The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. It was formed in 2004 by the amalgamation of the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. It is a member of the worldwide Universities Research Association group, the Russell Group of British research universities and the N8 Group. The University of Manchester has been a "red brick university" since 1880 when Victoria University gained its royal charter. __TOC__