Our university has a global reputation for excellence in biological, medical and health sciences.
Manchester is a friendly, multicultural city that has been voted the best place to live in the UK and amongst the most livable cities in the world (The Economist Global Livability Index, 2022).
The Faculty has a large, diverse international student community who will help make your transition to Manchester as smooth as possible.
- Home to more than 20 centres of research excellence
- Outstanding facilities and clinical links with the NHS
- Research with a positive global impact on society
Join the community
A multicultural student population.
The University is home to students from 160 different countries, making Manchester a truly multinational city to live, study and work in.
We have an active International Society, where you can socialise with other students from around the world and take trips to explore the UK.
Within the Faculty, the International Student Network has been created for and by international research students so you can network with each other before arriving in the UK and during your studies.
You will also become a member of our Doctoral Academy Graduate Society where you can meet other research students in the faculty.
"I've stayed in Manchester for six years and I have numerous reasons to enjoy living here. I've really adapted to life here and enjoy the multicultural environment where you're able to meet people from almost every corner of the world."
Thuy Bui / President’s Doctoral Scholar award student from Vietnam
Suraiya's PhD journey.
Discover why Suraiya chose to move from Nigeria to Manchester for her PhD in public health, how she has found living in the city with her family and how you could follow in her footsteps.
Tackling barriers and challenges for international applicants.
Hear from Chinese postgraduate researcher Lishan about the barriers and challenges she faced as an international PhD student and her tips for overcoming them.
The postgraduate research applicant journey for international students
Catch-up on our webinar and learn about the application process. Find out about funded programmes and opportunities open to international applicants, hear from current international PhD students and their experience living and researching in Manchester, and more.
Integrated programmes
Developed specifically for international postgraduate researchers.
Our integrated programmes offer you the chance to combine your PhD with a master’s degree or a teaching qualification.
Integrated PhD
If you're self-funded or you’ve received funding from your government and you're planning to undertake a master's before progressing onto a PhD, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.
PhD with Integrated Teaching Certificate
Want to develop your teaching skills while undertaking your research and gain a competitive advantage ahead of a career in teaching or Higher Education? Our PhD with Integrated Teaching Certificate allows you to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical and Health Education alongside your PhD.
Funding
Fully funded programmes and opportunities.
Most of our funded programmes and funded projects are open to applications from international PhD candidates.
We provide a number of funding opportunities specifically for outstanding international candidates. These include our President’s Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Award and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarships.
International sponsors.
Each year we accept applicants who have obtained scholarships and funding from their home country or government. These include Commonwealth Scholarships, Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau (SACB), CONACyT and China Scholarship Council.
If you have received funding from your government and you'd like further guidance, please contact the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team.
Support
We're here to help.
Once you apply to Manchester, we’re here to help you both before you arrive and throughout your postgraduate research studies.
Once you receive an offer, you will be assigned a buddy from your home country or nearby who will contact you to offer assistance and support in the weeks before you arrive.
From the start your PhD you are supported by a supervisor, a postgraduate research tutor and your peers in the Doctoral Academy. You can also access a dedicated training programme to help you develop professional skills you can use in your postgraduate research and beyond.
Making an application
Ready to start your journey to postgraduate research in biological, medical or health sciences?
Whether you’re just beginning to explore postgraduate research or you've already decided that a PhD at Manchester is the right path for you, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Check out our step-by-step guide to the application process and learn more about each stage of the journey.
Start your journey to Manchester by browsing our range of programmes or search our live, advertised self funded and fully funded projects open to international applicants to discover one you’re passionate about.
Once you’ve found a pre-determined project you’re passionate about it’s crucial you reach out to the listed potential supervisor to speak to them about their project and area of research and your suitability for their research before you apply.
It’s important you know whether your project or programme is fully funded or self-funded for international applicants. If it’s a self-funded project, you’ll need to consider what other funding opportunities may be available to you, both at the university and externally.
Contact us
Find out more.
If you have any questions about our programmes or how to apply, contact the Doctoral Academy.
Working in partnership with us.
Interested in working with us to create a global teaching or research partnership for your institution?