Study spaces

Arthur Lewis Building

Study spaces for research students are located in the Arthur Lewis Building open-plan areas on the 1st floor (Quads A/B/C/D) and on the 2nd floor (Quad C). These spaces are organized by SEED School Operations (Compliance, Safety and Estates team) on your arrival. Wi-fi is enabled across the building. Lockers are provided on the ground floor and 1st floor.

Study space for full-time 1st year research students, is offered on a bookable shared-space arrangement. 1st year research students wanting permanent spaces and who meet the SEED PGR space policy requirements are placed on a waiting list. Research students in their second year and above, will be allocated their own study space subject to the SEED PGR space policy. Please direct all study space allocation requests via email to SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk . Advice and guidance can also be sought from your respective PGR representatives.

Ellen Wilkinson Building

All Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) research students with the exception of professional doctorate students, who comply with the SEED PGR Desk policy, will be allocated a study space in one of the postgraduate research rooms (Block B – 2.2 and 3.6, Block C – 2.32, 3.28, 3.29, 3.32, 3.33 and 3.5).

Some of these study spaces will be offered to 1st year research students on a bookable, shared-space arrangement. Wi-fi is enabled across the building. Lockers are provided on the 2nd floor of Block B.

Housekeeping Notes

  • For Ellen Wilkinson Building, you will be given a keypad code to the door when you are allocated to a PGR room. Do not give this code to anyone else
  • Paper and toner for printers can be obtained on request from the SEED School Office, SEEDSchoolOffice@manchester.ac.uk · IT problems should be reported by telephoning extension 65544, or via the IT Services website
  • Please keep the study spaces tidy
  • Urgent Estates problems (e.g. leaks, heating/cooling, lighting, etc.) should be reported to the Estates Helpdesk – 0161 275 2424 (8am – 4pm) or estates@manchester.ac.uk . Outside of these times, please ring security on 0161 306 9966 (back of you student card)
  • For study space-related enquiries, please contact the SEED Compliance, Safety and Estates (CSE) team – SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk

PGR social spaces

The School also has social spaces for its postgraduate research students – the Rhine common room (1st floor, Quad D) and the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks common room (1st floor, Quad B) in Arthur Lewis Building. Students are also welcome to use the recently refurbished café/foyer and quad space on the ground floor of Humanities Bridgeford Street building as well as the staff common room on the 1st floor (behind the lifts). In Ellen Wilkinson Building, there are a number of common rooms on different floors and blocks. Please check with your supervisors and/or PGR representative.

As well as providing a social space within the School, there also full kitchen facilities for postgraduate research students. Please note that the kitchen facilities are the responsibility of students. If you use the kitchen facilities, please clean the area after yourself and ensure you do not leave items in the fridge past their sell-by date.

Building Access

The ‘standard’ access to the Arthur Lewis Building and Ellen Wilkinson Building is weekdays from 8am and the main door is locked at 6pm. It is possible to leave the building later than 6pm but you will need your swipe card to gain access after this time. All SEED postgraduate students will have out of hours access enabled for these buildings on their swipe cards. As there are no study spaces in Humanities Bridgeford Street Building, you will not have out of hours access. If this is required, please email SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk. 

Booking a room

If you need to book a room for the purposes of conducting your research, you should contact your PGR rep who will be able to make the booking for you. Please give at least five working days' notice. 

Other spaces around campus

In addition to the facilities provided by schools, other study spaces are available with advance booking. Please see websites below for more information: