Where the accommodation shortage actually bites
A ranking of the UK cities where students find it hardest to secure accommodation puts Manchester among the worst. Shortages of this kind push people into longer commutes, worse housing at higher rents, and in the worst cases into deferring. With the new law preventing contracts being signed before 1 March, the search in the difficult cities now starts later and moves faster. Finding student housing covers doing it quickly without signing something bad.
Alumni as the thing universities forget they have
An argument aimed at universities with an incidental use for students: graduates of your course are the most reliable source of honest information about what it leads to, and most institutions barely connect the two groups. If your department runs an alumni event, it is worth more than a careers fair. Networking and LinkedIn for students covers making the approach.