People & Planet's university league is an award-winning environmental ranking of all the UK’s universities and is the only comprehensive and independent league table ranked by environmental and ethical performance. It is compiled annually by the UK’s largest student campaigning network, People & Planet.
The University is currently ranked 47th in the UK, 5th in the North West region, 1st in Liverpool, and recognised with a 2:1 Class award in the 2023/24 People & Planet University League. The full scorecard results can be found here. The results are based on the time period between July 2022 and August 2023. Click below to see how we are currently performing against People & Planet's methodology for 2024/25.
Back to: Sustainability
The University’s Environmental Policy has been reviewed and updated within the last 5 years and can be found here.
The University’s Sustainability Strategy sets SMART targets for reducing environmental impacts and can be viewed here.
The University has an externally verified environmental management system (EMS) to make sure it complies with relevant environmental legislation and continually reduces its environmental impacts and improves environmental performance. The ISO 14001 accredited EMS includes all properties owned or leased by UoL within the stated locations that are included in the list of buildings requiring Display Energy Certificates. More information on the EMS, its structure, and its scope can be found here.
Yes, our environmental impacts are audited on an annual basis as part of our ISO14001 accredited EMS.
A fundamental part of maintaining the ISO14001 certification is continual improvement and an effective audit process. This audit process includes both internal and external audits. The standard also requires a series of internal audits to take place throughout the three-yearly cycle to ensure compliance and continual improvement. There have been 5 audits in the past 5 years.
Sustainability is included within the portfolio of responsibilities of a member of the university senior management team. Nicola Davies, Chief Financial Officer is the executive lead for sustainability at the University and Chair of the Sustainability Board and further information can be found here.
Each Job Role, area of sustainability responsibility and contact details can be found here.
The university supports staff engagement to improve the environmental performance of the university.
The Sustainability Team undertake a range of communications and engagement activities to support the delivery of the Environmental Policy and Strategy and Climate Plan.
The University provides a range of opportunities for staff engagement in sustainability and improving the environmental performance of the University, such as an annual Sustainability Fund, volunteering, ESD resources for staff, the Laboratory Assessment Efficiency Framework (LEAF) to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories, opportunities to contribute to the sustainability blog and monthly sustainability briefing note, and events throughout the year including, the annual Sustainability Week, and staff training and development opportunities, such as Carbon Literacy training.
The CFO and Sustainability Team meet with representatives from the Guild and Joint Trade Unions on a regular basis.
The University’s publicly available Ethical Investment Policy can be found here.
Our Ethical Investment Policy commits the University to invest its funds on a socially responsible basis with due regard to environmental, social and governance issues. It adopts both the UN Principles for Responsible Investment to better align investors with the broader objectives of society and the UN Global Compact principles focusing on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The University ensures its suppliers follow responsible practices in relation to workers, environment and society. We have begun working with suppliers to develop individual action plans that address modern slavery and other key sustainability issues, such as fossil fuel and arms companies.
This can be found in the Ethical Investment Policy on page 1 under 'Introduction'.
This can be found on the Ethical Investment Policy cover page. The Ethical Investment Policy is signed off by CFO, Nicola Davies and approved by Council on 24 November 2023. Next Review Date is November 2024.
A List of committee members that oversee investments can be found here: Investments Sub-Committee Terms of Reference. There is a Guild of Students Representative at committe meetings and we work with the Guild of Students to make further improvements to the policy including ethical investing in the local community.
There are regular meetings between senior University leaders and local representatives from University and College Union (UCU), UNITE and UNISON, the Green New Deal (GND) University of Liverpool Action Group and the Liverpool Guild of Students, to help foster discussions on the University’s sustainability and Climate Plan actions.
Discussions include all aspects of university operations, from reducing our carbon emissions, to how we can develop and use our campus in a way which minimises our environmental impact. Sustainability in teaching, research and careers are also on the agenda as well as the University’s divestment strategy. This includes a focussed session on ethical investment.
The meetings are an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with colleagues in the Trade Unions and the Guild over matters relating to sustainability. Find out more here.
We publish a list of investments in both overseas and UK companies. Our Ethical Investment Policy applies to the full scope of the investments held by the University. Find out more here.
The University has full fossil fuel exclusion in place. This can be found under 'exclusions' in the Ethical Investment Policy.
The University has made the commitment to screen out companies that derive more than 10% of their revenue from the manufacture or sale of armaments
The University website collates information in one place about investment practices and procedures in such a way that facilitates greater transparency and access to information for students, staff and the general public.
