University of Salford

Overview

The University of Salford has a long history of working with the industry to get graduates career-ready. It was founded in 1850, before being awarded full university status in 1967. Currently, there are 25,000 students, including 4,500 international students, enrolled across three campuses.

All of Salford's courses are informed by the industry and offer opportunities to gain real-world experience by doing placements, live projects, field trips and hearing from guest speakers. Many of their courses are accredited by top industry bodies. Students can seek out career guidance and advice from the university’s Careers and Enterprise team, which offers free support to students for life.

The university is the only institution to have a campus in MediaCity, a creative media hub, home to pioneering media start-ups and industry titans such as the BBC and ITV. Students studying at MediaCity have the opportunity to learn with industry-standard equipment, hear from expert guest speakers and collaborate with the sector. Salford is in the middle of its £2.5 billion Crescent Masterplan, and the latest part of this, the new £65 million Science, Engineering and Environment building, has opened at the heart of the University’s Peel Park campus. The new building features cutting-edge facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, which is used by the University’s engineering, science and built environment students.

Services for International Students

• The University of Salford Students’ Union hosts a weekly International Café to help international students come together and make new friends.
• There are over 70 different societies spanning everything from culture and faith to academics and sports, helping international students to make the most out of their time at Salford.
• There is also an on-campus Faith Centre on Peel Park campus which welcomes students of all faiths for group worship, private prayer, personal reflection, social activities and pastoral support.
• Salford runs several English language programmes, including the British Council accredited Pre-sessional English course, to support students who do not yet have the English language qualifications they need to get onto their chosen degree at Salford. They also offer the International Foundation Year for students who have finished high school in their own country but don't yet have the qualifications to go straight on a UK university programme.
• International students can also benefit from the Learn English for Academic Purposes (LEAP) programme, which helps students throughout their course to improve their English through webinars and one-to-one tutorials.
• The University of Salford has a dedicated Home Office Compliance team that provide ongoing visa support for students.
• The University’s Careers and Enterprise have dedicated international advisers who can help international students find part-time work, internships, and placements and explore their career goals. There is also an on-campus student recruitment agency.

Ranking

• 72nd in the Times University Guide 2025
• 83rd in the Guardian University Guide 2025

The results of REF 2021 confirm the excellence of the research carried out at Salford and the University of Salford is delighted to report that 78% of the University of Salford's research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Highlights include:

• In five unit submissions, the University of Salford's research impact was rated as 100% outstanding or very considerable in terms of reach and significance;
• The University of Salford's highest performing submission for ‘outputs’ was Area Studies with 44% rated as world-leading and 94% rated as world-leading or internationally excellent;
• The University of Salford's highest performing submission for ‘impact’ was Social Work & Social Policy with 75% of impact rated as outstanding and 100% rated as outstanding or very considerable;
• The University's highest performing submission for ‘environment’ was Architecture, Built Environment and Planning with 63% of the environment rated as world-leading and 100% rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Accommodation

Salford has two student halls of residence, Peel Park Quarter and John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts. Peel Park Quarter is located on the university’s Peel Park campus and is available to first-year undergraduate students only. John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts are located close to the University’s Frederick Road Campus and are available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The university also works with Manchester Student Homes to help students find private off-campus accommodation options. Manchester Student Homes only works with fully vetted Landlords and also offers Salford students a free rental contract checking service.

Location

The University of Salford is located in Greater Manchester, close to the vibrant city of Manchester in the northwest of England. Around 99,000 students choose to live in Manchester, making it a very student-friendly city. Salford has a celebrated music and creative scene with numerous art galleries and museums near campus.

If you’re interested in sports, the city is home to one of the biggest football clubs in the world, Manchester United. The University’s Peel Park campus is located next to Peel Park, a natural haven in the hustle of bustle of the city. Students can benefit from this green space whilst also only being a 20-minute walk from the cosmopolitan Manchester city centre.

Alumni

• Sir Ben Kingsley (Actor)
• Jason Manford (Comedian)
• Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
• Andres James Bond (Former Chief Executive of Asda)
• LS Lowry (Painter)