The University of Manchester sits in central Manchester, England, the only UK Russell Group member to score #7 globally for international research collaboration in QS 2027. The university ranks #40 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and #31 globally on Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026, with Geography, Architecture, Development Studies and Nursing all inside the QS Subject top 10.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #40 globally, #8 in the UK
- Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #31 globally, #7 in the UK
- THE World University Rankings 2026: #56 globally, #8 in the UK
- ARWU Shanghai Rankings 2025: #46 globally, #6 in the UK
Reading the rank pattern: Manchester sits 16 places higher on QS (#40) than on THE (#56), signalling stronger academic reputation than research-output scores. Russell Group peer Edinburgh stands at #34 in QS 2027 and #29 in THE 2026, so Manchester trails close on the QS reputation axis. For Indian applicants, the Manchester brand still reads top-40 in the rankings Mumbai and Bengaluru employers check first.
Read More: The University of Manchester Admissions 2027
Table of Contents
- The University of Manchester Overall Rankings 2027
- The University of Manchester Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
- The University of Manchester QS World University Rankings 2027
- Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of The University of Manchester
- The University of Manchester Times Higher Education Rankings 2026
- The University of Manchester ARWU Shanghai Rankings 2025
- The University of Manchester Financial Times Rankings 2026
- The University of Manchester Subject Rankings
- The University of Manchester Regional Rankings
- The University of Manchester Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- FAQs
The University of Manchester Overall Rankings 2027
Across the four global ranking bodies that score Manchester, the QS rank sits 16 places ahead of the THE rank in the latest editions. Collegedunia Study Abroad places the university 9 spots higher than QS does for Indian applicants.
| Ranking Body and Edition | The University of Manchester Rank |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 (Overall) | #31 globally, #7 UK |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #40 globally |
| ARWU Shanghai Rankings 2025 | #46 globally |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | #56 globally |
The 25-place spread between Manchester’s best print (CD #31) and weakest print (THE #56) is wider than Edinburgh’s 11-place spread. Indian recruiters reading the QS or CD number see a sharper brand than THE alone suggests.
Key insight: Manchester’s average overall position across the four bodies is #43, three places above QS and 13 above THE. The cross-body average lands closer to QS reputation territory than THE research territory.
The University of Manchester Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
For an Indian student weighing Manchester against IIT Bombay or a UK Russell Group option, the rank data sends three clean signals. Stronger reputation than research scores, a top-50 brand for engineering and business, and consistent UK top-10 standing across every body.
| Signal | Rank Data | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Brand for Indian recruiters | QS #40, CD #31 | QS rank is the first number Indian HR teams look up; a top-40 print clears the bar at most global firms in Mumbai and Bengaluru. |
| Engineering pick vs. IIT Bombay | Manchester THE Engineering #48, IIT Bombay QS Engineering #48 | The two universities tie on engineering subject rank, so the choice turns on fees, location and post-study work rights. |
| Business and finance pick | Alliance MBS FT MBA #49 globally, #5 UK | One of only five UK MBA programmes in the FT global top 50; useful for Indian aspirants targeting UK or EU finance roles. |
| Research strength for PhD | ARWU #46, 93% of REF 2021 research rated world-leading or internationally excellent | A safe pick for India-funded PhD applicants who need a verified research-quality signal for scholarship panels. |
| Sustainability and impact | THE Impact #2 globally, QS Sustainability #10 | Useful tie-breaker for Indian applicants applying to climate, public-health or development-studies programmes. |
Key Insight
- QS-vs-CD gap: Manchester ranks 9 places higher on Collegedunia Study Abroad (#31) than on QS World (#40), signalling stronger India-relevant scoring than the global average.
- Engineering parity: Manchester’s THE Engineering rank of #48 matches IIT Bombay’s QS Engineering rank, so the comparison turns on fees and visa rights, not brand.
- Research signal stability: The 5-year average position across QS, THE and ARWU is #44, within 4 places of the latest QS print and 12 of the latest THE print.
The University of Manchester QS World University Rankings 2027
QS measures academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations and international scores. Manchester’s QS rank has slid from #28 in 2023 to #40 in 2027, a 12-position drop across five releases without a single year of gain.
| Year | The University of Manchester QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #40 |
| 2026 | #35 |
| 2025 | #34 |
| 2024 | #32 |
| 2023 | #28 |
The biggest single-year drop came between QS 2026 (#35) and QS 2027 (#40), a 5-position fall. Yet academic reputation held at #32 and employer reputation held at #28, so the alumni brand for Indian applicants stays intact. The 5-year average position is #33.8, six places above the current print.
