You get big-city amenities and a legendary music heritage at prices well below London, with a huge and welcoming student population. Green escapes are close, so you are never stuck in the concrete.

• The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan share one huge campus corridor.
• It is the birthplace of a legendary music scene, from Joy Division to Oasis.
• It is cheaper and more relaxed than London with big-city amenities.

Fallowfield is the student heartland, while the Northern Quarter holds the best independent bars. The city's music legacy still shapes its nightlife.

• Fallowfield is the student heartland, and the Northern Quarter has the best bars.
• The Warehouse Project and venues like Band on the Wall keep the music legacy alive.
• The Studcasa Manchester group is handy for gigs, housemates and match tickets.

Manchester offers good value for a major city, and the transport network now has contactless fare caps. The Curry Mile is a budget student saviour.

• Budget around GBP 850-1,400 a month, good value for a major city.
• Bee Network trams and buses now have contactless daily and weekly fare caps.
• The Curry Mile in Rusholme does huge, cheap meals.

Fallowfield and Withington along Wilmslow Road are the classic student areas, with Ancoats and the Northern Quarter for city-centre living. Leafier Chorlton and Didsbury cost a little more.

• Fallowfield and Withington are the classic student areas along Wilmslow Road.
• Ancoats and the Northern Quarter suit those who want city-centre life.
• Chorlton and Didsbury are leafier and a bit pricier.

The Metrolink tram network is the UK's largest, and buses and trams now share contactless capping. Three central stations link the North.

• Metrolink trams, the UK's largest network, reach the suburbs and the airport.
• The Bee Network buses and trams share contactless fare capping.
• Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road stations link the North.

Several large universities give the city one of the biggest student populations in Europe. Terms follow the usual UK calendar.

• The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford and the RNCM are the hosts.
• Terms run late September to June.

Since Brexit, EU citizens no longer have free movement, so most non-Irish students need permission to study. For an exchange of up to six months you can often come under the Short-term study route or simply as a Standard Visitor, depending on your nationality and course length. For a full year you will need a Student visa sponsored by your host university.

What applies depends entirely on your passport, so confirm with the university and official UK government guidance early. The Student visa needs a CAS reference from your uni, proof of funds and usually the immigration health surcharge, so budget both time and money for it.

• Exchange under 6 months, often Standard Visitor or Short-term study
• Full year, Student visa with a CAS from your uni
• Irish citizens, no visa needed under the Common Travel Area
• Budget for the immigration health surcharge on longer visas

Manchester's food scene runs from the Curry Mile to buzzing food halls, and its museums are free. Music and football are woven into daily life.

• Rusholme's Curry Mile and Chinatown are food institutions.
• Mackie Mayor and Altrincham Market are buzzing food halls.
• Free museums include the Science and Industry Museum and Manchester Art Gallery.

The city runs from the student terraces south to the creative centre and leafy suburbs. Each area has a distinct pace and price.

• Fallowfield and Withington for student life.
• The Northern Quarter and Ancoats for bars, brunch and creativity.
• Chorlton and Didsbury for a calmer, greener base.

The Peak District is on the doorstep, and other northern cities are close by train. The Lakes and Snowdonia make bigger weekends easy.

• The Peak District (Edale, Castleton) is about 45 minutes by train.
• Liverpool and Leeds are both about 50-60 minutes.
• The Lake District, Chester and Snowdonia are all easy weekends.

Housing in Fallowfield moves fast, so sort it early. Pack for rain and pick your football allegiance with care.

• Sort a house early, as the Fallowfield market moves fast by autumn.
• Bring a proper raincoat; Manchester's reputation for rain is earned.
• Choose a football allegiance carefully, as the city is fiercely divided.