Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Salford sits right next to Manchester. The main Peel Park campus is beside a big Victorian park and the River Irwell, with Salford Crescent station on site, and central Manchester is a short train or bus ride away. Media and digital students also spend time at the MediaCity campus at Salford Quays, next door to the BBC and ITV.
It's a large, practical university of around 26,000 students, with lots of career-focused courses. First-year accommodation is simple: one main partner hall, Peel Park Quarter, right on campus. You get the whole Manchester scene on your doorstep without living in the middle of it.
Known for
The University of Salford is 53rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 50.4, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Bishop Grosseteste University | 50.9 |
| 52 | Robert Gordon University | 50.4 |
| 53 | University of Salford | 50.4 |
| 54 | Oxford Brookes University | 49.8 |
| 55 | Liverpool Hope University | 49.7 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
7th of 124 · Sustainability Score 73.3
37th of 124 · Innovation Score 61.4
37th of 124 · Social Score 55.7
37th of 124 · Inclusion Score 68.7
52nd of 124 · Nightlife Score 52.2
54th of 124 · Societies Score 52.3
59th of 123 · Happiness Score 47.2
64th of 124 · Affordability Score 53.5
72nd of 124 · Balance Score 40.3
85th of 122 · Careers Score 26.9
87th of 124 · Employability Score 25.7
92nd of 124 · Freshers Score 47
95th of 124 · Safety Score 29.6
97th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 41.2
100th of 124 · Value Score 36.3
Salford as a student city
Ranked 47th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 49.2.
The University of Salford appears in 55 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 6th | of 55 | 130 |
| Film Production | 10th | of 87 | 193 |
| Performing Arts | 5th | of 37 | 108 |
| Media and Communication | 11th | of 79 | 172 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 9th | of 60 | 137 |
| Sociology | 13th | of 86 | 172 |
| Physiotherapy | 8th | of 49 | 126 |
| Electrical Engineering | 11th | of 67 | 143 |
| Surveying | 4th | of 24 | 84 |
| Social Work | 12th | of 67 | 162 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
The University of Salford Students' Union runs the societies, sports clubs and student events, along with advice and support. On campus, Peel Park itself is great for downtime, and there's a sports centre plus the Atmosphere bar and café. The big draw is Manchester: the city centre's bars, clubs, gig venues and shops are a short hop by train from Salford Crescent or by bus. Salford Quays and MediaCity have waterside bars, restaurants and the Lowry arts centre.
University halls cost £169.50–£199.50 per week (Peel Park Quarter en-suites, as listed by Campus Living Villages in October 2026) (2026/27 (as listed by the operator; year not stated on the price display) prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university's accommodation pages don't publish a formal accommodation guarantee. New first-year undergraduates book Peel Park Quarter directly through Campus Living Villages (CLV), the university's partner, and the university advises checking for cancellations if rooms are sold out. Peel Park Quarter isn't available to postgraduates.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts | Near Frederick Road campus | shared bathroom (flats of 2–4) | £131/wk | Also run by CLV but not university accommodation. Shared-bathroom rooms are listed at about £131–£162 a week. Handy for Frederick Road (health) and MediaCity, and a short walk to Peel Park. There's a gym, 24-hour security and parking. |
| Peel Park Quarter | Peel Park campus | en-suite (flats of 4–10) | £169.50/wk | The university's main first-year hall, run by Campus Living Villages. En-suite rooms cost £169.50–£199.50 a week, depending on grade. It has 24/7 staff, a free gym, a cinema room and a games room, and bills and wifi are included. Minutes from lectures. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Closest to Peel Park campus and usually cheaper than central Manchester.
Modern waterside flats, handy for MediaCity students, though usually pricier.
Right in the action, with lots of private student blocks. A short train or bus ride to campus, but the priciest option.
Top tip
Book Peel Park Quarter directly on the Campus Living Villages website as soon as you've got your place. Some room grades sell out early, but cancellations do happen. If you miss out, the university's housing advice team can help with private options across Salford and Manchester.
Salford is generally cheaper than central Manchester, but costs have risen. The university's own guide suggests around £100–£250 a month for food and £150–£250 for socialising. Peel Park Quarter costs £169.50–£199.50 a week with bills included. Bus fares are cheap, at £2 a single, and an All Term Pass is £330.
Getting around
Salford Crescent station is on the Peel Park campus, with frequent trains into Manchester. Bee Network buses run between Salford, the campuses and Manchester city centre. The university quotes a £2 bus single, a £63.30 monthly student bus pass and a £330 All Term Pass. MediaCity is also on the Metrolink tram network.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Salford is 53rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 50.4. Its strongest results are for sustainability (7th), innovation (37th), social life (37th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Salford places highest for Costume Design (3rd of 10). Across our awards, it also stands out for sustainability.
It's in Salford, which is a separate city right next to Manchester. The Peel Park campus is a short train ride from Manchester city centre, from Salford Crescent station on campus, or a quick bus ride, so you can easily enjoy everything Manchester has to offer.
Most live in Peel Park Quarter, the university's partner hall on the Peel Park campus, run by Campus Living Villages. All rooms are en-suite in flats of 4–10, with bills and wifi included.
Campus Living Villages lists en-suite rooms at £169.50–£199.50 a week, depending on room grade. Check the CLV website for availability, because some grades sell out early.
The university doesn't publish a formal guarantee. You book Peel Park Quarter directly with Campus Living Villages, so apply early. Rooms can come back up when people cancel, and there are other options such as John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts.
It's Salford's campus at MediaCity in Salford Quays, the media hub that's home to the BBC and ITV in the north. It's used for media, digital and performance courses.
Buses are cheap. The university quotes £2 for a single journey, £63.30 for a monthly bus pass and £330 for an All Term Pass. Trains from Salford Crescent get you into central Manchester in a few minutes.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
