Liverpool ranks 22nd of 130 in the Complete University Guide 2027, and most degrees ask for ABB or AAB at A level. It is a Russell Group university in the north west of England, and its 2026/27 international undergraduate fees start at £27,000 a year.
- Location
- a city centre campus in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, with a veterinary campus at Leahurst on the Wirral
- Type
- a Russell Group university, founded in 1881 as University College, Liverpool
- Ranking
- 22nd of 130 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2027)
- Typical offer
- ABB to AAB for most degrees, AAA for Law and Medicine, with a one grade reduction on most courses for an A in the Extended Project
- IELTS
- 6.0 or 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each element for most degrees, 7.0 for Psychology and Medicine
- International fee
- £27,000 to £32,000 a year for 2026/27, £50,000 for Medicine
Reviewed by Dr Elizabeth Adey for 2027 entry · Uni Direct team, 2026
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 and the University of Liverpool’s course and scholarship pages, read 5 October 2026.
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 and the University of Liverpool’s own course pages, read 5 October 2026.
Where is the University of Liverpool, and is it a campus university?
Yes, in the sense that most of it sits on one site. The University of Liverpool’s main campus is in the Knowledge Quarter in the city centre, around the red brick Victoria Building, opened in 1892. Veterinary students also spend two years at Leahurst on the Wirral.
The Complete University Guide puts Liverpool above 25,000 students, 76% of them undergraduates, with 22% international and a further 2% from the European Union.
Liverpool is a natural fit for a student who wants a large city with the university at its centre. Less so for one who wants a self-contained campus away from traffic.
Is the University of Liverpool a good university?
Yes. The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks the University of Liverpool 22nd of 130 UK universities, and eight of its subjects are in the UK top ten, including Physiotherapy, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Midwifery, and Marketing.
Liverpool was also awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, the highest rating. It is a Russell Group member, founded in 1881 as University College, Liverpool.
| Measure | Liverpool | Table |
|---|---|---|
| Overall UK ranking | 22nd of 130 | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Entry standards | 137 UCAS points, 39th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Student satisfaction | 3.19 of 4, 35th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Research quality | 3.34 of 4, 22nd | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Graduate prospects, outcomes | 78.8 of 100, 32nd | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Graduate prospects, on track | 75.9 of 100, 50th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 and the University of Liverpool’s history and about pages, read 5 October 2026.
The useful detail for you is that student satisfaction and research quality both sit in the top 35, while entry standards are 39th. If you want a Russell Group degree and your grades are strong rather than spectacular, that is a comfortable place to be.
You can see how it fits among the others in our guide to the best UK universities.
University of Liverpool entry requirements
Most Liverpool degrees ask for ABB or AAB at A level, Law asks for AAA, and Medicine asks for AAA with Chemistry. Most course pages also lower the requirement by one grade if you hold an A in the Extended Project Qualification.
Entry requirements for 2027 entry
A level
IELTS
Source: University of Liverpool course pages for 2027 entry, read 5 October 2026, and its country pages, read 6 September 2026.
In the International Baccalaureate, Law asks for 36 points, Business Management, Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering ask for 34, and History asks for 32. Liverpool also sets out how it reads school qualifications from India, China, the United States and Nigeria on its country pages. For India that is roughly 70% to 85% in Standard XII, depending on the course, and for China the Gaokao is not enough for direct entry, so you would take a foundation programme or A levels first.
If your IELTS score is short of the course requirement, Liverpool’s course pages list other accepted tests, and our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS covers the wider options.
University of Liverpool acceptance rate
Liverpool does not publish an acceptance rate on its undergraduate admissions pages.
The nearest figure is entry standards. The Complete University Guide 2027 records entrants arriving with an average of 137 UCAS points, 39th of 130, and the grades in the table above tell you what each course asks for. Medicine is the exception, with a fixed number of international places, set out in the medicine section.
For every other degree, the better question is whether your predicted grades reach the line for your course, because Liverpool sets one clear requirement per degree and lowers it by a grade for an A in the Extended Project.
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 and University of Liverpool course pages, read 5 October 2026.
Courses the University of Liverpool is best known for
Liverpool is best known for the health professions and the sciences. Its eight top-ten subjects in the Complete University Guide 2027 include Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Midwifery, Medical Technology and Bioengineering, and Marketing.
Veterinary students spend their fourth and fifth years at Leahurst, on the Wirral, where most of their clinical rotations take place. For Law, Business Management, History, Computer Science, Psychology and Mechanical Engineering, the 2027 requirements are in the entry table.
Medicine has its own section below, because its entry rules for international applicants differ from every other degree.
How much does the University of Liverpool cost?
Your international tuition fee at Liverpool depends on your course. For 2026/27, Liverpool charges £27,000 a year for Law, Business Management and History, £32,000 for Computer Science, Psychology and Mechanical Engineering, and £50,000 for Medicine. Liverpool prints no 2027/28 international fee yet and says its fees may change.
| Cost | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tuition, Law, Business Management, History, 2026/27 | £27,000 a year |
| Tuition, Computer Science, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, 2026/27 | £32,000 a year |
| Tuition, Medicine and Surgery, 2026/27 | £50,000 a year |
| University halls, 2026/27 | £177.45 to £243.39 a week, 39 week contracts |
| Liverpool’s own estimate of monthly living costs | £900 to £1,350 |
| Money to show for your visa | £1,171 a month for up to nine months |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 a year |
| Student visa application | £558 |
Source: University of Liverpool course pages, accommodation fees chart for 2026/27 and living costs page, read 5 October 2026. GOV.UK for the visa figures, read 5 October 2026.
Liverpool guarantees a room to every first year undergraduate who applies by its deadline, which is 31 August 2026 for September 2026 entry, so look for the 2027 date when you apply. You can compare costs elsewhere in our guides to the cost of living for international students and the cheapest universities in the UK.
