Study with us

We have over 80 staff members from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, criminology, social care and social work, human geography, languages, history, politics and philosophy. 

Our research lives in the world — it makes an impact on communities and everyday lives. We influence policy, inform public debates and work with local communities in ways that challenge assumptions about the world.

We investigate hard-hitting social problems related to:

• crime
• gender and intersectional rights
• mental health and violence
• migration
• poverty and inequalities
• power and politics
• sexuality
• spatial differences
• social class
• social justice
• substance abuse
• wellbeing

We involve communities and service users in our research, ensuring their views and experiences shape our analysis and recommendations.

Seeking solutions to social problems and global inequality is important to us.

Students can learn with our world-leading research groups such as the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS), the Policy and Evaluation Research Unit (PERU), Substance Use and Associated Behaviours and the Q-Step Centre.

Study options and support

You can choose from taught courses or research programmes for a doctoral degree, earning qualifications such as:

• MSc or MA
• Masters by Research
• PhD

We are part of the cross-disciplinary arts and humanities research community — the Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre (PAHC) — which helps with student experience and provides a wide variety of expertise.

Scholarships and funded opportunities

Although scholarships are rare, we do advertise funded research positions on this page.

The Leverhulme Unit for the Design of Cities of the Future

We are proud to have won a £1.35 million award from the Leverhulme Trust to support doctoral research into cities of the future.

The Leverhulme Unit for the Design of Cities of the Future (LUDeC) will provide funded studentships for 15 students. We are one of only two universities to have won this award.

LUDeC will focus on how research can bring together academics, students, local communities and urban designers to transform our ways of living and working in cities, with a focus on social justice and collaboration.

Find out more about the LUDeC scholarship.

The Collaborative Doctoral Awards

Funding for PhD study can also be applied for through the Collaborative Doctoral Awards. The funding is awarded to the host higher education institution and the PhD researcher receives a stipend for the duration of the PhD.

This award particularly welcomes applications for projects that are likely to attract applicants from under-represented groups.

Find out more about the CDA scholarship.