University of Liverpool
The original redbrick university (1881), strong in medicine, veterinary science and law, in a major port city.
- Students
- 26,770
- International
- 33%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £27,000
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1881
About Liverpool
The University of Liverpool was founded in 1881 as University College Liverpool, joined the federal Victoria University in 1884 and became an independent university by royal charter in 1903. Its Alfred Waterhouse-designed Victoria Building, opened in 1892, inspired the phrase 'redbrick university', and Liverpool describes itself as the original redbrick. It is a founding member of the Russell Group and is associated with nine Nobel laureates.
Teaching on the main city-centre campus is organised into three faculties: Health and Life Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science and Engineering. Its early schools included architecture, commerce, law, public health and tropical medicine, and today its veterinary students spend their clinical years at the Leahurst site on the Wirral. In REF 2021, 91% of its research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
The university has risen more than 50 places in the QS rankings over four years and aims to become a top 100 university under its Liverpool 2031 strategy. It suits students who want a traditional Russell Group university on the edge of a big city centre, with over 200 student societies.
Haec otia studia fovent
“These days of peace foster learning” — university motto
Why students choose Liverpool
Liverpool is ranked 139th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 143rd in the THE World University Rankings 2026, rising more than 50 QS places in four years.
Veterinary Science students spend years four and five at the Leahurst site on the Wirral, alongside the university's veterinary teaching hospital.
The Guild of Students is home to over 200 societies.
Liverpool was named the world's 7th best city by Time Out in 2024.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Liverpool does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers for 2027 entry range from AAB (Economics, Computer Science) to AAA (Law, Medicine, Veterinary Science), with contextual offers of up to two grades lower for eligible applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific for 2027 entry: AAB including an A in Mathematics (Economics), AAB including Mathematics or Computer Science (Computer Science), AAA or AAB with an A in the EPQ (Law), AAA including Biology and Chemistry (Veterinary Science), AAA including Chemistry and Biology, Physics or Maths, or A*AB (Medicine); contextual offers up to two grades lower |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 34 points including 6 in HL Mathematics (Economics); 34 points or 6,6,5 at HL including Mathematics or Computer Science (Computer Science); 36 points or 6,6,6 at HL (Law) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 Course-specific: IELTS 6.5 overall with no component below 5.5 for Economics; Medicine requires IELTS 7.0 with no component below 7.0. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Veterinary Science) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine (A100) and Veterinary Science (D100), for UK and international applicants.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Deadline for UK students on most courses.
- International deadline (most courses) Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
Course pages give 30 June 2027 as the deadline for international students on courses such as Economics, Law and Computer Science.
Dates are from Liverpool's 2027-entry course pages and match the UCAS 2027 deadlines. Courses start on 27 September 2027. For 2026 entry, accommodation was guaranteed to first-years who applied by 31 August.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement, predicted grades and a reference. Medicine applicants must sit the UCAT (or GAMSAT for graduates), and Veterinary Science applicants need practical experience in both animal husbandry and veterinary clinical practice. International students applying to most courses can apply until 30 June 2027.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted grades at or above the typical offer, with required subjects such as A-level Mathematics for Economics and Chemistry for Medicine.
- For Medicine, a UCAT score from the year of application and strong science A-levels.
- For Veterinary Science, practical experience in both animal husbandry and veterinary clinical practice.
- Contextual background: eligible applicants can receive offers up to two grades lower.
Tips for applying to Liverpool
- 1 Check if you qualify for a contextual offer, which can reduce the grades needed by up to two grades.
- 2 If you are taking an EPQ, look for alternative offers such as AAB plus an A in the EPQ for Law.
- 3 Veterinary Science applicants should build experience in both animal husbandry and clinical veterinary settings before the 15 October deadline.
- 4 International applicants can apply until 30 June for most courses, but should check eligibility for the Liverpool Scholarships tuition discount early.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
For 2026 entry, the Liverpool Bursary paid Home students £2,000 a year with household income below £25,000 and £750 a year for £25,001 to £35,000; the bursary is being reviewed for 2027 entry. High-achieving international students can receive a £7,000 tuition fee discount through the Liverpool Scholarships.
