Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ

Most of our online courses are delivered completely online and part-time, meaning you can study from anywhere in the world without needing to attend the Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus. 

As a student of The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ, you’re still welcome to visit the campus at any time and use facilities such as the library, even if your postgraduate course is delivered remotely. 

Our blended programmes do include in‑person sessions at either our Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus or one of our international centres. Check the course web page or your welcome information to confirm whether your chosen course is online or blended. 

Our courses are mainly asynchronous. An asynchronous mode of teaching is delivered online and means that the materials and tasks associated with the course are available online to complete at a time that works around your schedule. However, although these courses can fit flexibly around your career and personal life you will be required to complete a set amount of learning hours each week and be available for a live tutorial session on a weekly basis in addition to some scheduled assessments. 

If you are enrolled on an online course, you do not need to attend campus for your learning. However if you are enrolled on a blended course, your programme will include an element of in person teaching at either our Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus or one of our international centres. Please check your course details to find out if it is necessary for you to attend any in-person sessions.  Although attendance on campus is not required for online students, you are welcome to visit campus at any time throughout your studies. As an online student you can access in-person facilities such as the library, careers service and other student resources. You will also be invited to attend an on-campus graduation ceremony to celebrate your achievement should you wish to attend. 

There are several types of postgraduate qualifications, each with different credit requirements and levels of study. These are the qualifications offered across our online and blended part‑time courses:

• MA (Master of Arts) – 180 credits and includes a research dissertation
• MSc (Master of Science) – 180 credits and includes a research dissertation
• PGDip (Postgraduate Diploma) – 120 credits with no dissertation
• PGCert (Postgraduate Certificate) – 60 credits with no dissertation
• CPD (Continuing Professional Development) – may be credit‑bearing or non‑credit‑bearing depending on the course

These options allow you to choose the level of study that best fits your goals, experience and time commitment.

Our online courses are structured for part-time learning. Units are taken one at a time through the online learning environment. This means that 2 courses or units cannot be taken at the same time. 

Our courses follow a fixed part-time schedule therefore you cannot complete your master's degree quicker than the stated study time. 

The type of assessment used in an online or blended course varies. Full details of assessment methods and requirements are provided in the course brochure, and you’ll receive this information again in your welcome pack and at the start of each unit.

Assessments and exams are different for each course and unit. They can take a formative or summative form. Formative assessments are not graded but must be completed to allow academics to provide you feedback to support you with other tasks and assessments. Formative assessments can include: 

• Reflective posts  
• Journals 
• Quizzes 
• Reports 

Generally there are 2-3 summative assessments per course unit and can include: 

• Coursework 
• Presentations 
• Essays  
• Exams  

Please check your course page for more details or get in touch with our course advisor team at studyonline@manchester.ac.uk

The type of exams used for online courses varies depending on your course details. For more information on exams check your course web page and brochure or get in touch with our course advisor team at studyonline@manchester.ac.uk

For most of our online master's level courses here at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ each unit lasts 10 weeks. Although, some courses have longer 30 credit units which last 15 weeks instead. Please check the relevant course webpage under course structure for exact details on unit length and duration. 

Cohort sizes for our online master’s courses vary by programme, typically ranging from around 10 to 50 students. Smaller cohorts can offer advantages, such as more direct access to academic staff and greater opportunity to engage in discussions.

Regardless of cohort size, you’ll have structured opportunities to connect with peers and receive support from your academic team throughout your course.

As an online student at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ, you can access on‑campus facilities. You’re entitled to a student card if you choose to request one, and this will allow you to use facilities such as the library and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons when visiting the Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus.

Online learning is delivered entirely online, with all teaching, resources and activities completed remotely. Blended learning is mostly online but includes dedicated in‑person sessions, usually in the form of masterclasses at our Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus or one of our international centres.

Some blended courses include a three‑day conference, which provides an opportunity to meet peers, engage with the course’s academic team, hear from guest speakers and take part in networking activities.

Synchronous learning refers to any live learning, usually facilitated through an online platform where you will be taught live by your course academics. Asynchronous learning is self-paced study using materials available to you in the online learning environment such as videos, quizzes, reading materials etc. 

There are some options available to help you fund your online course, including loans, employer sponsorship, discounts and scholarships. Funding information varies from course to course, and there are different options depending on where you live.

You also have the option to pay your tuition fees in instalments, which can help you spread the cost of study and make it more manageable.

Our Fees and Funding page has more details on the funding options available for our online postgraduate courses.

The course fees listed on our website refer to the whole course price not an annual fee. The price listed on the course page covers your entire time on the course.

• A desktop or laptop PC running Windows 10 or later, with at least 4GB RAM and 6GB of available disk space (administrator rights are required to install software)
• A broadband internet connection
• A smartphone running Android 11.0 or later, or iOS 11.0 or later, which is required for secure authentication of your credentials.

If there are any other applicable fees that are not covered by your tuition fee this will be clearly stated on the course web page.

Corporate or group discounts may be available for some courses. Please check the course web page to see whether this applies to your chosen programme.

