3 appeals form (Word Document, 123KB). We will normally send you a final decision within 20 working days.

We recognise that on occasion, you may be dissatisfied with your experience or feel that information provided is inadequate or misleading. If this is the case, then you can complain using the complaints procedure for applicants and follow these steps:

1. Complaint (informal stage) – you can raise your concern with your specific School or service area. You should receive a response within ten working days.
2. Complaint (formal stage) – if you wish to register a formal complaint within 20 working days of receiving a response from an appropriate member of University staff, you should complete a stage 2 complaints form (Word Document, 128KB). We'll forward your appeal to the relevant School for investigation who will respond within 20 working days.
3. Complaint (formal review stage) – if you are unhappy with the outcome of your complaint, you may escalate it to a stage 3 complaint form (Word Document, 128KB) within ten working days of receiving a stage 2 decision. We'll normally send you a final decision within 20 working days.

We charge different tuition fees depending on whether you are a home or international student. It is the responsibility of individual higher education institutions to assess the fee status of potential students. We recognise there may be occasions when you feel that the University has not adhered to fee assessment regulations. The tuition fee assessment appeals procedure informs you what to do if you want to appeal.

We require applicants for certain vocational or professional courses to demonstrate medical fitness before admission to comply with relevant professional bodies. The procedure for admitting applicants to courses that require a medical fitness assessment provides information about the admissions process for applicants who have applied for one of these courses.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for applicants respective of their personal circumstances or background and as such do not wish to unnecessarily preclude those with a criminal conviction from joining a course of study. The University has a duty to ensure the safety of its students, staff, and all other members of the University community. All applicants must therefore disclose relevant unspent criminal convictions.

For some courses, for example, teaching, health, social work, pharmacy and others where studies necessitate interaction with children and working with adults in regulated activity (courses where a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) record check is required), applicants must declare all criminal convictions including spent sentences and cautions and bind-over orders. These courses are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

For all other courses, applicants are required to declare any relevant unspent convictions at the point of accepting an offer (and on a continuing basis), although earlier disclosure, between the University offering a place and the applicant accepting, is encouraged.

Our information and guidance for applicants with a criminal conviction provides information to applicants who have a criminal conviction and who are applying, or have applied, for a place to study at The University of Manchester.

If you have not reached the age of 18 at the start of your course, you are legally considered to be a minor (not yet an adult) under English law. The University has an ‘enhanced duty of care’ in these cases. We will carry out a risk assessment to determine what special arrangements, if any, need to be agreed before we can make you an offer. Our process of admitting minors outlines how the University will meet this obligation.