Each of the following is easily accessed through a clearly identifiable section of the university website:
The University's Treasury Management Policy sets out the policies, practices and objectives of The University of Liverpool treasury management activities, as agreed by the Council of the University.
The University of Liverpool adopts the key recommendations of CIPFA’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice and Cross-Sectional Guidance Notes (2011)
The University of Liverpool, in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice, defines its treasury management activities as:
"The management of the University’s cash flows, its banking, money market and capital market transactions, the effective control of the risk associated with those activities, and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with those risks."
The University of Liverpool regards the successful identification, monitoring and control of risk to be the prime criteria by which effective treasury management will be measured. Accordingly, the primary objective will be to ensure the security of the principal sums invested and secondly to optimise returns on its investments.
The University of Liverpool acknowledges that effective treasury management will provide support towards the achievement of its business objectives. It is therefore committed to the principles of achieving the best value in treasury management, and to employing suitable performance measurement techniques, within the context of effective risk management.
Yes, the University documents investment policy review meetings.
Yes, the University has a publicly available Ethical Careers Policy updated in the last 4 years and can be found here.
We also have a Job Posting Policy, which can be found here. The University’s careers services is easily accessible through our Careers and Employability page and 'meet the team' pages.
The Energy Services Team monitor energy and carbon across the entire University in support of the Sustainability Strategy and Liverpool2031 Net Zero Carbon targets. The University's Climate plan sets out our ambitions, principles, and commitments in relation to addressing the climate crisis and outlines how we are going to move forward in developing our pathway to achieving net zero by 2035. With key activities already underway, the Climate plan will help us transition to net zero at pace and with real impact.
The University has adopted the sector-specific carbon emissions framework developed by EAUC, AUDE and BUFDG. The sustainability team is coordinating a data collection exercise from departments across the university including procurement and estates and applying DEFRA conversation factors in order to baseline scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. This information will be used to inform new metrics in the revised Sustainability Strategy, due to be published in November 2024.
The Climate plan sets out our ambitions, principles, and commitments in relation to addressing the climate crisis and outlines how we are going to move forward in developing our pathway to achieving net zero by 2035.
The University has adopted the sector-specific carbon emissions framework developed by EAUC, AUDE and BUFDG. The sustainability team is coordinating a data collection exercise from departments across the university including procurement and estates and applying DEFRA conversation factors in order to baseline scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. This information will be used to inform new metrics in the revised Sustainability Strategy, due to be published in November 2024.
The action plan section of the Climate Plan sets out the actions we will be taking across all of the climate focus areas outlining projected timescales and responsibility. The document is live and dynamic, and provides a snapshot of progress.
The action plan and and timescales in the Climate Plan are updated and reviewed by the Sustainabilty Board twice per year at bi-annual meetings.
The target comprises scope 1 & 2 emissions; meanwhile scope 3 emissions (including from waste, travel and supply chain) are addressed within the University’s sustainability governance AND reported to HESA Estate Management Return.
The University has a sustainable business travel policy that can be found here and is committed to encouraging sustainable travel behaviours by offering a range of award-winning sustainable travel initiatives and facilities, which reduce carbon emissions, improve local air quality, reduce traffic congestion and improve local communities.
The Travel and Transport Working Group are ensuring equitable car parking management and sustainable travel initiatives, and the University recently launched a staff and student travel survey. The data collected from the surveys will be used to baseline scope 3 carbon emissions associated with travel and inform the development of a University Travel Plan, and a new Travel Policy which is currently under development.
As part of our commitment to reducing scope 3 emissions associated with travel we have instructed PWC to carry out an audit of current policy, the results of which will inform the development of a new and improved policy to be published in early 2025. See the Climate Plan and Sustainability strategy for more information on our sustainable travel commitments.
The University has adopted the sector-specific carbon emissions framework developed by EAUC, AUDE and BUFDG. The sustainability team is coordinating a data collection exercise from departments across the university including procurement and estates and applying DEFRA conversation factors in order to baseline scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. This information will be used to inform new metrics in the revised Sustainability Strategy, due to be published in November 2024.
We are committed to baselining ALL scope 3 emissions in line with the GHG protocol, using the SCEF as our framework.
The university is accredited by the living wage foundation as a living wage employer.
Yes, please see the University’s Statutory Pay Gap Report.
