The University of Manchester is the first of the six "Red Brick Universities" in the UK and a member of the. The University of Manchester was formed in 2004 by the merger of Manchester Polytechnic University, founded in 1824, and the Victoria University of Manchester, founded in 1851. The University has a global reputation for academic excellence and is a world leader in the life sciences, engineering, economics and humanities. The University of Manchester was ranked 33rd in the 2013 QS World University Rankings.