WNY Competitors

The University of Manchester is recognised globally for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. Part of the Russell Group, we’re ranked 35th in the QS World University Rankings, 2025 (6th in the UK) and 46th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2025. The power of our social and environmental impact has been recognised on a global scale as the only university in the top ten in both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, for our contribution towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our university is a powerhouse of research and discovery; 26 Nobel laureates are among our former staff and students, and we were ranked fifth for research power – the quality and scale of research and impact – in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), 2021. Ranked 20th most international university in the world according to Times Higher Education (2025), our community includes more than 44,000 students, 12,800 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries, working together to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. We’re one of the most popular institutions in the UK for undergraduate applications, according to UCAS, and were the most targeted university by the UK’s leading employers in 2024 (The Graduate Market). Learn more at www.manchester.ac.uk.

Based in the University of Edinburgh, EPCC provides supercomputing and data services to industry and academia. We have a long track record of working with industry, leveraging our expertise and facilities to accelerate the adoption and spread the benefits of high performance computing. At our Advanced Computing Facility (ACF), we host and operate a remarkable collection of high performance computing and data services, including ARCHER2, the UK’s national supercomputing service, and the Edinburgh International Data Facility. We are a leading provider of high performance computing and data science education and training, and run two established Masters programmes, which offer both on-campus and online study. We also offer opportunities for doctoral (PhD) study in areas related to high performance computing, computational science, data science, software engineering and sustainability, and parallelism among others. EPCC conducts research at the leading edge of high performance computing and data science in areas including application performance optimisation and development, parallel programming models, and parallel I/O performance. Since our inception in 1990, we have gained an enviable reputation for leading-edge capability in all aspects of HPC, data and novel computing. Our skill set extends beyond our 150 staff to embrace world-class multi-disciplinary capabilities, reinforced by deep ties with industry and academia.

Leeds is among the top ten universities for research power in the UK. Our academic breadth, commitment to quality and determination to make a genuine impact on the world around us enables us to achieve extraordinary results in: • Creating knowledge through research and innovation. • Disseminating it through excellent student education. • Applying it to make a difference to society, culture and the economy. We have over 34,000 students, over 7,000 members of staff and a global network of more than 240,000 alumni. Integrating research and learning and teaching is at the heart of our strategy. Our courses are taught by staff who are engaged in world-class research and cutting-edge professional practice. We have strong ties with industry, and work with organisations of all sizes. Our outstanding entrepreneurial record of commercialising our research has seen us launch more spin-out companies on the AIM stock market than any other UK university.