The University and The Guild of Students are working in partnership to achieve Fairtrade Accreditation, to do so we are working together to complete the 11 mandatory criteria ready for audit in Spring 2025.
The University of Liverpool is a member of the North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium and much of what we buy is through framework agreements created by this and other HE consortia throughout the country.
The University is signed up to the Can't Buy My Silence universities pledge to stop using NDAs for complaints about sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.
Yes, the sustainable food policy can be found here. The University also has a procurement policy which is available through the staff intranet.
Yes, sustainability standards are embedded in tenders and contracts with external contractors through our membership of TUCO (The University Caterers Organisation).
The University and The Guild of Students are working in partnership to achieve Fairtrade Accreditation, to do so we are working together to complete the 11 mandatory criteria ready for audit in Spring 2025.
We are also working towards the Sustainable Restaurant Association & Soil Association programmes accreditation introduced in the 2024/2025 academic year.
We have also been shortlisted as a 2024 Green Gown Awards finalist in the ‘Campus Health, Food and Drink’ category in recognition of our Catering and Events department's commitment to placing health and nutrition, social responsibly, value for money and knowledge at the heart of their offering. The team have developed a new Sustainable Food Policy, overhauled services, and implemented a package of initiatives varying from, using local and seasonal produce as standard to minimise energy used in production, transport and storage, to introducing food waste recycling in catering outlets: https://www.greengownawards.org/2024-green-gown-awards-uk-ireland-finalists
The University provides space for sustainable food projects. The Guild of Students Sustainability Team and staff and student volunteers are busy all year-round transforming areas of campus into the garden of dreams, with raised beds, Guild Walk Wall Planter and Hügelkultur provide opportunities to grow food in the most sustainable way. Give it a Go sessions offer lots of ways staff and students can get engaged in growing things, from herb pot planting to fungus gardens.
The Guild of Students Gardening project, is partly funded by the Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability project that is primarily based around upscaling and invigorating food growing at the University, for diet, wellbeing, and environmental benefits. The project aims to increase the number of food growing initiatives on campus, and to get staff and students involved as ambassadors for encouraging biodiversity in urban settings. The project has produced fruits and vegetables on campus, which are offered to students and within our local community. The project is raising the profile of food growing to our staff and students and aims to ultimately develop many different gardens on campus, growing healthy food with no packaging, creating new green spaces and contributing to positive wellbeing. Staff and students are encouraged to volunteer at the weekly gardening sessions to experience planting, harvesting and general maintenance of the campus gardens and reduce the University’s carbon footprint.
The University recently introduced the Queen of Greens Bus to campus. It is a mobile greengrocer that brings affordable fresh fruit and vegetables to communities across Liverpool. Queen of Greens bus makes weekly stops right here on the University of Liverpool campus.
The Student Food Pantry is a recent project developed by the Money, Advice Guidance Team as part of Student Services, to support our students during the cost-of-living crisis, for those experiencing food poverty. As part of a partnership with the Environmental Sustainability team and Campus Food and Drink, the Food Pantry provides a range of household supplies and redistributed food that would normally go to landfill to student members for a small weekly fee. The Food Pantry has proven to be a lifeline for students. It is a community hub which provides a safe space for students, and ensures they are supported in meeting their daily food needs.
More details of food projects and initiatives can be found in the latest Sustainable Development Goals Annual Report and our round-up from Sustainability Week 2024.
Plans are underway to transform the Law and Social Justice Café into a plant based outlet.
Student and staff engagement and communication is a component of the University’s strategic framework Liverpool 2031, Sustainability Strategy and Climate Plan.
The Climate Plan outlines a set of principles that will guide our climate response. This includes, encouraging our staff and students to be positive agents for change and champions of sustainability guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We recognise the need to ensure our ambition and commitment are reflected in our decision-making processes, alongside the importance of the actions and understanding of all our students and staff. Therefore, a core area of the Climate Plan is our programme of engagement and embedding. This programme ensures we work together, across all university stakeholders, with pace and intent to create systematic change alongside individual and collective actions.
Each year, the University collects evidence from staff and students for individual Sustainable Development Goals related to performance in areas such as research, outreach, and stewardship of resources. The data includes information on teaching and learning practices, case studies from research projects, community engagement initiatives, and sustainability efforts on campus. The evidence may include reports, case studies, and documentation of projects and initiatives which support our commitments to the SDGs and showcases our achievements.
