By Mehedi Hasan
Manchester Metropolitan University is the perfect place to start your academic career if you're planning to study in a world-class UK city while creating a strong academic foundation.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere and well-structured preparatory courses such as the Foundation Year, International Year One, and Pre-Master’s, the university helps students feel supported and ready for success. Located in the centre of Manchester, the campus not only offers high academic excellence but also an exciting city lifestyle that is characterised by ambition and growth. We’ll look into several important features of the programme and how MMU structures its foundation course for international students in 2025
What is a Foundation Year?
A foundation year is a one-year-long programme that provides you with the skills and knowledge required for a student to transition into further undergraduate study at the university level, helping you to gain academic knowledge on specific modules that are directly relevant to a student’s long-term academic goals. MMU sees the foundation year as an extra year of study at the start of a student's university course. This preparatory course can provide you with all the necessary academic knowledge to help you adjust after high school studies, making you prepare to join the first year of your preferred university degree. The foundation year course provides you with core subject knowledge and self-development. Successful completion will lead to direct entry into MMU. The progression is automatic if you pass all the required modules. ‘Manchester Metropolitan University stands out as a top choice for students seeking a solid start to their higher education journey’ Besides academic modules, a foundation year can help you learn learn key skills, such as critical thinking, creating presentations, and effective communication. This programme is especially helpful to students who are unable to fulfil academic and language requirements, have a long study gap, or want to skip the advanced study and get straight into the university curriculum in a shorter time.
What makes MMU’s foundation program a solid option?
There are so many compelling reasons for international candidates to choose Manchester Metropolitan University. Some of the highlighted points are described below:
Global rankings
The University is well-regarded both domestically and globally for its academic excellence and research contributions. In 2025, the university ranked 56th in the UK (University League Table 2025), 601-610 position in QS World University Rankings 2025 and 59th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
Range of undergrad subjects
The Art, Business, Marketing and Technology subjects are popular at MMU, and students who have an interest in these relevant subjects keep the university in their top preferred choices. Besides popular subjects, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular choices including Business and Management, Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Science, and Finance.
Student life & university environment
The university is situated in the centre of Manchester City, right beside the big campus of the University of Manchester. There is no question that the city offers the best student life experience, with events and fairs happening on the campus throughout the full academic year.
The university also offers all kinds of modern facilities. While keeping the living standard in budget, spending the student life in Manchester at MMU is a once-in-a-lifetime career chance that you will not want to miss.
NCUK partner university
MMU has been in partnership with NCUK and accepts students who did their foundation from any approved NCUK study centre, regardless of their foundation study location. An NCUK degree holder with successful completion marks can gain direct enrolment to an Honours degree at MMU based on their preferred field of study.
Reasonable tuition fees
MMU offers different foundation rates for their domestic and international students. Tuition fees of full-time foundation for international students are around £20,000 per year and may increase up to 10% every year, depending on the course and student status. International students would certainly find the tuition fees to be less compared to other top-ranking universities.
Foundation programmes available at MMU
Manchester Metropolitan University offers a Foundation Year course in multiple fields of study. This one-year-long preparation programme can help international students take their next step from school education to university life.
At present, the university is offering the Foundation Year International Route on:
Art and Design
Business, Management and Finance
Engineering and Computing
Humanities and Social Science
Students can also choose to study a degree with a foundation year. The extra year of foundation is added to the honours study relevant to the subject area. Courses with a Foundation year include the subjects listed below:
Accounting, Finance and Banking
Biological sciences
Biomedical and physiological sciences
Business and management
Chemistry
Computing, mathematics and digital technology
Economics
Education and childhood studies
Engineering and Product Design
English
Geography and environment
History, politics and philosophy
Journalism, Information and Communications
Languages, linguistics and TESOL (Teachers of English to speakers of other languages)
Law
Psychology
School of Digital Arts
Social sciences
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Tourism, events and hospitality management
Programme tuition and living expenses:
The foundation year tuition fee cost may vary depending on the type and length of a course. In general, the foundation year takes 2 semesters or 1 academic year to complete. But the study period can be extended depending on the needs of the student.
In addition, a student also needs to add the living costs, pocket money, food and travel expenses on top of the tuition fees to live a healthy life at Manchester City.
