University of Manchester Ranking

The University of Manchester ranking is 34th globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and 51st in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. 

It also excels in specific subjects, with notable performances such as 26th in Engineering & Technology, 30th in Medicine, and 32nd in Business & Management Studies. 

Additionally, QS and THE place Manchester among the top 8 UK universities, solidifying its position as one of the country's elite institutions. For international students, especially from India, the University of Manchester ranking highlights its academic excellence, research opportunities, and global competitiveness.

The University of Manchester can be an excellent choice for international students studying in the UK in 2025.

University of Manchester Rankings 2025-26

The U.S. continues to lead in education, with accounting programs ranked 34th by QS and 53rd by THE in 2025. Nationally, U.S. News places top universities at 68. These consistent rankings highlight the country’s academic strength in accounting.

Look at the table below to understand how the University of Manchester ranking has moved over the latest ranking cycles across major platforms.

Here's a quick visual to help you spot the University of Manchester ranking trend across these platforms.

Over the recent ranking cycles, U.S. universities offering accounting programs have experienced minor but consistent declines across major ranking platforms. 

The QS World University Rankings show a gradual slip from 32 in 2024 to 34 in 2025 and 35 in 2026, while the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings dropped slightly from 51 in 2024 to 53 in 2025, with 2026 data yet to be released. 

Similarly, the U.S. News & World Report rankings moved from 67 in 2024 to 68 in 2025. These small shifts suggest a stable global and national presence, though increased international competition and evolving evaluation criteria may be influencing performance.

Now, explore the Subject-wise University of Manchester rankings to explore how specific programs perform globally and nationally.

Subject-wise Rankings of the University of Manchester

Subject rankings are essential for prospective students as they help them understand a university's strengths in specific fields. 

The University of Manchester courses offer hundreds of specialist subjects. The University of Manchester excels in Pharmacy and pharmacology, Marketing, and Engineering, making it a top global choice for these disciplines.

Let's begin with the QS World Rankings and explore how Manchester performs in various subjects.

QS World University Rankings 2025

According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, the University of Manchester demonstrates a significant competitive edge, with Pharmacy & Pharmacology at #25 and Marketing at #27 globally. 

This exceptional University of Manchester ranking performance extends across multiple disciplines, including #29 in Mechanical Engineering and #45 in Business & Management, underscoring its broad academic strength.

Below is a detailed breakdown of Manchester's rankings by subject per the QS 2025 rankings.

Building on that, let’s examine how Manchester performs in the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025, particularly in key law, humanities, and business disciplines.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025

The THE Rankings 2025 highlight the University of Manchester's strength across key disciplines. The university demonstrates global leadership by ranking 78th in Law, 32nd in Business and Economics, and 43rd in Arts and Humanities.

These rankings underline Manchester's academic excellence in specialized fields, providing further details in the table below.

Note: Subject-specific rankings highlight the University of Manchester’s strengths, helping you make an informed choice for your academic and career goals.

Finally, explore U.S. News Rankings 2025 to see Manchester's impressive standing in specialized fields like education, veterinary medicine, and accounting.

U.S. News Rankings 2025

The U.S. News Rankings 2025 demonstrate the University of Manchester's research power in key global fields. The excellent ranking is clear in specialized areas, placing 19th in Pharmacology and Toxicology, 31st in Nanoscience, and 34th in Public Health.

These rankings underline Manchester's significant impact and academic leadership in critical scientific disciplines, providing further details in the table below.

Note: Subject-specific rankings highlight the University of Manchester’s strengths, helping you make an informed choice for your academic and career goals.

Moving on, you'll look at the miscellaneous rankings, highlighting Manchester's strengths in sustainability, diversity, and community involvement.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

The University of Manchester shows strong leadership in sustainability and social impact, reflected in its high rankings in THE Impact and QS Sustainability. Its position as the second-most targeted UK university by top employers highlights its leadership in graduate employability,

The following table provides detailed insights into these recognitions and what they mean for prospective students.

These rankings highlight Manchester's strong focus on sustainability, social impact, and ethical education. High employability scores further prove the real-world value of a Manchester degree.

Next, you will explore the University of Manchester's significant accomplishments and recognition.

