I did a photography course here and it is a good place to learn something new. The canteen is very…read moregood but also check out the smaller canteen on the 2nd floor as it is much cheaper although the range of food on offer isn't as great. The teaching staff were very good and friendly. There is a very large library with free internet access and computer use, although you have to pay for printing. There is lots of support from staff and fellow students and I would recommend the college to anyone in the area

Stockport College, located on the main A6 in Stockport is a great place for further and higher…read moreeducation in the Northwest. They run hundreds of courses every year in many different subjects over there 2 campuses - Stockport and Heaton Moor, varying from an hour a week diplomas to full time BTEC/HNDs. The college is a vast but friendly place, with a very cheap and cheerful Students Union bar. You can also book yourself in for a discounted hair or beauty treatment at the college salon on the 3rd floor at the Stockport campus.

The University of Manchester's Student Union is very mediocre and disappointingly so given the size…read moreof the student population. I assume the fact that so many people live in Fallowfield, where there is ample nightlife, has rendered the Union pretty much defunct as a venue for student nights whereas the antithesis is often found to be the case at other campus universities. The bar has been revamped and now resembles a burlesque-themed brothel. I've only been there once. Biko's café on the first floor is pretty good, get there early for a fried egg sandwich for a pound and there is a student market opposite which I used to run the occasional vintage stall at. It used to trade on a Tuesday but as this semester I have the first two days of the week free, I haven't been on campus to see whether it's still running. Despite being located in the dark and dingy Academy 2, the market is often worth a look in. There are very browse-worthy vintage and clothing stalls along with bicycles and second-hand books. Most things are priced very reasonably and you are able to barter which always makes shopping a little more rewarding.

Ah, manchester students' union.. many a happy hour were spent in this place. They have a bunch of…read morebars, each of which serves food (though not all night). This is also the building that hosts the Academy 2, 3 & Club Academy venues. Other than for gigs, you probably wouldn't want to come here if you aren't a student and you can't anyway. In the evening, you can only get in with a concert ticket or a student card.

Futureworks is a leading media training facility in Manchester which offers courses in everything…read morefrom game design to sound recording. Futureworks offers short, fast-track and diploma courses as well as degree equivalent qualifications in a range of disciplines and technologies. The rates aren't the cheapest in town (you can get short courses in some of the same software and technologies cheaper at The Manchester College) but I think they're fairly priced and are worth the money. I've been here for one of their short editing courses and thought it was great. The staff were really attentive and didn't just shout out instructions as they do in some other training centres. They mixed lecturing and demonstration with hands-on practice and one to one discussions, which I found useful as I felt I was falling behind but was a bit embarrassed to ask for help. The centre itself is easy to find (just at the end of Oxford Road before the Central Library) and has state of the art facilties and equipment. The whole place is very shiney and modern and is so covered in buttons and gadgets it feels a bit like you're in the future...perhaps thats why the call it Futureworks....

As you might have guessed from my Salford review, I'm something of a Salford University fan. And…read morewhile Manchester Metropolitan is still a great university, there's one word that comes to mind when I think about it. 'Fragmented'. I could be completely wrong, after all, it was a post-grad course I did here and they tend to be sectioned off somewhat from the rest of the crowd... hang on, I tell a lie. One of my best friends is currently doing her Masters at Salford and she feels part of the machine, so it goes to show, there can be differences. The fact that Manchester Met has so many campuses has a great deal to do with it, I think. The main campus is set across Oxford Road, which as we all know is one of Manchester's main party streets. Bars, clubs, pubs aplenty are dotted along the street, so your student accommodation would only be a stone's throw from someone being sick via too much sambuca. Depending on what kind of student you are, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. But there's more. While Oxford Road has a sense of community, some students are chucked far, far away on a campus entitled Crewe and Alsager. Have you ever passed Crewe on a train from Manchester to God-knows-where? I have. Many times. It takes a very long time. And I visited the Crewe campus. There is NOTHING there. Similarly campuses are scattered around Didsbury as well as other parts of Manchester... perhaps I feel like I've been spoiled with Salford and the fact that everything's within walking distance - in fact I know I have. I do admire Man Met's student union building, as it even has a rock club in it, and the Humanities department has a great mix of teachers. I adored my supervisors during my Masters, they were fabulous. However one of my best friends did make the mistake about talking about Man Met's 'not so great reputation' (the rumour that they'll let anyone in regardless of grades) on The Weakest Link, to which Anne Robinson raised an eyebrow and the Man Met head honchos chastised him greatly. So my conclusion would be, don't get drawn in by its central location and party atmosphere. Go there because you like the tutors and find a course that suits you. If you do, you have the potential to make good use of Manchester's student Mecca. Enjoy! (Just don't get stuck in Crewe, for the love of God. Unless you're into suburbs and trumpets.)

