The University of Manchester has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, becoming the first university in the world to give Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to every student and colleague.
The landmark agreement will see 65,000 students, academics and colleagues benefit from the full Microsoft 365 Copilot suite, alongside training to support effective and responsible use.
This initiative forms part of the university’s wider digital and AI transformation programme, which focuses not only on tools, but on building long-term AI literacy, and ensuring the responsible integration of emerging technologies.
The agreement will support learning, research and professional work, as well as graduate employability. It addresses the emerging digital divide by ensuring that all students – regardless of personal means – can benefit from advanced assistive and productivity tools.
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The announcement comes 76 years after Alan Turing published his seminal ‘Turing Test’ paper while working at the university, one of the first on artificial intelligence, and reflects Manchester’s continuing leadership in AI, with more than 1,600 researchers working across disciplines to understand and shape the technology.
Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester, said: “AI is now part of everyday life. Our responsibility is not only to make these tools available to all our students and staff on an equitable basis, but to use the depth of expertise across our university to shape how AI is developed and applied for public good. By embracing the AI transformation early, we are working with students, colleagues and partners to maximise the benefits and manage risks responsibly. The great universities of the 21st century will be digitally enabled – this partnership represents a significant step on that journey for Manchester.”
The Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout, to be completed by summer 2026, will equip Manchester students with future-ready skills and enable researchers to accelerate interdisciplinary discovery and analysis at scale.
Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK & Ireland, said, “As someone who grew up in Manchester, I’m proud to see the university extending access to Microsoft 365 Copilot across its entire community, helping 65,000 students and staff build the skills they’ll need to thrive in an AI‑enabled economy. This is a powerful example of how we can pair Manchester’s deep AI heritage with responsible, ethical adoption that helps to close the digital divide and equip people to learn, research and work more effectively.”
The strategic collaboration with Microsoft is one of the first major developments following the launch of the university’s new strategy, From Manchester for the world, demonstrating its ambition for research impact, world-class teaching and learning, and responsible leadership in digital transformation and innovation in action.
The rollout will be delivered in partnership with the Students’ Union, trade unions and staff networks, and the university is working closely with Microsoft to ensure transparency around environmental and wider impacts, and to promote best practice in responsible and sustainable AI adoption.
Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety, added: “When we bring a technology like AI together with the peerless expertise of UK universities, the potential is enormous. Whether supporting students in their studies, opening new avenues of research, or slashing the time spent on routine tasks, the benefits are transformative.
“This partnership between The University of Manchester and Microsoft will help our brightest minds do what they do best – innovate. Meanwhile, initiatives like the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Spärck Scholarships will attract high-potential AI talent to top universities like Manchester.”
