Graduates to Benefit from 10% Postgraduate Fee Discount Across Manchester Universities

In October 2023, two universities in the UK announced that they would be working together to introduce a joint discount programme for Manchester University alumni. This initiative was the first of its kind. From September 2026 onwards, both graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University and graduates from The University of Manchester would automatically qualify for a common 10% discount from respective postgraduate fee payments, within taught postgraduate programmes in both institutions. Landmark partnership in their own right, the leaders described this effort as taking a new approach towards a form of alumni incentive around UK universities.

Officials explained that the scheme was intended to improve postgraduate access affordability in Manchester, as it also helped develop the city's talent pipeline and economy. They added that it answered the Government's call in its Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper to have universities work collaboratively on higher education initiatives across the UK to support students and drive economic growth.

View of Leadership

Professor Malcolm Press, Vice‑Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University, stated that Manchester had a long history of collaboration between its universities for the benefit of students, the city region, and the national economy. He added that the new alumni loyalty scheme denoted tangible progress into deeper partnerships and that both institutions were committed to exploring further opportunities for collaboration in higher education in Manchester.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice‑Chancellor of The University of Manchester, explained that the partnership was aimed at creating flourishing communities where there were good quality jobs. He noted that by providing additional opportunities for people to extend their education, the universities were increasing access to knowledge and offering greater support to wider society. He also said that the scheme would cement ties both locally and globally, describing it as the beginning of a strategic relationship that would be built on the distinctive strengths of both institutions.

Historical Context

Both universities traced their founding back to the Manchester Mechanics Institution of 1824, which had been created for the educated workforce required by the city's industrial revolution. Today, Manchester houses one of the largest student populations in Europe. Excellence in higher education was emphasised through The University of Manchester, which ranked 7th in the UK in the QS World University Ranking in 2026, while Manchester Metropolitan was recognised as Modern University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

The joint School of Architecture created by the universities was ranked 5th in the world in the QS World Subject Rankings, while initiatives such as the Greater Manchester University Mental Health Service continued to demonstrate cross-institutional alumni discount, collaborative efforts and partnerships with regional organisations in support of students.

Implications for Students

This alumni loyalty scheme for UK universities was confirmed to be valid from September 2026 for any student who had graduated from either institution. It showed how Manchester Met and The University of Manchester would offer a 10% fee discount to each other's graduates from September 2026, and what that might mean for postgraduate students under the alumni loyalty discount between the two Manchester universities.

Observers commented that it might affect the affordability of education through its introduction as part of the Manchester joint alumni discount scheme; thus, it would make postgraduate programmes in Manchester more affordable under the alumni scheme. As the first such cross‑institution discount and given its possible effects on enrolment for higher education in Manchester, reasons were provided as to why Manchester's universities were working together on alumni benefits to bolster skills and the economy of the city region.

Requirements for eligibility, participating types of courses, and how to apply for postgraduate courses via the Manchester alumni discount were said to be made available by early 2026. In this regard, prospective students would be able to check if they qualified for the Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount and enrol as alumni at partner Manchester universities for postgraduate credentials towards achieving fee reduction in northern England universities' postgraduate programmes.

Editor’s note:

Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester have jointly announced a significant initiative to support their graduates: a 10% discount on postgraduate fees in the UK for alumni of both institutions. This collaboration aims to make postgraduate education more accessible and affordable, thereby strengthening the city's skills pipeline. The joint announcement underscores a major step in inter-university cooperation to benefit graduates. University leaders described the partnership as being more than just about cost‑cutting, but also a solid step towards building closer relations between the two institutions and their communities. They emphasised that partnership in higher education was critical in providing opportunities, supporting local economies in which graduates lived, and allowing for the continuous enrichment of graduates' knowledge. It was seen as part of a wider trend of UK universities' alumni incentives, where loyalty schemes were being used to encourage further study. Alongside such initiatives, this responded to the Government’s call for collaborative higher education initiatives across the UK, showing how universities could come together to drive growth and widen access. For students, the meaning was clear: postgraduate programmes in Manchester were set to become easier to access for many more graduates wishing to pursue further study. Since the partnership also epitomised the long history of academic collaboration in Manchester, it presented the city as one of Europe's leading centres of higher education.

Skoobuzz underlines that this initiative was both a practical and symbolic success: it reduced costs for alumni while simultaneously illustrating the potential for university collaboration to benefit students, strengthen communities, and boost the overall economy.

FAQs

1.Which Manchester universities are giving discounts to graduates?

Both Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester are offering discounts to their graduates. The scheme allows alumni from either institution to benefit from reduced fees when enrolling in postgraduate taught programmes at the other.

2.How much discount do alumni get under the new scheme?

Graduates will receive a 10% postgraduate fee discount under the new alumni loyalty scheme. This applies across taught postgraduate programmes at both universities.

3.When does the Manchester alumni discount for postgraduate degrees start?

The joint alumni discount scheme will begin in September 2026. From this date, eligible graduates from either university can apply for postgraduate study with the reduced fee.

4.Can alumni of one Manchester university study at the other with a discounted fee?

Yes. Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University can study at The University of Manchester with a discount, and vice versa. The scheme is designed as a cross‑institution alumni discount, making postgraduate study more affordable across both universities.

5.Is this the first time UK universities have offered a cross-institution alumni discount?

Yes. This is the first scheme of its kind in the UK, where two separate universities have agreed to offer an alumni discount to their students. It marks a new approach to UK universities' alumni incentives and highlights growing collaboration in higher education.