There are 35,441 students at the university of Manchester [1],
33155 at Manchester Metropolitan University [2] and 19180 at
Salford University [2], giving a total of 87776.
[1]
http://www.Manchester.ac.UK/aboutus/facts/statistics/studentsandstaff/
[2] Higher Education Statistics Authority figures 07/08
http://www.hesa.ac.UK/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0708.xls?v=1.0