Manchester Metropolitan shortlisted for University of the Year
Manchester Metropolitan has been shortlisted for University of the Year by The Daily Mail marking a transformative milestone in the institution’s journey and a proud celebration of the achievements of colleagues and students.
This accolade reflects a year of record-breaking success and growing national recognition. In July, the University recorded its best-ever National Student Survey (NSS) results, earning praise for the strength of its teaching, student support, and outstanding overall experience.
The Daily Mail highlighted Manchester Met’s impressive rise in the rankings, noting its ‘double outstanding’ Ofsted rating for degree apprenticeship provision, a strong commitment to social inclusion through initiatives like the First Generation Scholarship programme, and over £400 million invested in campus developments.
The shortlisting follows Manchester Met’s fourth consecutive year of improvement in the NSS, with 85.8% of students reporting overall positivity about their university experience across key NSS themes. These results helped secure the University’s place among the top institutions nationally, with The Times also ranking Manchester Met 7th in England and 11th in the UK for student experience in July.
The University also proudly holds Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold status, the highest possible rating, recognising consistently outstanding teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL said: “Being shortlisted for University of the Year is a powerful reminder of what makes Manchester Met so special, the exceptional teaching, outstanding student experience, and the supportive, ambitious environment we have built together. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of colleagues across the University, from researchers, lecturers and student leaders, to Professional Services, all of whom work every day to deliver excellence and foster a community where everyone can thrive.”
In the past year alone, Manchester Met has:
- Climbed 29 places to 10th in the 2025 Uni Compare rankings;
- Reached 50th in the 2026 Complete University Guide, continuing a strong upward trend;
- Achieved top 10 subject rankings in Creative Writing, Architecture, IT & Systems, and American Studies;
- Been rated ‘99% recommended’ by students on Uni Compare for the quality of teaching, campus life, and student support.
Commenting on the achievement, Alastair McCall, editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said: “Manchester Met is the largest recruiter of undergraduates in UK higher education, and its shortlisting for the Daily Mail UK University of the Year 2026 award recognises it as one of the best.
“The shortlisting was secured by its £400m investment in campus facilities and outstanding scores in this year’s National Student Survey, where students praised the high levels of support and overall experience. Keeping students happy and feeling supported is a tough task in a large university – few manage to pull it off – but Manchester Met is currently showing everyone how it can be done.”
