Liverpool is a city in North West England in the county of Merseyside. With over half a million residents, three impressive universities and plenty of entertainment, it’s a great place to be a student.
Updated: 16 Mar 2025
Liverpool is known for its exciting nightlife and music scene, as well as impressive cultural centres and architecture. If you’re thinking of studying here, keep reading for our guide to being a student in Liverpool and find out about transport, living costs and things to do.
Catering for around 50,000 students, there is plenty to do in Liverpool. Two iconic landmarks to visit are the city’s ‘rival’ cathedrals located at each end of Hope Street. The magnificent Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is the UK’s biggest cathedral, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is the dramatic Catholic counterpart.
If you’re into art, Tate Liverpool is the perfect place to get your culture fix. It’s home to diverse exhibitions of contemporary and modern art from all over the globe.
For relaxing after a hard week of lectures, Sefton Park is a stunning place to wander around. There are caves and waterfalls to explore, as well as the impressive Victorian Palm House.
NEXT: Read our list of the top 10 things to do in Liverpool
Nightlife in Liverpool is iconic (and affordable), with students from across the North travelling into the city to experience it. Concert Square is the ultimate place for a great night and affordable drinks. Its central location means it’s easy to get to and there are plenty of bars and clubs to take your pick from. MED is a student favourite and boasts Liverpool’s biggest Friday nights.
The city also has a legendary music scene. It’s given birth to some of the biggest musical acts in the world. The Jacaranda is a Liverpool institution and has hosted gigs by The Beatles when they were just starting out. It’s now home to diverse gigs, open mic nights, DJs and acoustic sets, and there’s even a record store upstairs. For bigger acts, the O2 Academy is the place to be. Alongside regular club nights, it has big names as well as local up and coming musicians.
All three of the universities in Liverpool have their own halls of residence. The cost will depend on the type of room you choose. For example, a single, self-catered, en-suite room at the Liverpool John Moores University costs from £115 to £179 per week.
The benefits of staying in halls include your bills and WiFi costs being included in the rent, as well as on-site amenities such as games rooms and gyms. If you wanted to rent privately there are lots of options, and Liverpool is known as being more affordable than other cities in the UK. A studio flat in the city centre costs around £890 each month, and a bedroom in a shared house is around £560 a month. If you rent privately you’ll also have to budget another £100 each month to cover utility bills.
There are over half a million residents in Liverpool who need to get around, and the city has great public transport options to help. There are 68 train stations in Merseyside, and four city centre underground stations. The world-famous Mersey Ferry is also on hand to take you along the river. A Saveaway ticket covers buses, trains and ferries and you can use it to travel around Liverpool for £4.60 all day, or buy a monthly Trio ticket for £75.50.
Exploring Liverpool by foot or bike is another great way to get to know the city, and most of it is walkable or easy to get about by cycling. When you get tired there’s a fleet of Voi e-scooters available to hire if you have a UK driving licence.
Further afield, Manchester, Bolton, Preston and Blackburn are all within an hour’s train journey. You can also get a direct train to London in under three hours. Buying a 16-25 Railcard is a good idea, as this will get you 1/3 off train fares for a year. Liverpool John Lennon Airport flies all around the UK and Europe, and your next biggest airport for international travel is Manchester.
Liverpool is known as an affordable place to live, with lower prices than nearby Manchester. We recommend budgeting about £900 each month on top of your tuition fees, although this will depend on your personal lifestyle.
The city has plenty of different supermarkets and the occasional bulk-buy wholesaler, as well as local markets where you can find bargain fresh produce. On average, it’s about £1.17 for a loaf of bread, £1.80 for a kilogram of rice, £2.86 for a dozen eggs and £1.35 for a kilogram of potatoes.
When eating out in Liverpool you can expect to spend about £15 on an inexpensive meal, but there are plenty of cheaper options including takeaways and cafes. The average pint of beer is £4.50, although you can easily find cheaper drinks options at student-friendly venues that offer discounts and two-for-one deals.
As a student in Liverpool you’ll need to remember other expenses. Course costs include books and other materials, as well as photocopying and printing. You might join a university club or society and may need to purchase equipment or travel for this. Be sure to carry your student card around with you, as it gives you access to loads of discounts in high street shops, restaurants and entertainment venues like the cinema or bowling.
NEXT: Find out more about the cost of living for students in Liverpool
Liverpool is known internationally for producing some of the biggest music stars, and the city is now a UNESCO City of Music. Ever heard of The Beatles? The biggest band ever comes from here, and you can follow their journey at The Beatles Story museum, aboard the Magical Mystery Tour bus and at the annual International Beatleweek Festival!
The city is home to three major universities, each offering a range of courses and unique undergraduate experience.
The University of Liverpool is the city's original redbrick institution. It’s a member of the esteemed Russell Group, and ranked at 19 in the Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables. The uni has a pioneering Career Studio led by students and empowered by careers experts, giving you access to excellent support for life after graduation.
Liverpool Hope University is based on a beautiful campus with a safe and friendly atmosphere. Smaller class sizes mean a more individualised experience, and the uni puts a strong emphasis on employability and career development.
Liverpool John Moores University offers over 200 undergraduate courses, with a focus on learning as much from experience as from traditional learning. The campus and much of the uni accommodation is set right in the heart of Liverpool, meaning industry links are right on your doorstep.
If you’re interested in studying in Liverpool, why not book onto an open day and visit a uni in person? In the meantime, take a look at some more reasons to study in Liverpool.