Key insight: Manchester’s QS international research collaboration score is #7 globally and sustainability score is #10 globally. Both outperform the #40 overall rank, signalling that the university’s research network and impact metrics beat the headline.
Read More: The University of Manchester Courses and Fees 2027 for Indian Students
Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of The University of Manchester
Collegedunia Study Abroad ranks Manchester #31 globally and #7 in the UK overall for 2026. Social Studies and Engineering pull the strongest India-relevance scores at #26 and #28 globally.
| Category | Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 Rank |
|---|---|
| Overall | #31 globally, #7 UK |
| Social Studies | #26 globally, #5 UK |
| Engineering | #28 globally, #4 UK |
| Humanities | #30 globally, #6 UK |
| Arts | #30 globally, #6 UK |
| Medicine | #35 globally, #7 UK |
| Health Care | #35 globally, #7 UK |
| Law | #47 globally, #11 UK |
| Computer Science | #52 globally, #6 UK |
The Engineering stream sits at #4 in the UK, only three places behind the strongest Russell Group engineering schools. Computer Science lags at #6 in the UK, giving Indian applicants a clear tiering signal between Manchester’s flagship engineering disciplines and its CS pathway. Across all 8 stream categories, Manchester holds a UK top-10 spot in 7.
India-relevance: Manchester’s Collegedunia overall rank (#31) is 9 places higher than its QS World rank (#40). This is the widest CD-versus-QS gap among the UK top 10, signalling that India-specific data points lift the score.
The University of Manchester Times Higher Education Rankings 2026
THE scores teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook and industry income. Manchester has stayed between #50 and #56 across five THE editions, a narrow 6-position band signalling stable scoring even while QS drifted by 12 positions.
| Year | The University of Manchester THE World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | #56 |
| 2025 | #53 |
| 2024 | #51 |
| 2023 | #54 |
| 2022 | #50 |
Manchester’s 5-year THE average is #52.8, three positions ahead of the latest #56 print. The university has stayed #8 in the UK on THE for four consecutive editions. For Indian applicants, the degree’s research value to UK employers reading THE has not shifted since 2022.
Trend signal: THE’s 2026 teaching score for Manchester improved year-on-year while the overall rank fell 3 places. The headline drop was driven by international outlook and citation metrics, not classroom quality.
The University of Manchester ARWU Shanghai Rankings 2025
ARWU scores universities mainly on research output, citation counts and Nobel and Fields Medal counts. Manchester’s deepest movement came here, falling from #35 in 2021 to #52 in 2024 before climbing 6 places to #46 in 2025.
| Year | The University of Manchester ARWU Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #46 |
| 2024 | #52 |
| 2023 | #41 |
| 2022 | #38 |
| 2021 | #35 |
The 17-position 2021-to-2024 drop on ARWU contrasts with THE’s 1-position drift in the same window. The gap tells Indian PhD applicants the two bodies score different things, so a single ARWU year should not be read alone. ARWU 2025’s recovery brought Manchester to #13 in Europe and #6 in the UK.
What it signals: Manchester is now the only UK university to have moved by more than 15 ARWU positions across five years while staying inside the global top 50. This points to research-mix volatility, not research-quality weakness.
The University of Manchester Financial Times Rankings 2026
Alliance Manchester Business School is one of only five UK MBA programmes inside the global Financial Times top 50 for 2026. The school is ranked #49 worldwide, #15 in Europe and #5 in the UK, down 3 places from FT 2025’s #46 print.
| Category | Alliance Manchester Business School Rank |
|---|---|
| FT Global MBA 2026 (World) | #49 |
| FT Global MBA 2026 (Europe) | #15 |
| FT Global MBA 2026 (UK) | #5 |
| FT Sector Diversity 2026 (World) | #10 |
| FT Careers Service 2026 (World) | #8 |
AMBS climbed 43 places to #10 globally for sector diversity in FT 2026, the strongest single-category jump by any UK school this cycle. The #8 careers service rank is the highest in the UK. For Indian MBA aspirants who weight placement support over global rank, this is the more useful number.
India-relevance: AMBS holds #1 in the UK for sector diversity in FT 2026. Indian MBA candidates targeting non-finance sectors like tech, healthcare or energy will find broader recruiter coverage here than at narrower London-finance programmes.
The University of Manchester Subject Rankings
Manchester ranks in the global top 10 for 4 QS subjects in 2026, in the top 25 for 15 subjects and in the top 100 for 45 subjects. This is the broadest top-100 subject footprint among UK universities outside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial.
Subject Rank Highlights
- QS top 10 subjects (2026): Development Studies, Architecture, Geography and Nursing all in the world top 10.
- Biggest QS Subject 2026 gainer: Physics jumped 15 places to #34 globally, the sharpest single-year subject gain at Manchester.
- THE 2026 Engineering rank: #48 globally and #5 in the UK, Manchester’s strongest THE subject position.
- Business strength: THE Business and Economics #41 globally; QS Accounting and Finance #21 globally.
- Subject-vs-overall gap: 17 QS subjects rank ahead of the QS overall print of #40, so subject pick matters more than headline rank.
The University of Manchester QS Subject Rankings 2026
QS Subject Rankings 2026 placed Manchester inside the global top 25 for 15 subjects. Geography and Architecture stayed in the world top 10 alongside long-standing top-10 subjects Development Studies and Nursing.
| Subject | QS World Rank 2026 |
|---|---|
| Development Studies | #5 |
| Architecture and Built Environment | #5 |
| Geography | Top 10 |
| Nursing | #10 |
| Petroleum Engineering | #12 |
| Materials Science | #17 |
| Chemical Engineering | #17 |
| Pharmacy and Pharmacology | #18 |
| Sociology | #20 |
| Accounting and Finance | #21 |
| English Language and Literature | #22 |
| Chemistry | #23 |
| Anatomy and Physiology | Top 25 |
| Medicine | #26 |
| Modern Languages | #28 |
| Physics | #34 |
| Education | #35 |
| Dentistry | #48 |
Medicine moved 7 places higher and Modern Languages also gained 7. Physics’s 15-place climb to #34 outpaced both, a clear value signal for Indian STEM masters applicants. For applicants picking by subject, 18 subjects sit at #50 or stronger, all ahead of the overall QS #40 print.
The University of Manchester THE Subject Rankings 2026
THE Subject Rankings 2026 placed Manchester inside the global top 100 for 10 subject areas. Social Sciences ranked #32 globally and Engineering reached #5 in the UK at #48 globally.
| Subject Area | THE World Rank 2026 |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences | #32 |
| Arts and Humanities | #41 |
| Business and Economics | #41 |
| Engineering | #48 |
| Physical Sciences | =#51 |
| Medical and Health | #53 |
| Life Sciences | #57 |
| Computer Science | #76 |
| Law | #92 |
| Education Studies | #99 |
| Psychology | #101-125 |
Social Sciences gained 5 positions year-on-year and Physical Sciences gained 4. Computer Science at #76 sits 28 places weaker than Engineering, so the choice between MSc Computer Science and MSc Engineering at Manchester is a meaningful subject-rank decision for Indian applicants. Three of the top four subject blocks sit inside the global top 50.
Subject signal: Manchester’s THE Engineering rank (#48) is 28 places stronger than its THE Computer Science rank (#76), the widest internal subject gap at the university. Indian engineering applicants get a noticeably stronger brand than CS applicants do.
The University of Manchester Regional Rankings
Manchester ranks inside the European top 10 on QS and at #2 globally on THE University Impact Rankings 2025. This is the strongest international standing of any UK university outside Oxbridge for sustainability and global engagement.
| Regional or Specialised Ranking | The University of Manchester Rank |
|---|---|
| QS Europe Rankings 2026 | #9 in Europe |
| QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 | #10 globally |
| THE University Impact Rankings 2025 | #2 globally |
| THE Most International Universities 2026 | #22 globally |
| ARWU Europe Ranking 2025 | #13 in Europe |
Manchester ranks #1 in the UK and #2 in the world for THE Impact in 2025. Indian applicants targeting climate, public-health or development-studies programmes will find the strongest verified sustainability scoring among UK choices here. The QS Europe #9 print places Manchester ahead of King’s College London (#11) and behind Edinburgh (#7).
Key insight: The 30-position gap between Manchester’s THE Impact rank (#2) and its THE World rank (#56) is the widest impact-vs-world gap of any UK Russell Group university. Sustainability and social work are rated far higher than research-output work.
Read More: The University of Manchester Scholarships 2027 for Indian Students
The University of Manchester Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
Manchester hosts approximately 1,500 Indian students, one of the largest Indian cohorts at any UK Russell Group university. The rank data tells Indian applicants the strongest pathways are Engineering, Business, Social Sciences and Pharmacy.
