University of Manchester
Ana Vrabie, SS 2026
My feelings about my exchange in Manchester are… complex. I will try to cover both positive and negative aspects as fairly as possible in my report. Overall, even though my experience was difficult at times, I am thankful for the lessons I learned from it and would encourage prospective students to consider both the opportunities and the challenges involved.
Logistics
When deciding which Erasmus+ partner university to select, the University of Manchester almost immediately became my first choice. Its prestigious reputation as a member of the Russell Group and its striking gothic architecture, reminding me of Harry Potter, made it my dream exchange destination. Needless to say, I was beyond overjoyed when my application was accepted. However, the following bureaucratic processes were frustrating; a sentiment which is, I am sure, shared by many of my peers. I had several misunderstandings with the local and Manchester exchange offices, as communication with the two occurred entirely separately, so acting as an intermediary between them often felt like going in circles. When trying to find course units to match those here in Innsbruck, I was informed that the literature courses, the only ones I truly needed, were not available for me anymore, as registration for them had ended in July; at the time I was only applying for the Erasmus exchange. This was problematic, but I was eventually able to find other interesting linguistics courses. The organisation there as a whole was quite chaotic; however, when in need, people were always ready to help, showing understanding and offering alternative solutions.
The City
Manchester is much larger than Innsbruck, with skyscrapers, busy streets, and incredible shopping centres. However, as someone living in the Alps, something I dearly missed were green spaces. The city preserved several gothic buildings, such as the iconic John Rylands Library, which I visited on multiple occasions. There are a few museums and galleries; however, there is not a vast variety of day-activity options. Rather, Manchester has a rich nightlife culture, with numerous pubs and clubs, including the joyful Gay Village, a friendly neighbourhood lined with cafes and gay bars. What I enjoyed was the accessibility of everything in the city. My friends and I almost always walked everywhere. Furthermore, Manchester is at a short distance from other towns, such as Liverpool, York, and various other destinations; this and the affordable train connections made for perfect day trips.
The University
The university, or rather the many different buildings scattered along Oxford Street, is one of the greatest architectural masterpieces I have ever seen. While only the main building and the library feature the beautiful Hogwarts-esque design, the other constructions are modern and accessible. Even though each class took place in a different building, I actually found the transit rather entertaining. The Student’s Union, an establishment for students and society-related activities, was a place where we spent a significant amount of time. This leads me to my next point: societies and clubs. While there is a large selection to choose from, it is unfortunate that most club and society-related activities ended at Easter. Therefore, paying for a membership for a club – such as the 80-pound membership for the tennis club, which I initially wanted to join – did not seem very affordable anymore. However, I joined the Arts and Crafts society, which organised weekly creative activities. Most of the decoration in my room was made during these events. Not only that, but these societies offer the perfect opportunity to meet incredible people; I’ve met two of my friends there.
Something that disappointed me, however, is the overall lenient attitude towards courses; this surprised many of my fellow exchange student friends as well. All the seminars I attended were skipped by over half of the students – more often than not, a seminar consisted of the lecturer and 4-5 students. There also seemed to be a general lack of involvement with the lessons and material; in one of the courses I attended, it was often only myself and another Erasmus student who asked or answered questions, something that both surprised and excited the professor to the point where she thanked us for the engagement. While I would normally appreciate a relaxed atmosphere, it felt like it contradicted the point of this exchange: attending a highly appreciated university in England in hopes of expanding my academic horizon. Nevertheless, the courses were incredibly interesting and I enjoyed attending them.
Accommodation
Living in the university dorms was an interesting experience. I was lucky to reside in a ‘studio flat’, which unlike regular flats, only has two inhabitants, a shared kitchen, and larger rooms – my friends were particularly jealous of that last aspect. However, being an atypical flat, it also lacked the usual privacy that comes with larger flats. My room could be accessed directly from the hallways, meaning every noise made in the building at any time could be heard. Unfortunately, with most clubs opening at 11 p.m., many of my neighbours left at the earliest at that hour and returned late at night. There were numerous noise complaints made by multiple inhabitants throughout the semester. Nevertheless, there are also aspects I enjoyed at my hall. The common room, with a pool table and ping-pong table, was a place we spent nearly all our evenings in. Additionally, the friendly Res Life team periodically organised events for residents to enjoy and escape exam season stress.
An important issue to raise is the fact that accommodation could only be booked for the duration of the entire term, rather than weekly. This was problematic because the exam schedule was published only after Easter break; hence, back in December when I was scouting for accommodations, I could not plan my return in advance and was forced to rent my room until the period given by the individual halls, which for me was until July. I completed all examinations and assessments mid-May, so I either had to remain there despite no longer having any academic obligations, or leave and essentially forfeit all the rent paid for the remaining period, which is what ultimately happened. Therefore, I would advise any incoming students to check alternative living arrangements; prices might be more reasonable!
