Luckily, I scoped out the 2B situation in front of the University of Manchester South Gate before Christmas.

After a few months in Manchester, you'll find many classmates living in shared apartments. Visiting their place for dinner gatherings feels spacious and comfortable. Suddenly, the student dorms don't seem as appealing anymore. It's a good idea to switch to a 2-bedroom before Christmas with friends. Just a 2-minute walk to the south gate of the university, next to MSV, and only 10 minutes to the city center by walking. There are several Chinese and British supermarkets nearby. It's less than £200 per week including bills. The food around here is pretty good, and a 2-bedroom apartment for at least six months until the holidays sounds reasonable.