Manchester Voices: A student podcast from The University of Manchester

In this episode, Cher, Hassan, Afriyie and Eve talk about settling into University, from getting comfortable on campus, to figuring out life in a new city. They share what helped, what surprised them, and what they wish they'd known from the start. 

Whether you're thinking about applying, or already settling in, our guests offer their insight into what can make the transition feel a little easier!

Thinking about applying to The University of Manchester? In this episode, students Yasmin, Swarali, Thabisile and Michael open up about their experiences of applying to university, what worried them, what helped them through and how they decided on their courses. They’re joined by Huw from the Student Recruitment team, who explains the application process and answers common questions from applicants.

Welcome to another episode of Manchester Voices! In this episode, we dive into the experiences of students living with disabilities at university. From accessibility challenges to the support systems in place, our guests share their personal stories, struggles, and triumphs.

In this episode, we sit down with members of the University of Manchester's Men's Mental Health Walking Society to discuss the importance of staying active for mental well-being. 🧠🚶‍♂️ From breaking down stigmas around men's mental health to sharing personal stories of growth, connection, and resilience, this conversation highlights how a simple walk can lead to powerful conversations.

Do you know the different ways the University is helping to keep students safe? During this episode, our panel discuss their experiences of feeling safe as a student, ways we could improve safety on campus, as well as looking towards our Reclaim the Night march on Thursday 21 November. 

Considering studying a PhD? Whether at Manchester or elsewhere, this podcast will provide you with the first hand experience's of three PhD students to help inform your decision. Students Charlotte, Mahesh and Lishan talk about their experiences of three very different PhD programmes. 

Chapters: 

00:17 Details of each guest's research
08:04 Work-life balance 
14:04 Managing your time 
19:27 Different between work and study 
23:49 Life after your PhD 
25:18 How to get started with a PhD and the importance of choosing the right supervisor 
29:43 What was the biggest surprise? 
32:22 Do you love your PhD? 
35:31 Teaching alongside your PhD and the difference to degrees in China especially 
40:51 Your experience at The University of Manchester, settling in and moving from elsewhere
46:27 Signing off from the team!

Our students had a catch-up in The Red Lion, in Withington near our Fallowfield student accommodation. Evie, Jacob, Maansi and Andrea discussed their experiences of Halls in first year, and moving out of Halls in their second year. They talk about shared bathrooms, catered food, making friends and all things Halls of Residence. 

We welcome all students to our diverse and beautiful student community, including those that identify under the LGBTQ+ spectrum. 

Our students, Madi, Esa, Chris and Ray talk about all their experiences of being students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

They discuss how they feel about the city of Manchester as a supporting diverse community; the support on offer to them from the University, including that of from the Students' Union; what spaces and societies they feel most at home in at the University; the perceptions of LGBTQ+ people in the city and the UK more widely; and of course - Gay Village and its many nightclubs, bars and cafes. 

For this special episode of Manchester Voices, we brought in three recent graduates of the University to talk about their experiences of finding work after university, top tips on how to make the most of your time at the University, how to make yourself more employable during your studies, and the future for them. 

Giorgia Ravera is a Sustainability Coordinator and graduate in Politics and International Relations. 
Michael Sullivan is a Software Scientist at Rutherford Appleton Lab and studied both a Master's in Theoretical Physics and a PhD in Particle Physics of Philosophy at the University. 
Norbert Magos is a Senior Policy Advisor and a graduate of Politics and International Relations. 

It's very natural to feel lonely at university! In a sea of thousands of people, this is still a very normal experience. There is plenty support and advice for you if you experience this. Our students Maansi, Dorsa and Tom have come together to talk about their experiences and offer you some support.