We can also support you in seeking sponsorship from your employer. If you’d like to explore this option, contact us at studyonline@manchester.ac.uk.

If your employer is paying your tuition fees, you’ll need to follow the University’s sponsorship process so we can invoice them directly. You can find full guidance on what’s required including the information your employer must provide and a sponsorship letter template on our sponsored students page. You can access it here:

This page explains the steps you and your employer need to take before your course begins, so your fee payment can be arranged smoothly.

Course discounts and scholarships vary from course to course, but you can find full information on the course webpage. If you navigate to Admissions Info from the top of the course page there will be a section on Fees and Funding and Scholarships and Bursaries where you can find information about the types of funding that you might be eligible for.

You can find a full list of courses here

Less course-specific information is also available here

You don’t pay your fees until you register to start your course, which is usually the month before your course begins. When you complete the you will need to include how you intend to pay for your course. This could be by paying up front with a credit or debit card, opting to pay by instalments and setting up a direct debit or through sponsorship from an employer or sponsor.  

If you wish to have part sponsorship, then you may need to contact the tuition fees team for further support and a bespoke payment plan. Our Admissions Team can support you with this, and if you are encountering problems with payments, please email worldwideapplications@manchester.ac.uk in the first instance who will help you or put you in contact with a team who can provide more specialist support.  

When you study part-time and online with us, you’re investing in a structured, well-supported learning experience designed for working professionals.

Your tuition covers:

• Registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation – ensuring a smooth and supported experience from enrolment through to completion.
• Academic support – online tutorials, drop-in sessions, and guidance from academic leads across different units.
• Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ Support Team – available to assist with academic success, extensions, and extenuating circumstances.
• Library resources – 24/7 digital access to essential readings and core texts (where available).
• Microsoft Office 365 – downloadable tools to support your studies.
• Student services – wellbeing support, IT assistance, and UK/international careers services.
• The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ student email – providing access to online and on-campus facilities, services, and exclusive student discounts.
• Learning materials – a range of formats including videos, transcripts, PDFs, and knowledge checks with instant feedback.
• Industry tools – some courses include software subscriptions to help develop practical skills.
• Online community – opportunities to connect, collaborate, and exchange insights with professionals worldwide.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to pay for individual units unless you are studying by CPD. You will have the option to pay in three instalments per academic year.

Yes, students studying a PGCert, PGDip or master’s degree have the option to pay by instalments. During your studies you would pay in three equal instalments per academic year.  

Students based in the UK (with a UK bank account) - can if you wish pay in three equal instalments. You would need to pay the first instalment online, during Registration, and then complete the Direct Debit instruction online to complete your Registration. 
 
Students based overseas (with no-UK bank account) - can also pay in three instalments. You would need to pay the first third of your fees online, during Registration, using a debit/credit card. Once payment is completed, please email tuitionfees@manchester.ac.uk or call +44 (0)161 275 5000 to complete your registration. 

When you pay for your course depends on the duration of your studies:

• If your course lasts between 9-17 months, you will pay over one academic year.  
• For 18-29 months you would pay over two academic years. 
• For a course 30 months or longer you would pay over three academic years. 

To find out when you need to pay your instalments for your course you can find the dates for the current academic year on the . 

You don’t need to pay for your tuition fees until you register for your studies. Some courses ask for a deposit before you start your studies. If this is the case, you will have been made either a conditional or unconditional offer that you only accept by paying a deposit. If you pay a deposit this will be subtracted from the overall tuition fee when you come to pay. If you are paying in instalments this will mean you pay a reduced first instalment. 

Yes, an employer can sponsor you to complete your online study. The following information is required in all sponsor letters submitted to the University. Please ask your sponsor to complete the Tuition Fee Sponsor Letter template with confirmation of their sponsorship and then you can upload a copy via My Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ.

If your sponsor has their own format, please ensure they include the criteria given below. 

• Must be addressed to The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ 
• Must be produced on official company letter headed paper from the sponsoring organisation/embassy and must state clearly contact telephone numbers/fax/email 
• The full name of the student to be sponsored 
• The title of the student's programme of study 
• The student's year of study or years of study that the sponsorship will apply to 
• A statement that the student's tuition fees (£ amount) or proportion of their fees (£ amount) will be paid upon receipt of an invoice from the University 
• If you have government funding, you should also provide a letter from the appropriate London Embassy 
• VAT number (UK/EU sponsors only) 
• Purchase Order Number (this enables the paying organisation to process the invoice swiftly) All UK council and NHS sponsored students need this before we can add the sponsorship to your account 
  a contact name and email address

You can add your sponsor letter in advance of registering for your studies.  

Yes, for some students we understand that they may be sponsored through an external scholarship or funding body. You should follow the instructions in the above answer and submit your sponsor letter via My Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible for a sponsor to pay in instalments. A sponsor means your employer or another funding body is paying your fees for you. A sponsor is invoiced for the full fee amount after you have registered for your studies. Your sponsor can pay for fees per academic year but is unable to pay in smaller instalments.

