Posted on 21st August 2013 by New College Group

10 Reasons to Choose Manchester

As you may have seen from our fantastic collection of YouTube clips, New College Manchester students are really rather fond of Manchester!

In fact, while they cite our friendly teaching staff, social activities and convenient accommodation as factors which really make their time with us, there’s always plenty of praise for Manchester as a city too.

Each year over 11,000 students from outside of the EU come to study in our vibrant city, so if you choose to study at NCM in the near future, then you’ll be in good company. But of course just telling you that students love Manchester isn’t enough, so we’re showing you exactly why we think Manchester’s a fantastic place to live and study. From top teaching establishments to endlessly varied cuisine and culture, whatever your passion, Manchester is bound to have something to attract you.

Academic Manchester

With 3 Universities, numerous higher education colleges and fantastic English language colleges, Manchester is the perfect destination for international students looking to study at a globally recognised institution in a bustling UK city. With the universities right on our doorstep, NCM English for University students is ideally located to visit all of the open days and get a taste of the universities before they officially apply. You can also sample the university libraries too, perfect if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet!

Multi-cultural Manchester

Manchester boasts a huge multi-cultural community and as a result, we’re a very welcoming and accepting city. There’s a wide variety of places of worship dotted around the city centre and the surrounding areas so you’ll feel right at home when it comes to celebrating religious holidays in the city.

Retail Capital of the North

You don’t have to wander far in Manchester to stumble across a designer boutique, and from the cities major Arndale shopping centre to the impressive Trafford Centre shopping mall, there’s plenty of places to spree in Manchester! Aside from designer avenues and the always popular Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, there’s also every high-street store imaginable in the major shopping areas and a great market for shopping on a budget.

Affordable Living

Manchester might be an exciting city which continues to attract graduates and young professionals, but luckily rental prices have stayed considerably less than the inflated prices within central and Greater London. Manchester is consequently a great place to live if you’re looking for the buzz of city life without the excessive costs.

Fantastic Transport Links

If 3 major city-centre train stations (Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria) aren’t enough to get you from one end of the city to the other, then our comprehensive tram and bus network should certainly help you explore everything Manchester has to offer. Aside from regular public transport, we Mancunians also benefit from a vast international airport – perfect for family visits and trips home.

Cultural Manchester

The Manchester Museums are always a fantastic day out and best of all, they’re completely free! We have frequent trips from New College Manchester to the major museums, so all you need to do is turn up and bring your camera! Manchester also has a large variety of stand-up comedy establishments, theatres and arenas so whatever you are into, there’s something to suit you.

Music Icon Manchester

Liverpool had The Beatles and Manchester had Oasis, arguably the very origins of grimy, rocky Brit-pop in its purest form.

Gourmet Manchester

Food lovers are truly spoilt for choice in Manchester with all your favourite global chain restaurants as well as whole areas dedicated to world food! From ‘Curry Mile’ in Rusholme (great for Halal stores) to China Town just off Princess Street, Manchester doesn’t do restaurants by half!

Football Capital

With two of the world’s biggest football clubs (Manchester United and Manchester City) battling it out on the fair plains of Manchester, the city is a true paradise for global football fans. If you’re really fanatical then Derby Day is well worth a visit to see United v City.

The Countryside On Your Doorstep

Manchester can seem like a sprawling city of concrete and tram tracks but you only have to travel a short distance from the city centre to find your own little oasis. From leafy residential districts just outside the city centre to long rambling hikes in the Derbyshire countryside, make time for a weekend trip to the Greater Manchester countryside during your stay in the city.

We hope that’s given you 10 very good reasons why Manchester is the perfect study destination. If you would like more information about studying at NCM and living in the city then please get in touch with our friendly team or contact us on Facebook or Twitter.