We place equity at the heart of our approach ensuring we are aligned to our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion commitments. We have a clear and dynamic engagement programme enabling our entire community to understand how they can make a difference and get involved in making our Climate Plan a reality. The University’s Sustainability Strategy outlines our commitment to student and staff engagement and communication.
New students are welcomed on to campus for the start of the new academic year, as we aimed to equip them with the skills, information and knowledge to be more sustainable in Liverpool, and beyond.
We have a presence during the induction process and each year the Sustainability team host a welcome stall at the Welcome Week Fair for students to find out about how they can find out more about sustainability at the University of Liverpool, including information about sustainability policy and strategy and the range of engagement opportunities available.
Dedicated staff are on hand to answer questions, provide insight into the Sustainability in Action module and the Student Sustainability Hub, sustainability in halls, as well as the health and wellbeing support networks and resources available at the University. The Sustainability Student Hub is a central point of reference, to find resources on sustainability related societies, volunteering, career development opportunities, COP28 activities, lifestyle choices, and social networks. The Hub is home to the award-winning Sustainability in Action module. The Sustainability in Action online course is introduced to all students during Welcome Week activities and all current students are automatically enrolled in Canvas.
The University and Guild of Students host regular sustainability events and initiatives throughout the year as part of the thematic calendar, such as Earth Day, Net Zero Week, British Science Week, Bike Week, COP28, Recycle Week, Global Goals Week, Open Day etc, and participate in the University wide Wellbeing Week and Feel Good February programme of events.
The University’s annual Sustainability Week delivers nearly 50 different events for staff and student’s, the aim of the week is to raise awareness of sustainability objectives and initiatives at the University and promote positive behaviour change amongst our community.
Sustainability Week 2024 took place between 26th February – 1st March, as part of the Feel Good February initiative. Working in collaboration with the Guild of Students, the Sustainability team, with the help of staff and students from across the University delivered nearly 40 educational, wellbeing and creative activities and events, that covered a range of sustainability topics. The aim of the week was to raise awareness of sustainability objectives and initiatives at the University, and for staff and students to come together to explore and promote sustainable practices. Events held during the week were varied to reflect our broader commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlights included: Sustainability team roadshow, Net Zero Lecture, film screenings, guided tours of our Energy Centre, sustainable labs and the Spine Building, gardening, food growing, swap shops, workshops, cycling, mindfulness and much more.
The Sustainability team also provide support and guidance to students and staff hosting their own events on campus, such as the UoL Circular Economy Project team pop-ups, and recently launched a new Sustainable Events Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to empower event organisers to integrate sustainability into the planning, management, and evaluation of events at the University. This guidance is about embodying our responsibility to lead by example and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.
The University provides annual funding for student led sustainability projects, such as funds allocated for 6 student interns to enhance the student sustainability community through online and campus activities. Examples of student-led projects include example the San Marcos Business Challenge, Green Impact, Green Fingers, UN SDG Curriculum Mapping, and Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability developed from the Sustainability Fund. See our Annual Report for an overview of some of the projects that took place in 2022/23.
Sustainability and climate action are the focus of a series of meetings between senior University leaders and local representatives from University and College Union (UCU), UNITE and UNISON, the Green New Deal (GND) University of Liverpool Action Group and the Liverpool Guild of Students.
Meetings are scheduled regularly to help foster discussions on the University’s sustainability and Climate Plan actions. They refer in part to matters raised by the Green New Deal Action Group, a collaboration between students and the campus unions, which seeks to make sustainability a priority in trade union relations with the University. Discussions include all aspects of university operations, from reducing our carbon emissions, to how we can develop and use our campus in a way which minimises our environmental impact. Sustainability in teaching, research and careers are also on the agenda as well as the University’s divestment strategy. More details can be found here.
The University of Liverpool, Campus Trade Unions, and Liverpool Guild of Students have also signed a joint Declaration of a Climate and Ecological Crisis.
There is student representation on university committees concerned with estates, planning, finance and strategic decision making. The Guild of Students work closely with the University Council, and attend Sustainability Board and Advisory Group meetings to ensuring that the University’s SDG Accord commitments are being met. More information on the University’s Governance can be found here.
There's the Education for Sustainable Development UN SDG Curriculum Mapping project where students can volunteer to identify links between existing modules and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Project volunteers look to identify areas of best practice and opportunities for further development of the SDG's in their curriculum.