mmu = mickey mouse university…read more the happiest place on earth! This area includes All Saints, The New Business School, Hollings Faculty, Mabel Tylecote, School of Art and Geoffrey Manton to name a few. On the other side of Oxford road are delicious cheap takeouts and easy-going cheap pubs. Lovely place to go for a pint when you have had enough of seminars and lectures.

5 stars for amazing facilities! I'm part of the first years to go through Birley on my pgce and te…read morefacilities are just 2nd to none! I can only speak for the music department, but we've had first play on everything from state of the art jamhubs, ukulele classes, African drumming with brand new djembes- not to mention the large work stations with new touch screen computers! The tutors are fantastic and are always on hand for advice and a shoulder to cry on when lessons go wrong! The cafe is fab if a little expensive, the canteen serves amazing street food, soups, main meals, breakfasts, sandwiches, drinks and cakes! Though the one downside to it is that it's too small! Every lunchtime there is a crush to pay and choose food- only bad point!

Wow I was quite surprised at this campus. It is modern and contemporary with friendly students and…read morestaff. Have to drop one star off from being amazing because it is situated in God knows where. One of the best university building in Manchester in my opinion.

CSV Media Clubhouse operates as part of the UK-wide Civil Service Volunteers programme, looking…read morespecifically into education related to the media. Split across two levels, the CSV Media Clubhouse operates as a training centre for children and adults alike, teaching vocational skills in filmmaking, radio, editing, television and sound production. Courses are free for people who have difficulty finding work, or for young people who have trouble in a traditional academic system. The centre itself is pretty rundown but has good equipment and excellent staff - they seem to focus their limited finances on getting the best out of their students rather than other media training centres which promote a swishy wipe-clean image. The staff are exceptional - teaching to a very high standard with limited resources and sometimes difficult students.

BPP, which few know stands for Brierley Price Prior, is one of the two best colleges to study…read morepostgraduate Law in Manchester, along with the more simply named College of Law. Certain law firms have links with BPP and insist that their future workers attend the college, as they influence what goes onto the syllabus. Fees are high, as with any law firm, at around £8500 for the one-year course, but around half of students have these paid by law firms with whom they have pre-contracts. If you do go there without a training contract the college have excellent services for securing their students places, so it will probably end up being a worthwhile investment in the long run. They host networking events and termly parties to assist students in getting contracts and making connections, and alumni events for previous students. BPP also have several sports teams including football, hockey and netball. A new womens football team has just been started. They also do a lot of pro bono work and care in the community work such as presentations to the homeless and to prisoners. BBP is located in St James' Bulding on Oxford Street, and has a library and a canteen and common room. They do have some temperature issues, and studenst are often bemoaning the randomly high temperatures in the classrooms and the freezing library. They also don't have an exam room so students have to travel elsewhere for them. In all, if you're looking to study Law, you certainly should look into BPP.

Fabulous school with great facilities!…read more There's a nursery, infant school and junior school with fantastic staff. from sports days, to choir, to painting- there is a huge range of creative aspects to the curriculum! As well as regular trips to the local swimming baths and other day trips such as the central library and Llandudno! I would wholeheartedly send my children there- if I had any! Have loved working here and will miss it when I'm gone- friendly and welcoming place to work!