Manchester Leadership Programme

The Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP) combines theory and real-world practice, to provide you with an opportunity to enhance your university experience, while giving back to the community.

Happy student completing volunteering in a local green.

What is involved?

To complete the MLP, you will be required to complete: 

  1. Enrol in the 10 or 20-credit 'Leadership in Action' UCIL unit. 
  2. Participation in approved volunteering for 15, 25, or 40 hours. See criteria for more details on approved volunteering.

Why complete the MLP?

The programme helps you to develop the skills and experiences that graduate employers seek.

By taking UCIL's Leadership in Action course unit, you will:

  • Gain insights into the challenges facing 21st century society.
  • Work with students across the University.
  • Explore how change happens, who makes it happen, and what this tells us of modern leadership? 
  • Learn directly from Manchester academics and leaders from public, private and voluntary sectors.

By undertaking your volunteering hours, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Apply learning from Leadership in Action to real-world, practical contexts.
  • Meet new people while developing new skills.
  • Give something back to the wider community.
  • Find a new passion.

What am I awarded?

If you successfully complete both programme elements, you will receive the prestigious Manchester Leadership Programme.

There are three tiers to the award: 

  • Bronze (completion of the UCIL unit and 15 hours of volunteering).
  • Silver (completion of the UCIL unit and 25 hours of volunteering).
  • Gold (completion of the UCIL unit and 40 hours of volunteering).

How to enrol?

You can register for the MLP by enrolling in the Leadership in Action unit. Once your studies start, you will be provided more information on MLP.

If you experience difficulties enrolling on a Leadership in Action unit please contact your school or leadership@manchester.ac.uk for support.

How do I find volunteering opportunities?

You can count volunteering completed during the academic year you take the Leadership in Action unit plus volunteering you completed in the previous academic year. For full details of the volunteering criteria, please check our criteria page. You can source your volunteering and record the hours you complete via the Volunteer Hub.

Before you enrol: 

  • If you enrol for the MLP you should be committed to undertaking the voluntary work.
  • Leadership in Action units are provided through University College for Interdisciplinary Learning. You will need to ensure that a UCIL unit is permitted within your Programme Regulations. If you are unsure, please check with your Academic Advisor or Undergraduate Office.
  • Note that the MLP is only available to University of Manchester undergraduate students.
  • If you need to change the unit you are enrolled on please email your request to