I loved my time at the University of Manchester, I cannot fault the teaching staff or the content of my course, nor can I complain about the Students Union or extracurricular activities. The one thing which soured my wonderful experience is how the University and it’s policies affected students, it is clear that us and our wellbeing were not their priority. Over my time at the University of Manchester there has been at least 3 major strikes by staff, which in my personal experience have been backed completely by the students, we support the strikers and want to see our teachers, lecturers and those employed by the university paid a fair wage, with a fair pension and job security. The University of Manchester continuously over my 4 years at the university failed to do this, and therefore failed the students too. Not only this but a series of policies created by the university during the 20/21 academic year saw an increased police presence on campus, with students being subjected to intimidation and distress within the place they were calling home. This is wholly unacceptable and went on for far too long, until the struggles of these students finally received media attention. It is clear that the university was out of touch with how their policies were affecting students, and they didn’t care. Finally the vice chancellor Nancy Rothwell is not supported by the majority of the student body, and in a referendum held in 2021 89% of voting students declared they had no confidence in her leadership, following on from the University staff voting the same. Unfortunately nothing has changed because despite this vote of no confidence being the first in the Universities 200 year history, the university itself refuses to abide by the will of the students and change with the times.

I really enjoyed my time at the University of Manchester despite my many qualms with the administrative departments, it is clear how deeply many of the academic staff care both about their students and their subjects, by how they choose to go above and beyond what is required, yet the behaviour of those in charge of the university and their refusal to change has left a slightly sour taste in my mouth.

Don’t let this stop you from applying or even going to UOM just keep in mind that to the University leadership, you don’t matter that much.