In some cases, you may have a partial sponsorship for the course fees. You should still follow the instructions above to send in a sponsor letter. However, you may need a bespoke payment plan for the remainder of your fee. Please contact worldwideapplications@manchester.ac.uk in the first instance and they will be able to put you in contact with someone from the tuition fees team to create a bespoke plan for you.  

Online courses are included in the . To find out if you are eligible you should review the funding information and for Student Finance England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and follow their application process.  

When you register for your studies, you will need to select that you are paying through student finance and your payments for your course fees will be aligned to your Student Finance payment dates.  

 It is possible to pay in advance of starting your studies if you have accepted an unconditional offer for your course. This can be completed by you or a someone paying on your behalf. Please visit the Making a Payment page and follow the instructions on screen. Please be aware that you can only pay this as a card payment.   

Some of our online and blended courses are accredited. To find out if your course has accreditation you can check the course webpage, brochure or get in touch with our course advisor team at studyonline@manchester.ac.uk.

Yes, you can progress to a PhD after completing a master's level course online. Our courses are designed to equip you with advanced knowledge, research skills and academic foundations needed to pursue the next step in higher education such as a PhD. 

Yes! You can still attend an in-person graduation ceremony as an online student. Graduation can either take place in July or December. The awards board and progression panel will decide when you can graduate but you can always choose which graduation season you’d like to join.  

You can find more details about . 

No, there is no application fee for online courses at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ. 

Entry requirements vary depending on which course you are interested in. You can find full information on what the entry requirements are for the UK and internationally on the course webpage. Find a full list of our courses here. 

Applications that do not meet the entry requirements cannot be considered and accepted by the University. Entry requirements are set to meet the demands of the course to ensure all participants have the necessary experience to succeed. If you have been rejected in the past and your circumstances have changed to meet the entry requirements you are welcome to apply again.

Our entry requirements vary depending on the course, however, work experience may be one of the entry criteria for some of our courses. To find out if professional experience is an applicable entry requirement please check the course specific webpage under admissions information. 

Our courses require a level of English language proficiency. For detailed information on English Language qualifications please check the course specific webpage or visit our English Language requirements page: /study/international/admissions/language-requirements/. 

To apply for an online course at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ go to our to get started. The steps of the application process are as follows:

• Create an account: You can save your progress and return later.
• Complete the form: Use the left-hand menu to navigate and check each section.
• Upload documents: Include your degree certificates, transcripts, CV, English language evidence (if needed), and a personal statement.
• Submit: Once everything is complete, submit your application. We’ll be in touch soon.

We aim to respond to applications for online courses within 2 weeks. In some cases this may take longer and we may need to refer your application to the course director for consideration. We appreciate your patience as we review your application. To speed up this process please ensure you have submitted all necessary documents and certificates and that all information is up to date and accurate. If any information is missing from your application we may get in touch with you for clarification which could slightly impact the length of your application review. 

Applications for the academic year starting in September are usually open from October of the previous year until mid-August.

The university deadline for online course varies across our programmes. To find the specific application deadline for the course you are interested in, please check the course specific webpage. Generally, for most online postgraduate courses the deadline is mid-August. Although there is a large application window, early application is recommended to secure your place on the course or to receive any application discounts.

To register for your online course there is a 10 step process. . 

Our master's level online and blended courses here at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ typically start in either the first or third week of September. This can vary between courses so please check the relevant course webpage under Key Information for exact details on your course start date. 

Most of our online and blended master's courses have just one intake per year in September however there are also CPD entry routes that take place at different points throughout the year. Please check the relevant course web page for exact details on yearly intakes. 

If you successfully meet the entry criteria for a course at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ you will receive an offer of a place on the course. 
Your offer letter will include a date by which you need to respond to your offer, a confirmation of your fees, computer and time requirements and our student terms and conditions. After you receive your offer you can follow the instructions in your letter on how to accept. 

Instructions on how to accept your offer are included in your offer letter.  

Details can also be found on this website: /study/masters/admissions/track-your-application/ 

Once you accept a conditional offer, you’ll need to meet the conditions outlined in your offer letter by the deadline provided.

If you accept an unconditional offer, you’ll receive your induction and registration information from July, ahead of starting your course in September.

You will hear more detailed information about joining us and starting your course from July (depending on when you applied). This will include information on registration, induction, welcome events and when you will gain access to learning materials. 

You will receive your timetable during induction and welcome week which takes place one week before your academic teaching start date. In addition to receiving your timetable you will also meet your course director and academic team and receive a walkthrough of the online learning platform. 

Yes, you will have access to academic staff, including your course director throughout your studies at The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ. You will also have access to student support services to help you with any needs related to your course. 

Communication is key for students and teaching staff. Our online courses are delivered through the online learning environment Canvas that facilitates excellent communication across the globe through community areas, discussion boards, tutorials and access to student reps. For our blended courses there is also the opportunity to meet with other students and your academics in person here at our Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ campus or at one of our international centres. 

Yes, as a student of The University of Ô°ÇøÒùÂÒ you can access free careers advice from our to help you with any professional skills and job searching.