A target was set in the University's current Sustainability Strategy to ensure that all students have the opportunity to undertake a sustainability related module, extra-curricular activity or other relevant learning by 2022. In order to achieve this target, the Education for Sustainable Development working group was established to enact plans across campus in collaboration with Careers and Employability, the Centre for Innovation in Education. The group achieved the 2022 target through the development of the Sustainability in Action module that is available to all students, resources, workshops and examples to support staff in embedding sustainability into the curriculum.
Building on this success, the University has made an additional commitment to embed ESD across the taught curriculum within its new strategic framework Liverpool 2031 which commits to ‘ensure that sustainability is woven into the curriculum and wider student experience, connecting each discipline to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and enabling every student to gain relevant attributes, skills and knowledge’ and ‘create a curriculum for all which is sustainable and inclusive in its content and delivery’.
The Curriculum Project was identified as one of the immediate priorities for the Education and Student Experience pillar of Liverpool 2031, and aims to create a new Institutional Learning Framework that will develop graduates as employable, socially responsible global citizens, emphasising holistic skills alongside disciplinary knowledge. Education for sustainable development is a key theme of this work and aims to make ESD a part of business-as-usual rather than an optional aspect of the formal and informal curriculum. In order to achieve this, a new sustainability working group, led by Dr Gemma Ahearn, was established and has shaped the vision and recommendations for how ESD should be embodied across the university.
The Centre for Innovation in Education coordinates staff development resources for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at Liverpool. These resources are in support of our institutional: Sustainability Strategy. Global Citizenship student attribute in the Liverpool Curriculum Framework. Higher education sector drivers for ESD including: The QAA’s Education for Sustainable Development guidance (March 2021). There's the Education for Sustainable Development UN SDG Curriculum Mapping project where students can volunteer to identify links between existing modules and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Education for Sustainable Development Working Group, chaired by Dr Matt Murphy - Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design, was responsible for reviewing and reporting on progress of the integration of ESD into the curriculum in order to achieve the 2022 target of all students having access to ESD. The Education for Sustainable Development Working Group's objective was to ensure that every student is aware of the University’s commitment to sustainability and the UN SDGS; and where every student is equipped with the knowledge and skills to make their own contribution to a sustainable future. The Education for Sustainable Development Working Group reported directly into the University's Education Committee. The Guild Liaison Committee, the Student Success Boards, and the Faculty Education Committees also report directly to the Education Committee. The Education Committee reports to Senate and Council and to the Finance and Resources Committee in relation to planning and resource allocation matters.
Since achieving our 2022 target, the ESD working group has been replaced with Sustainability Working Group, led by Dr Gemma Ahearn, which reports into the new curriculum project, set up to deliver our new strategic objective around ESD. The group is responsible for shaping the vision, drivers, outputs and recommendations for how ESD will be embedded across formal and informal education through the use of the Liverpool Learning Framework and design and programme approval process.
The Centre for Innovation in Education coordinates staff development resources for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at Liverpool. The University provides support and training to help all academic staff integrate ESD into the curriculum. ESD staff support is available through introductory guides, toolkits, case studies, an online self-paced course, bespoke support for staff to enhance ESD in their teaching, workshops, training, events, and facilitates a staff community of practice.
Furthermore, the Curriculum Project is underway to embed sustainability, among other themes, into the Liverpool Curriculum Framework and design and approval process for new programmes and modules.
The University has a range of ‘Living Lab’ opportunities happening across the University and city. The Environmental Planning and Management Project is an excellent example, displaying how real-world learning can be developed through ESD. It focuses on a module that facilitates learning through the process of environmental consultancy. Students gather evidence and relate this to their practice of contextualising and formulating solutions to real-world environmental problems.
Furthermore, Liverpool Living Labs takes shape in the form of Grand Challenges, such as the SOCI106 module that looked at solutions for tackling Digital Poverty in Liverpool City Region.
More information on real-world learning through ESD can be found here.
The university supports and highlights School, faculty or research team projects for Sustainable Development. There is a huge variety of projects and activities to get involved in at the University, where ideas and experiences can be shared.
The University submits evidence to the THE Impact Rankings annually to capture our impact on society based on success in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
There are three faculty sustainability committees which support environmental performance, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Faculty representatives provide updates for inclusion in the monthly Sustainability Briefing note, which is circulated to key stakeholders each month, containing information and updates on key activities taking place across the University in support of the sustainability commitments set out in Liverpool 2031.