- £2,000 per year
- Liverpool Bursary (2026 entry, household income below £25,000)
- £750 per year
- Liverpool Bursary (2026 entry, household income £25,001 to £35,000)
- £7,000 tuition fee discount
- Liverpool Scholarships for international students
Academics
Medicine and Surgery (MBChB, A100)
AAA including Chemistry, UCAT required and a 15 October deadline; IELTS 7.0 in every component for international applicants.
Veterinary Science (BVSc, D100)
Five years, with the final two at the Leahurst site on the Wirral; AAA including Biology and Chemistry.
Law (LLB, M100)
AAA, or AAB with an A in the EPQ; international fee £27,000 (2026/27 rate).
Economics (BSc, L100)
AAB including an A in Maths, with contextual offers up to two grades lower.
Computer Science (BSc, G400)
AAB including Maths or Computer Science; international fee £32,000 (2026/27 rate).
Research
- 91% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
- Oliver Lodge, a Liverpool professor, made the world's first public radio transmission in 1894 and took the first surgical X-ray in the UK two years later.
- Charles Sherrington's discovery of the synapse and early work on cancer chemotherapy were carried out at the university in the early 1900s.
- The university is associated with nine Nobel laureates.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
Liverpool was 18th in the QS UK Graduate Employability Rankings 2022.
Student life
The main campus sits at the top of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant on the edge of Liverpool city centre. The Guild of Students runs more than 200 societies, and the Victoria Building, the original redbrick, now houses the Victoria Gallery and Museum, open to the public. The university has invested £800 million in its teaching, research and residential estate, and first-years are guaranteed accommodation if they apply by the deadline.
- More than 200 societies at the Guild of Students.
- The Victoria Building, opened in 1892 and designed by Alfred Waterhouse, gave rise to the term 'redbrick university'.
- Veterinary students train at Leahurst on the Wirral peninsula.
- The university has invested £800 million in its teaching, research and residential estate.
Housing. Accommodation is guaranteed for all first-year and foundation-year undergraduates who apply before the deadline (31 August for September 2026 entry).
Location
Liverpool is a major port city in north-west England, named the world's 7th best city by Time Out in 2024. The university's main campus is on the edge of the city centre, at the top of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant, so the city is on students' doorstep. Veterinary students also spend time at Leahurst on the Wirral peninsula.
Nearest airport: Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
Notable alumni
- CA Carol Ann DuffyPoet Laureate of the United Kingdom
- OT Ong Teng Cheong5th President of Singapore
- BS Barham Salih8th President of Iraq
- TC Tung Chee-hwaFirst Chief Executive of Hong Kong
- DJ Dawda JawaraFirst President and Prime Minister of The Gambia
- PC Philip ClarkeFormer CEO of Tesco
- VD Victoria DerbyshireJournalist and newsreader
- FD Frank DuckworthStatistician, co-developer of the Duckworth-Lewis method in cricket
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Liverpool?
For 2027 entry, typical offers include AAB with an A in Maths for Economics, AAB for Computer Science, AAA for Law and AAA with Chemistry for Medicine. Eligible applicants can get contextual offers up to two grades lower.
Does Liverpool Medicine require the UCAT?
Yes. All non-graduate A100 applicants must sit the UCAT in the same year as their UCAS application, and the deadline is 15 October 2026. Graduate applicants take the GAMSAT.
How much are Liverpool's international fees?
The 2027-entry course pages show 2026/27 rates of £27,000 for Economics and Law, £32,000 for Computer Science, £44,850 for Veterinary Science and £50,000 for Medicine; 2027/28 rates may change. A £7,000 Liverpool Scholarship discount is available to high-achieving international students.
When is the Liverpool application deadline for international students?
For most courses, international students can apply until 30 June 2027; UK students should apply by 13 January 2027. Medicine and Veterinary Science close on 15 October 2026 for everyone.
Is the University of Liverpool a Russell Group university?
Yes, it is a founding member of the Russell Group, ranked 139th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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