Living and working here
Safest place to live in the British Isles
%
higher average annual salary on the Isle of Man than the UK
%
of residents say they have an excellent quality of life
Getting around
Driving in the Isle of Man
The Island’s beautiful countryside and 600 miles of roads mean that driving is often a leisurely and enjoyable activity. You’ll very rarely find yourself in a traffic jam!
Licences
If you have a Driver’s licence from an EU/EEA State, you may exchange your licence to a Manx licence of the same category, with the same endorsements.
Licences from Monaco, South Korea (with certain limitations), Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, or Zimbabwe can also be exchanged for a Manx licence, but certain restrictions may apply.
If you are relocating from a country that does not offer direct exchanges, you may drive on your foreign licence for up to 12 months. You must then apply for a learner’s permit and take the theory and practical driving tests.
‘Locate IM, 1 August 2024, https://www.locate.im/’
Transport on the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man has a large network of over 600 miles of road, including a series of A-roads that stretch between the major towns on the Island.
Road Network
You can reach any point on the Isle of Man within a 90 minute drive.
Parking
Many areas around the Island are zoned for time restricted free car parking, but require a parking disc to show the time of arrival. You can pick up a disc from a number of tourist information points, including the Isle of Man Welcome Centre which is situated at the Sea Terminal.
Buses
The Island has an extensive bus network that connects a number of attractions, towns and villages. Most bus routes between the main towns operate on at least a half-hourly basis.
Railways
The Isle of Man has three heritage railways – the Manx Electric Railway (Douglas – Ramsey), Steam Railway (Douglas – Port Erin) and Snaefell Mountain Railway (Laxey – Snaefell).
The railways are seasonal and do not normally operate during commuting hours so are often used as a fun way to travel as opposed to a daily commute.
‘Locate IM, 1 August 2024, https://www.locate.im/’
Education
The Isle of Man has a well-regarded education system, with high standards of teaching and a strong appetite for sports and culture.
Pre-school
There is no state run pre-school on the Isle of Man, but there are many privately run options to choose from and parents may also be eligible for credits from the Government.
Primary and Secondary School
The Isle of Man school year runs as in the UK. Children start school in the academic year in which they will turn five. The school year starts in early September and runs until late July with holidays at Christmas and Easter and half-term breaks in the autumn and spring.
There are 32 state run primary schools, including one that teaches in Manx, and 5 secondary schools. The schools work on a catchment system and children are expected to attend the school designated to catchment area in which they live. School catchment areas, along with other useful local information, can be identified here.
To register your child(ren) for school, simply contact the administrator of the local primary or secondary to begin the process.
Public School
The Island is home to the highly regarded public schools King William’s College and The Buchan School.
The Buchan School is the junior to King William’s College. The school consists of three parts (Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep) with small class sizes for children aged 1-11.
King William’s College is an independent boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 11-18 and is rated as one of the best International Baccalaureate schools in the UK.
University
Students follow the same path to university as in the UK, applying for places through UCAS. The Isle of Man Government also offers maintenance grants, loans and tuition fees for university students based on eligibility and certain criteria.
The Isle of Man Government contributes towards university tuition fees for students. Subject to eligibility and personal circumstances, financial support is available consisting of 2 main elements:
- A fees grant to cover tuition fees
- A means-tested maintenance grant towards living expenses.
Students will be required to make an annual contribution of £2,500 towards their tuition fees, however, the Isle of Man Government offers a loan facility to students to fund this contribution.
Higher Education
There are also options for higher education on the Island at the University College Isle of Man.
The University College Isle of Man is partnered with the University of Chester and offers degrees in a range of areas including the arts, business and computer science. It also offers vocational training and apprenticeships centred on practical skills, including health and social care, engineering, plumbing and supervisory skills.
Full-time students who are under the age of 18 on the 1st of September preceding the start of a study programme are not charged fees, irrespective of residency.
‘Locate IM, 1 August 2024, https://www.locate.im/’