To help address the global impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, Climate futures are harnessing high-quality research expertise spanning climate science, emissions reduction, food sustainability, air quality impacts, new materials discovery, behaviour insights, risk communication, community engagement and the development of new sustainable technologies. Climate Futures are aligning these strengths to explore impacts of climate change, develop solutions to environmental challenges and address knowledge gaps.
See our latest SDG Annual Report which highlights School, Faculty or Research team projects for Sustainable Development.
At the University of Liverpool, we offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to help make higher education more affordable. The University of Liverpool are pleased to offer tuition fee and maintenance support for up to three undergraduate students who have sought protection in the UK, so they can succeed in higher education.
The University of Liverpool has signed up to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) Global Pledge for expanding refugee access to Higher Education.
The UNHRC, with its global network, aims to expand access to higher education and self-reliance for refugee and host community youth. It has launched this global initiative which recognises the range of essential contributions that can be made by stakeholders around the world.
The University has committed to providing:
In addition, the English Language Centre provides support for students to be equipped with the language skills they need to fully participate in the courses when they arrive in Liverpool.
The Humanitarian Scholarship and Asylum Bursary, along with membership of Cara and support for British Academy Researchers at Risk, form part of the University’s commitment to applying for University of Sanctuary status and its commitment to supporting global humanitarian initiatives.
At the University of Liverpool, we offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to help make higher education more affordable. The University of Liverpool are pleased to offer tuition fee and maintenance support for up to three undergraduate students who have sought protection in the UK, so they can succeed in higher education.
The University of Liverpool has signed up to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) Global Pledge for expanding refugee access to Higher Education.
The UNHRC, with its global network, aims to expand access to higher education and self-reliance for refugee and host community youth. It has launched this global initiative which recognises the range of essential contributions that can be made by stakeholders around the world.
The University provides:
In addition, the English Language Centre provides support for students to be equipped with the language skills they need to fully participate in the courses when they arrive in Liverpool.
The Humanitarian Scholarship and Asylum Bursary, along with membership of Cara and support for British Academy Researchers at Risk, form part of the University’s commitment to applying for University of Sanctuary status and its commitment to supporting global humanitarian initiatives. More details can be found here.
At the University of Liverpool, we offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to help make higher education more affordable. The University of Liverpool are pleased to offer tuition fee and maintenance support for up to three undergraduate students who have sought protection in the UK, so they can succeed in higher education.
The University of Liverpool has signed up to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) Global Pledge for expanding refugee access to Higher Education.
The UNHRC, with its global network, aims to expand access to higher education and self-reliance for refugee and host community youth. It has launched this global initiative which recognises the range of essential contributions that can be made by stakeholders around the world.
The University provides:
In addition, the English Language Centre provides support for students to be equipped with the language skills they need to fully participate in the courses when they arrive in Liverpool.
The Humanitarian Scholarship and Asylum Bursary, along with membership of Cara and support for British Academy Researchers at Risk, form part of the University’s commitment to applying for University of Sanctuary status and its commitment to supporting global humanitarian initiatives. More details can be found here.
The University provides support for students who are experiencing poverty, including hardship funding and other financial help, as well as a range of other measures such as providing subsidised food and extending access to campus facilities. We have provided a guide on provisions available, and how this supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in line with our Sustainability Strategy.
Students experiencing financial difficulty and require support can contact our Money Advice & Guidance Team at or book an online confidential one-to-one appointment. The University has a dedicated hardship fund available to provide temporary financial assistance to experiencing financial difficulties. The University Hardship Fund (UHF) is open to UK, overseas and EU undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Guild of Students also offer short-term (4 week) emergency loans of £25 for students in immediate hardship. The Student Food Pantry provides household supplies, basic food, leftover pre-packaged food, donated by Campus Food and Drink to students who are struggling to buy food on a daily basis.
Widening Participation and Outreach team at the University of Liverpool has a well-established support programme for young people who have faced a Disrupted Education. We would like to engage with young people who have the potential to progress to university, but due to disruptions within their education, may face barriers when considering higher education. The University of Liverpool can offer bespoke information and guidance from designated outreach staff to support transition to university, and support with transport to enable participation in the University’s Open Days and Applicant Discovery Days on campus to young people who have experienced a disruption to their education. Not to mention the University’s Asylum Seekers Scholarship.
Please see the Access and Participation Plan 2020-2021 to 2024-25 (liverpool.ac.uk) for more information.
Information on the University's Energy Sources, Waste and Recycling, Carbon Reduction and Water Reduction is published within the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Estates Management Record (EMR).
