Best universities for a master’s in Liverpool

Postgraduate students looking to study a master’s degree in an English city surrounded by culture, history and sport will surely want to consider checking out what Liverpool has to offer. Found in the north west of England, Liverpool is known around the world for being the home of The Beatles and Liverpool FC, along with beautifully dramatic architecture from years gone by. The Merseyrail network makes it easy to get around the city, while good train connections offer access to other major cities across the country. There are a host of quality universities in Liverpool, offering master’s students a wide selection of subject options to study while enjoying the northern city. 

CONTENTS

• Which universities are in Liverpool?
• University of Liverpool
• Liverpool Hope University
• Liverpool John Moores University
• Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• Entry Requirements
• What to do in Liverpool

Which universities are in Liverpool?

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool was established all the way back in 1881. The campus is centrally located in Liverpool, boasting a combination of Victorian and modern architecture just a short distance from the River Mersey and Royal Albert Docks, perfect for students looking to feel like they’re at the heart of a cultural hive. 

Postgraduate students can choose from a wide variety of subjects to study at the University of Liverpool, with over 200 taught and research master’s courses available, alongside plenty of doctoral degrees and shorter PGDip and PGCert courses. The university is a founding member of the Russell Group and well-regarded for its medicine-related teaching, where it develops unique courses like the MSc in Pandemic Sciences to help students continue to progress in the sector and grow the field as a whole. 

The University of Liverpool has two libraries on campus, a remarkable Sport and Fitness Centre, and the Liverpool Guild of Students supports the students with a selection of useful services. There is a dedicated careers service at the university too, helping students prepare for and find graduate opportunities. A range of accommodation options are available, with the university aiming to group together postgraduate students in its Philharmonic Court residences. 

Go to: Search courses at University of Liverpool

Liverpool Hope University

Founded over 175 years ago, Liverpool Hope University offers students the opportunity to study on two wonderfully green campuses – Hope Park, just four miles from the city centre, and Creative Campus, which is based in the city centre. Traditional architecture sits alongside state-of-the-art facilities in the former, while the latter is home to a medley of studios, performance spaces and theatres. Over 1,000 postgraduate students each year study to help develop their skills at Liverpool Hope University. 

The university’s nine dedicated departments offer a selection of taught and research master’s courses, alongside several doctoral degrees and even PGCerts delivered exclusively online. Liverpool Hope University has a long history of providing high quality teaching courses, with its founding college created with the remit of educating teachers back in 1844. The School of Creative and Performing Arts also has working relationships with cultural establishments across the city, including the TATE Liverpool, Liverpool Sound City and Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre. 

Liverpool Hope University hosts an impressive array of facilities across its departments, including the cutting-edge technologies of the Robotics Laboratory, fitness and research equipment at the Hope Park Sports Complex and The Capstone Theatre offering a stage for music, dance and plays. For students looking towards their future, the university’s Employment Hub hosts a wealth of careers-related tools and workshops. The university has three areas of accommodation, with postgraduate student accommodation earmarked at the Aigburth Park Student Village. 

Go to: Search courses at Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University can trace its roots back to 1823, and since then it has provided students with a multitude of study options. It features two campuses in the city centre, with the City Campus offering a bustling hive of activity, and the Mount Plesant Campus framed by two well-known Liverpool landmarks – the Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral. 

The university offers over 130 postgraduate programmes to students looking to enhance their skillset, with a wide selection of taught and research master’s available along with PhD qualifications in a range of subjects. Courses are provided by the five distinct faculties at Liverpool John Moores University. It has excellent courses for students looking to get into the engineering, medicine and business sector and it has also contributed hugely to the world of sport science. 

From the award-winning John Lennon Art and Design Building to the two well-stocked libraries, the outfitted Sport Building and more, Liverpool John Moores University offers its students state-of-the-art facilities to achieve their educational goals. The university makes rooms in its accommodation available to postgraduate students, and looks to group postgraduate students together so they’re able to live with like-minded individuals. The dedicated Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team is also on hand to help students prepare to find a job after finishing their degree. 

Go to: Search courses at Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts

The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts was opened in 1996, founded by Mark Featherstone-Witty and Paul McCartney (of The Beatles fame). A dedicated university-level provider of training for performing and creative arts, with alumni going on to win Olivier Awards, release chart-topping singles and be nominated for Acadamy Awards. It's housed across two Grade II listed buildings but offers state-of-the-art facilities for an array of art mediums.  

While predominantly offering undergraduate degrees, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is also home to a small selection of master’s level degrees, including Acting and Costume Making, as well as a blended learning Professional Practice: Theatre and Drama Facilitation course. The latter allows students to maintain their work while bolstering their professional expertise.  

Facilities at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts are exactly what a student looking to develop their career in performance would want. Practice rooms, performance spaces, broadcast equipment, recording studios and more are available, alongside more traditional lecture theatres and seminar rooms.  

Go to: Search courses at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

The first institution in the world dedicated to the research and teaching of tropical medicine, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was founded back in 1898 by Sir Alfred Lewis Jones. Based in the Knowledge Quarter of the city, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine provides a place for students to learn from leading experts in the field, helping them to make an impact on global health issues. 

Both taught a research master’s degrees are available at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, as well as shorter PGDip programmes. There are general Tropical and Infectious Disease courses alongside more specialised subjects, like the MSc in Tropical Paediatrics or Public Health (Outbreak Control and Health Protection).  

Studying at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine opens up the opportunity to work with its network of experts across the globe, with every master’s student having the opportunity to do a field-based overseas project as part of the course. The library at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been there since its earliest years, and features historical archives, research support and books donated by Nobel Prize winner Robert Ross to form the core of the library’s collection. 

Go to: Search courses at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements will differ from subject to subject and from university to university, and may change over time. You might also have to submit a portfolio or complete an interview to be accepted onto your chosen course. To find out about the entry requirements for specific courses, check out our course finder tool or your prospective university’s website. 

What to do in Liverpool

When you ’re not studying, Liverpool has an impressive selection of activities for you to explore. Whether you’re interested in history, food and drink, music, architecture or sport, you’ll find there is a lot to like about living in Liverpool. 

Fancy checking out a local museum or library? The World Museum Liverpool is the oldest in the city, having opened back in 1853. Walker Art Gallery houses a stunning assortment of art pieces spanning various mediums. Liverpool Central Library & Archives is home to records of Liverpool dating back to the 13th century. Plus, all three of these can be found on the same street – William Brown Street. 

Being the home of The Beatles, you would be right in expecting music to play a huge part in the city’s identity. The Cavern Club, where The Beatles got their start, continues to host live music acts to this day. O2 Academy Liverpool, Invisible Wind Factory, The Arts Club and more also provide plenty of gigs every night of the week. 

As a port city, an abundance of ingredients from around the world have passed through Liverpool over the years, which very well could have contributed to the vibrant food and drink scene found in the city today. Enjoy authentic meals from Mexico, India, the Middle East and more from one of the excellent restaurants or street food vendors dotted around Liverpool, or check out one of the brilliant bars for a drink in the evening. 

Next: Search for postgraduate universities