The visa figures come from GOV.UK, which is the only authority on the Student visa rules. We explain the published rules, and we pass individual visa questions to the partners we work with. Our student visa guide sets out the steps.
University of Liverpool scholarships for international students
The Liverpool Excellence Scholarship for Undergraduates gives you a tuition fee discount of £7,500, taken off your first year fees only. It is awarded automatically to international students who are new to Liverpool, pay the full international fee and achieve AAA at A level or an equivalent qualification, so there is nothing to apply for.
It excludes Medicine, Dental Surgery and online study, it is not available if a government or employer sponsors your fees, and it cannot be combined with another scholarship. The published terms are for entry in 2026/27, so check the scholarship page for your own year.
Source: University of Liverpool Liverpool Excellence Scholarship for Undergraduates page, read 5 October 2026.
University of Liverpool medicine entry requirements for international students
The number of overseas students admitted each year is limited by the Office for Students and is currently set at 23 for the five year MBChB.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| A level | AAA, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, plus a third academic subject |
| IELTS | 7.0 with no element below 7.0 |
| Fee, 2026/27 | £50,000 a year |
| UCAS closing date, 2027 intake | 15 October 2026 |
| UCAT cut off, 2026 entry | 2080 for international applicants, 1960 for home applicants |
Source: University of Liverpool Medicine and Surgery course page and School of Medicine A100 Departmental Supplement for 2027 entry, read 5 October 2026.
You take the UCAT in the same year. International applicants can offer any of the four Situational Judgement bands, while home applicants need bands one to three.
International applicants are invited to an online multiple mini interview, and home applicants to one on campus. For 2027 entry Liverpool estimates 315 places in all, 23 of them international, and expects to interview about 120 international and EU applicants. That is roughly five interviews for each international place.
How do I apply to the University of Liverpool?
Apply through UCAS
You apply to Liverpool through UCAS.
Meet your deadline
Liverpool’s course pages give 13 January 2027 as the UK deadline and 30 June 2027 as the international deadline for September 2027 entry.
Medicine closes earlier
Medicine closes earlier, on 15 October 2026.
Help with your Liverpool application
We can help you with your application to Liverpool, from choosing your courses to writing your personal statement and meeting your deadline. If you are not sure yet whether Liverpool is right for you, we can talk it through with you first.
What students praise most is the speed of Liz’s replies.
Liverpool is a Russell Group university I put in front of families whose child expects ABB or AAB rather than a string of A stars. The Excellence Scholarship is worth looking at early, because AAA earns £7,500 off the first year without a form. Medicine is a different matter. With 23 international places, a higher UCAT threshold for international applicants and an online interview, I would want any family with medicine in mind to keep a strong second course in the plan from the start. Check the fee for your exact course, because Liverpool has not yet printed 2027/28.
Frequently asked questions about the University of Liverpool
Is Liverpool a Russell Group university?
Yes. The University of Liverpool is a member of the Russell Group. Our page on Russell Group universities explains what membership does and does not tell you about a university. Liverpool was founded in 1881 as University College, Liverpool, and the Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it 22nd of 130 in the UK.
How many universities are there in Liverpool?
Several. A search for Liverpool University almost always means the University of Liverpool, the Russell Group university covered here. Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University are separate institutions, each with its own courses and fees. Check the full name on your offer letter and your CAS before you pay a deposit.
Is Liverpool a good university?
Yes. The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks the University of Liverpool 22nd of 130 in the UK, with eight subjects in the top ten, student satisfaction 35th and research quality 22nd. It also holds Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
How many students does the University of Liverpool have?
The Complete University Guide places Liverpool above 25,000 students, 76% of them undergraduates and 24% postgraduates. It records 22% of students as international and a further 2% as from the European Union. Teaching centres on one city centre campus in the Knowledge Quarter.
Is Liverpool a campus university?
Mostly. The main campus is in the Knowledge Quarter in the city centre, and veterinary students spend their fourth and fifth years at Leahurst on the Wirral. The Complete University Guide labels Liverpool as a city centre university, and the Victoria Building, opened in 1892, stands on the main campus.
Is Liverpool a red brick university?
Yes, and by its own account the first. Liverpool’s history page describes the Victoria Building, opened in 1892, as marking Liverpool as the original redbrick. The term now covers the civic universities founded in England’s industrial cities. Liverpool itself began in 1881 as University College, Liverpool.
Is the University of Liverpool hard to get into?
Not on most courses. Liverpool asks for ABB or AAB for most degrees, with a one grade reduction for an A in the Extended Project. Law asks for AAA, and Medicine is far more competitive, with 23 international places a year.
What IELTS score do you need for the University of Liverpool?
Law, Business Management and History ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5. Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering ask for 6.0 with no element below 5.5. Psychology asks for 7.0 with no element below 6.5, and Medicine asks for 7.0 in every element.
The next step
Tell us your grades and the Liverpool courses you are considering, and we will tell you where you stand.
If Liverpool is on your list, send us your grades and the courses you are considering. We will tell you how your profile compares with Liverpool’s requirements and whether the Excellence Scholarship is in reach. Our guide on how to study in the UK covers the steps from choosing a course to arriving.
You may also want to compare Liverpool with Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Lancaster and Glasgow. Or for a free consultation, contact us now.
Sources: Complete University Guide 2027 · University of Liverpool course, accommodation, living costs, scholarship, history, about and campus pages · University of Liverpool School of Medicine A100 Departmental Supplement, 2027 entry · GOV.UK Student visa. Read 5 October 2026. Photograph by Chowells, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Next review: when Liverpool prints its 2027/28 international fees and its 2027 scholarship terms, and when the medical school publishes its 2027 entry UCAT threshold.