Friendships
The Manchester exchange office organised a Zoom meeting for us incoming students before our arrival, which allowed us to meet and exchange contact information. Thus, it was easy for us to communicate and plan activities together. As expected, smaller groups formed and stronger friendships emerged. My group of friends is truly the aspect of my exchange I am most grateful for. They are each extraordinary and unique individuals from all corners of the world. The things I learned from them, the views we exchanged, and the adventures we shared, are memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Concluding Thoughts
While I personally would go through this experience again, I can still recommend it to other students. Regardless of the negative aspects, such as the high costs or the underwhelming academic experience, I also believe I have learned and progressed much as an individual. I am more financially responsible, organised and productive; each plan I make, I respect and do not procrastinate as often. This experience has also made me more independent; being away from home and everyone familiar for nearly 5 months, I had to find solutions to every emergency on my own. Considering these aspects, an exchange can be greatly beneficial. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and I hope my report will help other students with their decisions. What I can say is this: go for it! Good or bad, there is so much to learn and achieve!
University of Manchester
Gloria Buchner, WS 2025/26
I spent a semester in Manchester as an Erasmus student and it was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Manchester is such a vibrant and exciting city. Even though it’s bigger than Innsbruck, it’s very easy to get around. After a few days, I felt completely at home. I loved exploring the different neighbourhoods such as Deansgate and Castlefield with their modern skyscrapers and canals. But my favourite part of the city was the Northern Quarter, which has a really creative and alternative vibe with street art, independent shops and cafés. I really think Manchester has something for everyone.
I loved walking around the city on nice days and just soaking up the vibe of Manchester. The city is very walkable, so exploring different areas by foot on a sunny day was always fun. Of course, sometimes the classic UK rain and clouds appeared, but a good umbrella and a rain jacket usually helped. Otherwise, I could easily take the bus, because the so-called bee network is very reliable and the connections are excellent. Buses and bikes made getting around easy, which was great even on rainy days.
Manchester is also very well connected to other cities and regions, which made day trips so easy. I visited York, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh, the lake district and the Peak District, which is only about 40 minutes away by train. Hiking there was beautiful, and after walks we could stop in cosy pubs or cafés for a Sunday roast or coffee.
At university, I took some interesting courses. I had a linguistics course and a rhetoric course, which was my absolute favourite. I loved the lecturer, and the seminar sessions were so engaging and interactive. I also took “English for Academic Purposes,” which I really enjoyed. The courses were challenging at times, but also so fun that I looked forward to every class. The campus itself is nice, all the buildings are close together, which makes it feel like a little university district. The old main building is beautiful and reminded me of Harry Potter. There’s a café inside where you can sit surrounded by bookshelves and look through colourful windows onto the campus while enjoying a traditional English afternoon tea.
I lived in the catered hall Dalton-Ellis Hall, which I absolutely loved. The dining hall staff were so friendly and welcoming. I met my closest friends there, and our group was very diverse, with both British and Erasmus students from all over the world. The Res Life team at Dalton-Ellis was amazing, too. They invited us twice during the semester for one-on-one chats to see how we were settling in, and they organised lots of events like movie nights, craft evenings, quizzes, and day trips. They were always approachable, helpful, and very kind, which made settling in so much easier.
The University societies were another highlight. There’s truly something for everyone – sports, theatre, music, international societies, and many more. I joined a dance society, which had weekly training sessions and social activities. Being part of the group really helped me feel at home and gave me a strong sense of community.
At the end of my stay, I was so sad that the semester was over. Time flew by so quickly! I had such an amazing time with wonderful people. Erasmus can feel overwhelming at the beginning, the bureaucracy, organisation, and being away from home for so long can feel intimidating, but I am so grateful I got the chance to do it. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would recommend it to anyone. Especially to do a semester abroad in Manchester!
University of Manchester
Anna Mayr, SS 2025
I arrived in Manchester on a grey, cold January day, feeling unsure and slightly overwhelmed. As it turned out, those five months flew by, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I had the best time possible and Manchester became my second home.
Going to university and living in Manchester
I thoroughly enjoyed going to university. The lecturers were very friendly and enthusiastic, the course content was engaging, and the small seminars made it easy to connect with other students. I had fewer classes, between 45 and 90 minutes a day, with more time for self-study than in Innsbruck. The summer term lasted for twelve weeks, with a three-week Easter break.
As a British and American Studies student, I took three courses worth a total of 30 ECTS credits:
Victorian Rights and Victorian Wrongs, which involved producing a podcast episode on the life of Elizabeth Gaskell and writing a 2,000-word final essay, History of English, which included a midterm and final open-book exam, and lastly, Gender, Sexuality and Bodies in Modern Japan, which required a creative project and another 2,000-word final essay. The workload was not too demanding, and I had plenty of time to explore Manchester. One of my highlights of student life was the wide range of free sports classes offered by the university every day. From yoga and pilates to women’s futsal, field hockey, “stretch and unwind” sessions, and even pickleball – the atmosphere was always welcoming, and I loved going there with my friends or by myself. The university also offers a wide range of societies; I joined the yoga society, which also made it really easy to connect with like-minded people.
