Nursing in Manchester: Studying, working and living guide
Find out about nursing in Manchester - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Manchester is a hugely popular city to live and work in. It has a rich industrial heritage and is one of the UK’s biggest and busiest cities, with something to offer everyone. That makes it a great place to be a student, or a professional. This guide examines what Manchester is like to live, work and study in, looking at everything from costs and popular living areas to nightlife and job prospects.
Where do nurses work in Manchester?
There are many NHS hospitals in Manchester and they are the biggest employers in the city. The largest NHS Trust here is the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which includes North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
North Manchester General Hospital
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Wythenshawe Hospital
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
But there are other employers to consider as well.
Manchester also has many private hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and community health centres which are frequently on the lookout for Registered Nurses.
In truth, whatever your level of experience, specialism or preference, there are always a huge number of live vacancies for nurses in Manchester.
Where do aspiring nurses study in Manchester?
There is more than one university in Manchester for anyone wanting train to become a nurse. These are the University of Manchester or Manchester Metropolitan University. Both universities have campuses spread across Greater Manchester.
Manchester Metropolitan University campus is in two areas: Birley and All Saints.
The University of Manchester also has two campuses: one based on Oxford Road, formally known as The Victoria University of Manchester campus, and one in Sackville Street.
Find our nursing university guide here.
Manchester Metropolitan University is ranked 4th in the UK for nursing according to The Guardian’s most recent University Guide.
Where do nurses live in Manchester?
Nurses in Manchester live all over the city. Manchester offers brilliant transport links and is hugely popular with students from all over the UK – and the world.
Popular locations in Manchester for nurses include:
Manchester city centre
Ever popular for obvious reasons
Fallowfield
A short walk away from the University of Manchester main campus with lots of bars, restaurants and green spaces nearby.
Rusholme
Close to various university campuses and lots of great amenities
Oxford Road
A vibrant area with lots to offer for every budget
Manchester has areas that cater to every budget and personality, from students looking for somewhere active and social, as well as areas that are better suited to families.
What are the living costs for nurses in Manchester?
Manchester is one of the more expensive places to live in the UK, whether you’re a student or a nursing professional.
Here is a general guide to some of the different costs of living in the city.
The average price for a home in Manchester is currently £285,000 – marginally lower than the national average of £293,000, but higher than most other northern towns or cities.
The average rental price for a property in Manchester is £1000 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £500.
Council tax costs vary a lot across the city. But most people across Manchester are in a Band B property or similar, which means paying £1456.45 a year. This works out to just over £120 per a month.
Shopping, eating out and entertainment are broadly a little more expensive than the rest of the UK, owing to Manchester’s growing international reputation. However, it’s never hard to find cheaper options in the city.
Manchester is, overall, a bit more expensive when compared to to other areas of the UK, but that is to be expected from an area with so much to do and see!
Is travel easy in Manchester?
Manchester has lots of transport links across the city and to the rest of the UK. There are many motorways which pass close to Manchester such as the M62, M6 and M60 (ring road). Manchester is just over a 4-hour drive from London.
Manchester is just over two-hours by train from London, or a 30- minute train journey from Liverpool.
Manchester Airport is located 7.5 miles southwest of Manchester city centre and has flights all over the UK, as well as to Europe and the US. The city also has an excellent tram service which connects most of Manchester’s suburbs to the city centre.
What to do in Manchester: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
Manchester is known for being a livley city and has lots to offer for your free time.
Culture and attractions
Manchester is popular with tourists from all over the UK and the world for its attractions.
Its renowned architecture is showcased in many places including John Rylands Library and Manchester Cathedral. For those seeking green, RHS Garden Bridgewater is well-loved for its beautiful gardens and is one of the largest gardening projects in Europe.
Manchester also has a rich music and arts scene. A few of the best music venues include Albert Hall, The Met and AO (Europe’s largest indoor concert venue). Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum, the Imperial War Museum North and HOME are excellent for arts and culture.
Manchester United Football Club play their matches at Old Trafford and Manchester City play their matches at the Etihad Stadium.
Nightlife and eating out
Manchester offers multiple options for nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs. And when it comes to food, there is something for everyone in Manchester from gastropubs to restaurants.
Highlights include:
The Sparrows – known for its hand-made European dishes
OSMA - with seasonal, locally sourced produce and exquisite flavours
Mana – a Michelin star restaurant
The Laundrette – the number one TripAdvisor restaurant in Manchester
This is just a small preview of the varity that Manchester has to offer.
What are the school options in Manchester?
If you are also thinking about where you might need to send your children to school, Manchester offers a range of options.
The performance and quality of schools according to Ofsted ratings varies across the city, but there are a remarkable 55 outstanding schools across Manchester – which bodes well for anyone moving with family.
Manchester has 158 primary schools and 65 secondary schools, as well as 57 private independent schools – so there is no shortage of options.
Population and demographics in Manchester
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Manchester
Greater Manchester has a population of 2,770,000 while 550,000 live in the city itself
Its population density is 12,000 per square mile
Manchester is the 3rd largest city in the UK according to City Monitor
7.1% of Manchester’s population is unemployed - higher than the UK average
In summary: is Manchester a good place to be a Nurse?
Manchester is an outstanding place to live, study and work. It’s one of the UK’s great cities with a global reputation. It offers something for everyone, with history, culture and so much to do.
Travel and connections are exceptional, allowing you to get around the city, and the rest of the UK, very easily.
If you’re eager to start planning a move to Manchester, check out our latest roles in the city to see what is on offer, and where.
The only challenge is affordability – which we can briefly assess in terms of your potential earnings. Here are a couple of examples:
As a newly qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a house you would have around £850 a month left for other bills and living costs
As a Band 6 Nurse with a few years’ experience, you would be likely to qualify for a mortgage on an average-priced one-bed flat in the city. However, prices do very drastically from one part of the city to the next
Ultimately, Manchester isn’t the cheapest city to study or work as a nurse in the UK. But it’s an exceptional place to live, so the higher cost is unsurprising.
