Faculty of Humanities

The University of Manchester

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Research study isn't for everyone, but you are not just anyone. Research like you mean it. We offer postgraduate research programmes in almost 40 diverse subject areas. Pursue research you’re passionate about whilst supported by experts in your field across our four academic Schools: Alliance Manchester Business School, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Environment, Education and Development and the School of Social Sciences. Our research embraces disciplines as diverse as business, arts, languages and cultures, environment, education and development, and law.

Why study at the Faculty of Humanities?

Our Faculty offers a range of full studentships and funding opportunities for UK and international students to undertake PhD study (such as the ESRC NWSSDTP).

Complete your PhD at a university ranked 7th in the UK (QS World Rankings 2026) as part of a diverse postgraduate research community of over one thousand researchers, supported by the Doctoral Academy.

Humanities at Manchester is home to leading research departments in the UK such as Classics, Drama, Development Studies and Sociology (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) with 93% of the research activity at the University rated as 'world-leading'.

1,200

postgraduate students

7th

in the UK - QS World Rankings 2026

Manchester United Kingdom

main campus

About the Faculty of Humanities

Every day, our Faculty of Humanities is alive with research. Around every corner, over one thousand Humanities postgraduate researchers explore their life’s passion and work on projects that will improve society. They work hard. They have setbacks. They go again.

They help to change the world through their research big and small. They give themselves a future advantage by developing the skills that academia, employers and the world are crying out for. Here, postgraduate researchers can discover the ideal environment for their research with expert supervisors who are there to support them every step of their journey.

During your research study, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant minds across our world-leading university and beyond supported by a range of funding and studentships. You will also feel like you belong, as part of a diverse and much bigger research community within our Doctoral Academy with the facilities, networks, resources and heritage you’d expect from a global research powerhouse..

All of this is at the heart of a vibrant global city that has a rich heritage of Humanities, innovation and thinking differently. This is where our students carry out research with purpose.

Student life at the Faculty of Humanities

When you become a postgraduate researcher, you'll join a diverse and vibrant community of doctoral students from nearly 100 different countries, all studying within the Faculty of Humanities.