University of Manchester: Excellence and Achievements

University of Manchester excellence and achievements reflects its leadership in research, global impact, and social responsibility. 

With 25 Nobel laureates and 'world-leading' REF status, academic excellence is a hallmark. Its active student life and large-scale community events highlight a strong commitment to making a positive societal impact.

Let's begin with the academic excellence and national recognition, highlighting Manchester’s prestigious laureates and groundbreaking research.

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

The University of Manchester's 25 Nobel laureates and 'world-leading' research, recognized in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), demonstrate its academic excellence. 

The university attracted over £887 million in external research funding in 2022/23, confirming its status as a research powerhouse.

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of these accomplishments.

Moving from academic achievements, let's explore the Cultural and Social Responsibility Recognitions, which highlight Manchester's commitment to societal impact.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

The University of Manchester is known for excellent student outcomes, affordability, and strong global reputation. 

Consistently ranked among the world’s top universities in the UK and one of the UK’s most targeted institutions by top employers. 

With over 480 clubs and a commitment to diversity and social responsibility, it offers a rich and inclusive campus experience.

The following table outlines these key recognitions and achievements.

Let's explore Cultural and Creative Excellence, where Manchester continues to lead through its events and innovation.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

Manchester's cultural and social responsibility excellence is shown through its large-scale community events and faculty achievements. To engage local communities, the university will host the Universally of Manchester Festival. 

Additionally, its scientific leadership was recognized with several prestigious awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The table below provides more details on these achievements.

The University of Manchester excels in community engagement and research, enriching the experience for students and staff. The following overview shows how its rankings align with program-specific acceptance rates.

University of Manchester: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

The University of Manchester's rankings and acceptance rates reflect a complex relationship, where a program's prestige doesn't always match its selectivity. 

For example, Computer Science is ranked #67 overall but remains highly competitive. This indicates that the demand for the program and the number of available seats heavily influence admissions. 

The table below offers a detailed look at how rankings and acceptance rates align across various courses.

Note: Consider both factors when evaluating potential courses. A program's specific demand often heavily influences how competitive the admissions process is.

Understanding how the University of Manchester's rankings align with acceptance rates sets the stage to explore the methodologies behind these rankings.

Ranking Methodologies

Ranking systems evaluate universities through different lenses. Each system emphasizes distinct criteria to measure performance. For example, QS focuses heavily on global reputation, while THE provides a balanced view across teaching, research, and industry impact.

Understanding these differences explains why Manchester excels in employer reputation and international research networks. 

Let's start with how QS evaluates universities, focusing on reputation, research impact, and global engagement.

QS Ranking Methodology

QS rankings prioritize academic and employer reputation. They also consider the impact of research and international diversity. This methodology highlights Manchester's strengths in employer reputation and global research networks, which are crucial to its high global standing.

These criteria offer a comprehensive view of a university's quality. They guide you in assessing its overall value. This helps you navigate your path to studying abroad.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the QS criteria and their impact on university rankings.

While QS significantly emphasizes reputation, THE offers a more comprehensive approach, balancing teaching, research, and citations. Let’s explore how.

THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking Methodology

THE's methodology assesses universities across five key pillars. This framework highlights Manchester's specific institutional strengths. The university excels in research quality and international outlook. This is vital for understanding its consistent global standing.

Below is a detailed breakdown of how these factors influence university rankings.

Finally, let’s look at how U.S. News measures academic performance through publications, citations, and research impact.

U.S. News Ranking Methodology

The U.S. News ranking evaluates global universities. It uses 13 indicators to measure its performance. These metrics focus on academic research and global reputation. This method highlights Manchester's research quality and standing.

Below is a breakdown of how each metric impacts the rankings.

Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report rankings:

Now that you know how rankings work, let's see how this information can help guide your future choices.

Wrapping up: University of Manchester Ranking Analysis

The University of Manchester consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 universities, with a QS 2025 ranking of #34, THE 2024 at #51, and U.S. News at #67. These rankings reflect its strong global reputation, research impact, and academic excellence. 

With 93% of its research rated 'world-leading' in the REF 2021 and recognition as the second most targeted UK university by top employers, Manchester offers outstanding opportunities. Its international outlook, Russell Group membership, and legacy of 25 Nobel laureates further underscore its world-class status.