Manchester itself is, in many ways, the complete opposite of Innsbruck. It is the UK’s third-largest city, and it has lots of skyscrapers and is bustling with cafés, restaurants, bars, and clubs. I particularly loved spending my time in the Northern Quarter, with its red-brick buildings, young people and good vibes. Manchester campus is also much bigger than the one in Innsbruck, with plenty of spaces to study, cosy cafés and beautiful historic buildings. Additionally, Manchester is quite flat, and the tallest peak is Kinder Scout with 636 metres in the nearby Peak District.
Catered Accommodation
My student accommodation, Dalton-Ellis, provided breakfast and dinner. Although I was initially wary of eating dining hall food twice a day for nearly five months, choosing catered accommodation turned out to be the best decision I could have made. The meals were decent and sometimes even delicious, there was always enough fruit and vegetables to get your vitamins, and you could drink as much tea as you liked.
More importantly, eating in the dining hall meant sharing meals with people from all over the world – Chile, Australia, the US, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Japan. One of my biggest fears before arriving was not making any good friends. Ironically, it turned out to be the easiest part of my stay, and the shared meals became my favourite part of the day.
Free time and exploring the UK
In my spare time, my friends and I often did day trips, for example to Sheffield, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, York, or we spent a few days in London. Hiking together in the Peak District was also much fun.
If I could change one thing, it’d be getting a bike: With unreliable buses costing £2 per ride, I ended up walking almost everywhere, reaching a for me unprecedented 20,000 steps a day. What surprised me was the weather: Before coming to Manchester, I invested in a high-quality raincoat, bracing myself for constant downpours – I had to wear it about fifteen times. By April, it was so warm and sunny that I could wear my skirts and dresses (although the locals I met kept stressing that this was not typical for their famously rainy city).
A life-changing experience
Most of all, I never expected to have such an amazing time. Saying goodbye to my life in Manchester after five months was very heartbreaking, but it again showed me how grateful I am to have made such beautiful memories and friendships. Going on exchange has been one of the best decisions of my life and completely changed the way I look at the world - as cliché as it may sound. Living in the UK for five months and speaking English every single day has also drastically improved my language skills and confidence to speak English, while also making me realise once again, how much I like the British culture I have already learned so much about in my studies. If you’re considering applying for Erasmus+ and doing an exchange, I wholeheartedly recommend it – and make sure to get a catered accommodation, as it changed everything for me!
As a side note: I was rejected the first time I applied for the exchange. Don’t let that stop you from trying again – I’ll be forever grateful that I did!
Image 1: A view that never gets old: The historic building of the University of Manchester
Image 2: Skyscrapers and the Bridgewater Canal in Castlefield
University of Manchester
Jonas Oberparleitner, WS 2024/25
When I looked at the Erasmus+ partner universities in our department, the University of Manchester immediately caught my eye. The initial appeal was largely due to relatives having studied there, but a closer look at the reputation and merits of their language programmes finalised my decision, and the semester proved me right in my choice.
Long established and well-attended, the University offers a large selection of courses in our field and related subjects – some of which are sure to interest you. I myself attended classes in literature, applied linguistics and rhetoric and enjoyed them immensely. A large amount of study spaces (most found within a specified building open 24/7) also ensure that one is seldom left in want of a table, socket, and chair to study in comfort – without having to leave the Uni Campus. And those students that are not satisfied with merely visiting their assigned courses and doing their coursework, can enjoy the offer of topical discussions, faculty or department organised lectures and readings, and more – depending on topic very recommended.
Besides the large pool of courses offered, Manchester also boasts a range of extracurriculars, clubs and societies – most organised through the student union. Not only are these a great way to meet local students and find a social base but they also represent an affordable way to try out new hobbies and sports and are easily accessible through the Student’s Union website. While many societies may come at a cost ranging from cheap to affordable, some are completely free of charge and with an offer of hundreds there is plenty to do. Most societies hold taster sessions at the beginning of the semester, which I recommend you use to try out anything you are interested in – in the end I tried my hand at fencing and joined some writing and dancing courses for the entirety of the semester. If all else fails and one finds themselves too bored, the university museum is free of charge and there are nice benches surrounding the dinosaur bones collection.
Living in the University dorms really does enhance the experienced. Having spent my time in Dalton-Ellis Hall, I benefited greatly from the events organised by the residence staff to make early contacts, find my feet in the city and simply learn my way around. The international nature of the university and the resulting diversity in the halls of residence also ensures that you fit in seamlessly and have no problem finding a wide range of characters, some of whom are sure to become good friends. The halls of residence provide a real space for socialising, and I count myself lucky to have made friendships that are sure to last longer than my semester.
Situated quite centrally on the Great British Isle (confusingly in the south of North-West England) and well connected to the train networks, Manchester and its main station are ideal for weekend excursions - either self-planned or organised by the Student Union. London, Edinburgh or smaller cities such as Leeds are within easy reach and allow you to use your semester abroad as a chance to get to know England. This more than makes up for Manchester's limited number of attractions.
All in all, I hope that my experience will help to make the decision easier for prospective exchange students, and I can only end my report by urging anyone who is thinking of applying for an exchange to do so. It is a truly rewarding experience. And if you do decide to go - why not Manchester? It is truly an unforgettable destination.