Study costs

Aside from tuition fees, there may be some additional costs in relation to your studies. You can find information on the type of general and subject-specific costs you could expect to incur here. This information is for undergraduate and master's students.

These costs will vary and depend on the modules you choose, as well as your own personal preferences.

They could include day-to-day expenses like photocopying in the library, as well as buying textbooks and stationery. You might also need specialist equipment for some courses and face costs associated with field classes or work placements.

The costs and subsidies listed below are approximate and subject to change.

Subject-specific costs

Find details about subject-specific costs for undergraduate courses.

If you're a master's student, you can find course-specific costs on the postgraduate taught course pages.

General costs

Stationery and equipment

Some courses may require you to purchase specific equipment, which may include things such as:

• Approved calculator 
• Safety boots/specialist footwear
• Safety glasses
• Art materials/specialist stationery.

Printing

Our students submit the majority of their assignments online, which means that printing costs should be minimal.

Course books

Core textbooks are available in our libraries. You can find the required reading for your course and modules through curated lists, via Reading Lists @ Liverpool. If we don’t have a resource you need, you can contact the library’s Get It For Me service, and they will do their best to source it as quickly as possible. If you need to purchase your own books, you can keep the costs down by shopping second-hand. Blackwell’s bookshop on campus offers second-hand copies of textbooks for purchase (and you can sell your own copies back once you have finished with them). Alternatively, you can shop online via eBay, Amazon and other second-hand retailers.

Library services

While studying is a priority at university, it is important to take a break. Through the library, students have free access to thousands of books, ebooks, audiobooks, films, TV shows and the team curates leisure, wellbeing and thematic collections throughout the year. As a student, you will have free access to resources including:

• LIBBY
• Kanopy
• BFI Player
• Box of Broadcasts.

There is a Maker Space in the Sydney Jones library, where students can develop skills such as 3D printing, laser cutting and vinyl cutting. Attendance at all workshops and taster events in the Maker Space is free. Students can also 3D print one item up to the value of £5.00 for free each semester. There are also some small quantities of materials available for free to use in appointments. However, if you wish to make something larger or more bespoke, you will be directed to purchase your own materials. Staff will advise on where to purchase materials if needed.

Library fines and fees

Fines are no longer applied when returning a reserved book or laptop after its due date/time. Books are loaned for four weeks and are automatically renewed unless requested by another member. If a user fails to return a requested item after seven days, their borrowing rights will be frozen until the item is returned. If, after several reminders, the book hasn’t been returned, a lost book fee will be charged.

PCs/laptops

There are over 2,000 computers available across campus for students, and we offer 24-hour term-time access to the Harold Cohen library. A PC finder service can help you to locate computers available for use. The library also loans out laptops for four-hour periods for use in the library. Some subjects use interactive polling during lectures to enhance our students’ learning experience, so it is useful to have your own smartphone.

Field classes

Field classes may incur additional costs. Where there are compulsory field classes associated with a programme, core costs may sometimes be met by the School. If that is the case, some programmes may require students to cover the cost of travel to the field class, and some may require students to pay for their own meals. For optional field classes associated with a programme, students will normally be expected to meet the costs of these themselves (though subsidies may be available). Costs will vary depending on whether the field class is in the UK, Europe or further afield. Suitable clothing for some field classes may also need to be purchased. See the subject-specific costs for more information.

Professional association fees

Some programmes recommend that students become members of their professional association. If that is the case, free or discounted student memberships are available.

Travel to placements

There may be costs associated with travel to placements, including travel to interviews for placements. These costs will vary. See the subject-specific costs for more detailed information.

Year in industry

If students are spending a full year in industry, they can expect to be paid a salary by their employer.

Studying abroad

If you are participating in a study abroad programme, you will still be entitled to all of your normal student loans – and may be entitled to extra funding from Student Finance. If you are studying a semester abroad, your normal tuition fee will be payable. If you are studying a full year abroad, your tuition fee for that year is reduced. All students participating in Study Abroad are entitled to University of Liverpool travel insurance.

The University offers study abroad grants and scholarships to support your studies abroad. Explore further information about funding through our Global Opportunities Team.

Research support fees

Research support fees, also known as 'bench fees', cover the cost of consumable materials used in your study. Some MPhil/PhD and taught programme projects (usually MRes courses) use up large amounts of materials or ‘consumables’. In these cases you may be charged an annual research support fee to help cover the cost of this. Programmes which might incur a research support fee are likely to be those which are laboratory-based. You will be notified of any fee which applies in your offer letter. Research support fees are the same for UK and international students.