University of Liverpool

Established in 1881 as the original ‘red brick’, the University of Liverpool is a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group and one of the UK’s leading research-intensive higher education institutions.

We are firmly embedded in the fabric of our incredible city and share its vibrant culture and unique character.

Our civic roots and pioneering spirit combine to create impact that really matters. 91% of our research was rated world leading or internationally excellent, 9 of our units are in the top 10 for outstanding research impact and we are 19^th in the UK for research power (REF2021). We are ranked among the world’s top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings League, and the top UK institution for our work to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal for peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16).

Our research themes focus on interdisciplinary research areas with a breadth and critical mass of research excellence.  Working with partners locally, nationally and globally we develop progressive solutions to some of the greatest global challenges aiming to improve health, create wealth and ensure social justice. Research areas with real world impact include Advanced Materials and the Net Zero Challenge, Human Rights Law, Antimicrobial Resistance, Archaeology and Particle Physics.

Our five year research fellowships develop future research leaders across a broad and diverse range of subjects in an inclusive and collaborative environment.

Associated with nine Nobel Laureates, Liverpool graduates have become pioneers across a variety of fields. Our expansive alumni community includes the first female Director General of MI5; the first female judge to sit at the Old Bailey; five Nobel Prize winners, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong and the founder of the Stirling prize for Architecture.

Other remarkable firsts include:

• An X-ray of a bullet in a boy’s hand was taken by the University’s Professor of Physics, Oliver Lodge, in 1896. This was the first time X-ray photography was used for surgical purposes in the UK.
• Established in 1988, the University’s Institute of Popular Music was the world’s first dedicated centre for research on popular music.
• In 1944 Chinese students at the University of Liverpool produced the first Chinese newspaper in the UK – the Hua Chow.

Original and inclusive for 140 years, we’re a truly inspirational place to learn and research. We’re also a place where students develop a rich world view, as well as the skills and confidence to thrive in today’s connected yet complex world.

We are working to deliver the key aims of our Sustainability Strategy: to achieve net zero carbon by 2035, to reduce our waste by 50% by 2025 and for every student to undertake a Sustainability-related module, extra-curricular activity, or learning as part of their programme.

Although our main campus is in the heart of Liverpool, we also have a partner university in Suzhou, China – Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU). Many of our students start their studies in Liverpool and have the opportunity to spend time studying in China. Wherever you learn with us, you’ll find the same distinctive and welcoming culture. Over 7,000 talented staff help create the inspiring learning environment our students thrive in.

We have a longstanding reputation as one of Europe’s leading providers of wholly online postgraduate degrees. Our suite of postgraduate programmes gives students the opportunity to study in a flexible, international and collaborative learning environment aimed at helping global working professionals to achieve their career goals. Meet some of our inspirational postgraduate researchers and hear about their research journeys at Liverpool.

In 2023 we were awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and voted number one in StudentCrowd’s Best Student Cities League Table.

To see the full range of our UG and PG courses, please visit our Study pages or use our course search.

We are research that makes headlines and people that make history. 

Our ideas, innovations and enterprises have helped us respond to grand challenges since our inception, and we collaborate with a range of regional, national and international partners to turn research challenges into real world solutions.

We are driving breakthroughs in developing new materials with large-scale applications in both industry and consumer products, enhancing the personalisation of health management, and progressing the battle against infectious diseases. 

Research expertise, strong civic links and knowledge leadership at Liverpool enabled us to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic with agility and at scale, delivering significant impact – notably the piloting of community-wide testing and the staging of large-scale events to enable a safer return to key activities for social fabric and the economy.  Liverpool is now home to The Pandemic Institute, a global institute to accelerate the response to current and future pandemics, unifying intelligence and generating scientific excellence with societal impact for all.

Our Materials Innovation Factory draws together world-leading research and technologies to provide a stimulating environment for the exchange of ideas to accelerate the delivery of real world solutions.

Our digital research is enabling the transformation of society and industry through the generation, communication and application of data. Opened in 2022, the Digital Innovation Facility brings together leading scientists and engineers to deliver high impact industrial innovation. 

Heritage research enables our better understanding of the past and helps create a more prosperous, fair and healthier world for everyone. Through a focus on Starting Well, Living Well, Ageing Well  we aim to improve child health and development to address entrenched inequalities in adult health, reduce the increasing burden of adult chronic disease and ensure ageing and resilience. Our Climate Futures research brings tangible benefits at a global, national and local scale in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation as we work towards a lower carbon future.

Listen to our academics talk about their world-leading research with THE Connect: Advanced Materials and the Net Zero Challenge, Human Rights Law, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Archaeology.

Find out more about our research here