Across the official Manchester India page and Collegedunia profile, the five courses most chosen by Indian students each year line up with the university’s strongest subject ranks:
- MSc Computer Science and MSc Data Science: THE Computer Science #76; large Indian cohort and strong Manchester tech recruiter base.
- MBA and MSc Finance at Alliance Manchester Business School: FT MBA #49 globally, #5 UK; QS Accounting and Finance #21 globally.
- MSc Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Materials): THE Engineering #48 globally; QS Chemical Engineering and Materials Science both #17 globally.
- MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management: AMBS-housed; strongest sector-diversity rank in the UK (FT #1).
- MSc Pharmacy and MSc Public Health: QS Pharmacy #18 globally; THE Impact rank #2 globally for health and sustainability programmes.
| India-relevant Data Point | Rank or Figure |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad overall rank | #31 globally, #7 UK |
| QS rank Indian recruiters cite | #40 globally |
| Strongest engineering subject for Indian STEM applicants | QS Chemical Engineering #17 |
| Closest Indian alternative (Engineering) | IIT Bombay QS Engineering #48 |
| Approximate Indian student count | 1,500 |
| South Asia merit scholarship value | Up to £24,000 (around ₹25 Lakh) across the degree |
India-Specific Signals
- CD-vs-QS gap: Manchester’s Collegedunia rank (#31) is 9 places ahead of its QS rank (#40), one of the widest CD lifts among UK universities.
- Engineering parity with IIT Bombay: Manchester THE Engineering #48 equals IIT Bombay’s QS Engineering rank, so the decision turns on UK post-study work rights and AMBS access.
- Subject-pick edge: 18 QS subjects sit at #50 or stronger, all ahead of Manchester’s #40 overall rank.
- Stability of UK position: Manchester has held a UK top-8 position across QS, THE and CD for four consecutive editions.
- Impact lift for health and climate applicants: THE Impact #2 globally outperforms Manchester’s overall world rank by 54 places.
For Indian students reading Manchester’s rank pattern, the takeaway is that the QS slide from #28 to #40 over five years hides a stable UK top-8 standing. The university also holds a top-50 brand in 4 of 5 ranking bodies, and the 9-place Collegedunia lift over QS signals stronger India-relevant scoring than the global headline suggests.
FAQs
Ques. What is the QS ranking of The University of Manchester in 2027?
Ans. The University of Manchester ranks #40 in QS World University Rankings 2027, holding the #8 spot in the UK. The latest edition was released in June 2026 and dropped Manchester 5 places from its QS 2026 print of #35.
Ques. Where does The University of Manchester rank in the THE World University Rankings 2026?
Ans. The University of Manchester ranks #56 globally and #8 in the UK in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. Manchester has held a UK top-8 THE position for four consecutive editions, with a 5-year global average of #52.8.
Ques. What is The University of Manchester ranking for Indian students on Collegedunia Study Abroad?
Ans. The University of Manchester ranks #31 globally and #7 in the UK on Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026. The university ranks in the UK top 10 in 7 of 8 stream categories, with Engineering at #4 UK as the strongest stream pick.
Ques. What is the world ranking of Alliance Manchester Business School in the Financial Times MBA 2026?
Ans. Alliance Manchester Business School ranks #49 globally, #15 in Europe and #5 in the UK in Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2026. AMBS climbed 43 places to #10 globally for sector diversity, the strongest single-category gain by any UK school this cycle.
Ques. Which subject is The University of Manchester ranked highest for in QS Subject Rankings 2026?
Ans. Manchester ranks #5 globally in Development Studies and Architecture and Built Environment in QS Subject Rankings 2026. The university has 4 subjects in the world top 10, 15 in the top 25 and 45 in the top 100.
Ques. How has The University of Manchester ranking changed over the last 5 years on QS?
Ans. Manchester’s QS World rank moved from #28 in 2023 to #40 in 2027, a 12-position drop across five releases. The 5-year average sits at #33.8, and the academic reputation score has stayed stable at #32 even as the overall rank slipped.
Ques. Is The University of Manchester a good choice for Indian students based on rankings?
Ans. Yes, The University of Manchester ranks in the world top 50 on 4 of 5 ranking bodies and the UK top 10 across every body. For Indian applicants, the Collegedunia rank (#31 globally) sits 9 places ahead of the QS rank (#40), and 18 QS subjects rank stronger than the overall print.
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