University of Liverpool, UK

A member of the Russel Group of the UK’s top 24 research-intensive universities, UoL offers bachelors, Masters and doctoral study programmes to 22,000 students from 115 countries  SUMMIYA YASMEEN

Founded in 1881 as a college and granted a royal charter in 1903, the University of Liverpool (UoL) is nationally and internationally recognised for teaching and research excellence. The Complete University Guide ranks UoL #31 in the UK while the Academic Ranking of World Universities conducted by Shanghai Jia Tong University ranks it #101-150 worldwide.

One of the six new-age 20th century red brick universities, UoL is a founding member of the Russel Group — an association of the top 24 research-intensive universities of the UK. Currently the university’s three faculties — humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, health and life sciences — offer bachelor’s, Masters and doctoral study programmes to 22,000 students including 6,700 foreign scholars from 115 countries.

“UoL offers a dynamic, international and vibrant research-led academic environment — one which has been associated with nine Nobel laureates during our history,” says Prof. Janet Beer, vice chancellor of the university.

Spread across a 100-acre campus in Liverpool, the eponymous university was the first worldwide to establish separate faculties of oceanography, civic design, architecture, and biochemistry. In 2006, UoL became the first varsity in the UK to establish an independent university in China in collaboration with Xi’an Jiaotong University, Suzhou.

Liverpool. The hometown of the legendary pop music group, the Beatles, Liverpool (pop. 445,000) competes with London as the UK’s arts, music and cultural capital. The port city hosts numerous art museums, theatres, a thriving music scene and two major football clubs. With a history dating back more than 800 years, the city skyline is a blend of heritage buildings (over 2,500) and modern skyscrapers. Notable landmarks are the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City, St. George’s Hall, Liverpool Town Hall and Speke Hall. The city, whose locals speak English in a fast ‘scouse’ accent, is also home to the oldest Black and Chinese communities in the UK. The nightlife is varied with a plethora of bars, pubs, live music venues and comedy clubs offering plenty of opportunities to let your hair down. Shopping and dining out options are also aplenty.

The weather in Liverpool is unpredictable with rainfall year round mandating a ‘brolly’ (umbrella) as a constant companion. Summer temperatures range from 14°-19°C and between 2°-7°C in winter.

Campus facilities. Sited in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, the 100-acre university campus hosts several ‘listed’ (heritage) buildings, green spaces, and 21st century teaching labs and residences. Split into the North, Central and South campuses, UoL hosts three major faculties, 14 schools/institutes and 11 professional services departments, the Victoria Gallery and Museum, Garstang Museum of Archaeology, state-of-the-art libraries and sports facilities. The Sydney Jones and Harold Cohen libraries house over 1.9 million print volumes, a portfolio of 49,000 electronic journals, and 650 computers and study spaces. Moreover UoL was the first in the Russell Group to offer students 24-hour week-day library access through the academic year.

Beyond academics, the university’s newly refurbished sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, two sports halls and four squash courts, an integrated weight training facility plus dance and spinning studios. In addition the Wyncote sports grounds offer two floodlit, sand-dressed, full-size, all weather artificial turf hockey grounds, cricket nets and ground, ten senior football, four rugby and outdoor lacrosse grounds. Moreover the Liverpool Guild of Students offers a range of extra-curricular and social activities through its 150 societies and associations.

The Liverpool city campus apart, the university also owns a major veterinary research and teaching centre at Leahurst in Wirral and the Ness Botanic Gardens. And in 2014, UoL inaugurated a new campus in London to offer vocationally focused postgraduate programmes.

Admission. All undergraduate study applications must be made through the UK’s centralised university admissions system — the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The UCAS code for Liverpool University is LVRPL L41. Minimum eligibility requirements are successful completion of class XII with a minimum average of 70-85 percent and English language proficiency (IELTS score of 6.0 or 70 percent in English language in class XII). Applications can be made online at www.ucas.com. The deadline for submission of undergraduate admission applications (fee: £12) is June 30 for entry into the term beginning September. Postgraduate admission applications must be made directly to the university. Minimum eligibility criteria are a first class bachelor’s degree and English proficiency.

For further information contact University of Liverpool, Foundation Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 7ZX, United Kingdom. Ph: +44 151 794 592; e-mail: irro@liv.ac.uk; www.liv.ac.uk. Moreover the university has several representatives in India (see list on www.liv.ac.uk) who help out students with the application process.

Accommodation. International students can choose catered or self-catering accommodation. On-campus catered housing includes a private room, breakfast and three-course dinner, while self-catered accommodation provides access to shared kitchens. Two student villages — Carnatic and Greenbank — sited proximate to the campus (shuttle bus provided) also offer catered accommodation and other facilities. For instance the Carnatic Student Village offers five residences with a restaurant, bar, laundrettes, shops, computer study rooms, and a student health centre.

Degree programmes. The university’s three faculties — health and life sciences, humanities and social sciences, and engineering — offer over 250 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (see box).