Supporting documents

An interesting and well-written statement of purpose showing strong motivation for the course you have chosen can influence the final decision.

This should be concise (no more than one page) and concentrate on why you are interested in the subject you have applied for and why you consider yourself to be a suitable applicant.

The statement of purpose helps us to assess how well you are able to articulate goals, motivations and values, and your writing and reasoning abilities. Try to make your statement of purpose interesting and reflect your personality, we have to read a lot of them!

What are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with very strong academic credentials. You must already have, or be studying for, at least an undergraduate (bachelor) degree before you can be considered.

The Specialist Masters degrees at Manchester Business School normally require an undergraduate degree result of upper-second class (2:1) or above, or the overseas equivalent. For example:

Candidates with a degree from the following countries

• China - an average of at least 80%
• India - at least a first class/first division result with an average of around 65%. Second class results will not be considered. (Standard 10 and 12 results should also be submitted, and if you are applying for a finance related course we will need a copy of your module list which can often be found on the back of your academic transcript. This will need to be stamped by your university).
• Pakistan - at least four years' university education and at least a first class degree with minimum 70%. Second class results will not be considered.
• Nigeria - at least a high 2:1 (upper second class) degree with a strong average. Second class lower results will not be considered.
• Greece - a GPA of at least 6.51/10 or above will be considered for most courses.
• Turkey - a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or above.

How do we assess your credentials?
The level of your degree, final classification or average grade (GPA), and the standing of the institution where you are studying or have already attained your qualification are taken into consideration when assessing your academic record.

What is a degree transcript?
Your degree transcript should show the name of each course you have taken during each year of your degree and the mark that you achieved for each course you have taken.

We use your degree transcript to assess your academic credentials and we cannot assess your application without this. You may submit photocopies, faxed copies, or scanned and emailed copies to support your application.

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, we require a transcript of the modules you have taken and the marks you have achieved to date, and your current overall average mark. The transcript should also include an outline of the grading system used by your university.

If your transcript does not show the modules you are taking in your final year, please provide this information separately. This is especially important for the courses that require a high level of previous study in related subjects.

If you have already completed your undergraduate degree your transcript should show:

• The name of the degree awarded
• The date you graduated
• Your final result (eg: upper second class 2:1, GPA 3.2/4.0, 1st class/division, GPA 80/100)
• Your final position in the class if available (eg: 5th/35)
• An outline of the grading system used by your university.

If you have already graduated, please also submit a copy of your degree certificate.

If your transcript and/or certificate are not in English, then you will need to attach an official certified English translation with the original document.

You should submit two academic references, although you may submit more if you believe it will help us in our decision-making. Your referees should be able to comment on your performance during your studies and therefore should preferably be professors who have taught you. We reserve the right to contact your referees for further information connected to your application. For this purpose your referees must provide a university email address on their reference letters. References with personal email addresses will not be accepted.

To help us evaluate your suitability for Masters study your references should include the following information:

• Length of time the referee has known you and in what capacity
• Your referee's assessment of your level of performance and your results or expected results
• Your potential to succeed on the Masters course you have applied to and your motivation and intellectual capacity
• Strengths and weaknesses
• English Language ability where English is not your first language
• Any other relevant information in support of the application

References can be scanned and emailed directly by your referee or can be submitted with your application. We will not accept references that are not on official institution letterhead.

Please note that your references are an important part of your application and we will not normally assess an application until they have been received.

* For those courses requiring relevant experience

This should be one page and outline your academic credentials and your career experience, progress and responsibilities.

* For MSc Organisational Psychology applicants only

To be eligible for the MSc Organisational Psychology programme you must have Graduate Basis of Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Please submit a letter from your institution stating your eligibility for GBR. Alternatively, please submit proof of your membership.

Applicants without GBR may apply for the MSc Managerial Psychology programme.

If English is not your first language, you are required to take an English language test to prove your level of proficiency. Read more.

For those requiring a visa to study in the UK only.