Student life at MMU
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) offers an exciting and bright student experience. It's an institution where academic excellence meets international study experience. Some critics have already concluded that Manchester offers superior student life compared to London or Birmingham, and the place where MMU resides can offer students all the facilities and features which make this place one of the best student cities to live in. ‘Joining on a foundation year at Manchester Metropolitan University is more than just the start of an academic journey —it is a gateway to endless possibilities’
Manchester Metropolitan University has an amazing student union, which is an independent non-profit department run by the students dedicated to supporting students throughout their university journey. With over 130 clubs and societies, catering to every interest imaginable—from sports and faith groups to film, rainbow communities, and even a Taylor Swift fan club. There are a variety of activities, such as football, basketball, cricket, debating, cultural activities, etc, that students can do inside the university campus. In addition, joining a society or a club that matches your interests is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people, develop new skills, and make lifelong friendships. Living in the city of Manchester is a dream come true for many international candidates. The city offers both a modern metropolis lifestyle and cheaper living, close to scenic mountains of the peak districts, giving students a fantastic scenic backdrop to experience. The city is home to iconic landmarks such as the Manchester Cathedral, the Science and Industry Museum, and Old Trafford Stadium. Whether you're a football fan, a history buff, or an art lover, Manchester offers endless opportunities for exploration. Manchester is a planned city and offers its citizens multiple modes of public transport. There is a tram system that covers the northern part of the city, connecting the suburbs. There are bus routes with discounted fares for students, and also a free shuttle bus that runs in a circle within the city for the convenience of the students. The city's alleyways and other corners turn into dazzling colourful streets with countless clubs, bars, and live music venues. Whether you're into indie gigs, electronic dance nights, or cosy pubs, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the weekends.
Where else is a foundation year available?
MMU is a proud partner of the famous pathways programme provider ‘NCUK’. When it comes to the International Foundation Year, NCUK is a top pathway provider. Operating in 40+ countries with more than 110 study centres and links to over 60 leading universities. International students looking to begin their academic journey should strongly consider doing their foundation preparation with NCUK. This means completing a foundation year with NCUK gives you direct access to study MMU undergraduate degrees based on your preferred subject area. Students might as well even get a reduced tuition waiver or scholarships in their honours years, based on the good results from their foundation year with NCUK. Check on the NCUK website and look for the city centres available in your area. Doing this foundation programme from your home country can save you time and money. Studying the IFY abroad can cost around £20,000 or more per year, and on top you also need to consider other fees, such as living costs, travel costs, food and daily needs costs, whereas completing it at a local study centre drastically reduces the expense. NCUK has study centres all over the world, and their study centres maintain strict standards laid out by partner universities. And for students in Bangladesh, MIE Pathways is the only accredited NCUK-affiliated centre. If you intend to develop your basics and build personal skills, then a foundation with NCUK could be the perfect choice that you should avail for a successful future ahead.
Student Testimony Manchester Metropolitan University Foundation Year:
“I just finished my second year of studies, which included one foundation year and one year of my main degree in Marketing Management. The foundation year enabled me to gain the academic skills needed to feel confident before starting my main degree. And I would say that the overall experience was very positive. I did enjoy getting to know a new and exciting study environment, with a huge lecture room, new and supportive tutors, as well as new people. Especially students who will most probably be your study partners for the remainder of your time at MMU. During my time on the foundation year, I learned how to write an essay at an appropriate and academic level. This includes using academic words, linking sentences to generate fluid text and being more precise. In addition to that, I learned how to reference more precisely. The foundation year, especially the unit called academic skills of higher education, helped me in understanding how to reference. I think the foundation year prepared me to move into my first year, and I felt that I was confident enough to start my full-time degree. The transition from the foundation year to my first year was as I expected, and the support at MMU is amazing. We all received the contact details of our tutors well in advance. I would definitely recommend coming to Manchester Metropolitan University to study a foundation year. First of all, the university is a great place. Be open to new and exciting things that are offered by the University and the city of Manchester. The Foundation Year is a year that will prepare you for a successful and exciting time with MMU, a time that will most probably be the best time of your life”
Cedrik
Full-time Marketing and Management Student
at Manchester Metropolitan University
Wrap Up
To sum up, Manchester Metropolitan University offers more than just a foundation year. It provides a supportive community for its students with high-quality education and a unique city life experience. With its expertly designed preparatory programmes and unbeatable campus location, the MMU provides the perfect starting point for future success in higher education and beyond.
FAQ
Q. Where is Manchester Metropolitan University located?
It is situated in the heart of Manchester, England, with its main campus at All Saints Building, All Saints, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Q. What is the student satisfaction rate at Manchester Metropolitan University?
The university recorded an overall student satisfaction rate of 78.1% in the National Student Survey (NSS).
Q. What are the global rankings of Manchester Metropolitan University?
The university is ranked 601–800th in the World University Rankings 2025. It also holds a QS World University Ranking of 601-610.
Q. What is the employability rate of Manchester Metropolitan University graduates?
Around 86% of graduates were employed or engaged in unpaid work within 15 months of graduation, which is higher than the UK average of 82%.
Q. What is the campus environment like?
The university has a modern city-centre campus, with state-of-the-art facilities, including a triple-accredited Business School and the Institute of Sport.
Q. How diverse is the student population?
Manchester Metropolitan University has over 40,000 students and 330,000 alumni from 170 countries, making it one of the largest universities in the UK.