Every year, the University publishes information about its finances to help students understand how tuition fees and other income support their education and wider student experience.
Universities are complex organisations that combine teaching, research, student support, accommodation, facilities management, and community partnerships. Funding these activities requires income from a range of sources, with tuition fees forming an important part of the overall picture.
Where does the University’s income come from?
In 2024/25, the University of Liverpool received £726.3 million in total income.
While tuition fees and education contracts provide a significant proportion of this funding, the University also receives income from research grants, government funding, residences and catering, conferences, commercial activities, investments, donations and partnerships.
This diverse range of income sources helps us maintain the quality of education, invest in research and innovation, and provide the services and facilities our students expect.
How is University income spent?
In 2024/25, the University spent £722.1 million supporting teaching, research, facilities and services across the institution.
University expenditure includes:
- Delivering teaching and learning across all academic disciplines
- Supporting world-leading research and innovation
- Maintaining libraries, laboratories and specialist facilities
- Investing in digital infrastructure and IT services
- Providing student support services and wellbeing programmes
- Operating residences, catering and campus facilities
- Maintaining and improving buildings and study spaces
- Funding scholarships, bursaries and widening participation initiatives
These investments help ensure that students benefit from a high-quality learning environment and access to the support they need throughout their studies.
How are tuition fees used?
For UK undergraduate students, the tuition fee for 2024/25 was £9,250 per year.
Your tuition fee contributes towards:
- Teaching and academic staff
- Libraries, laboratories and specialist equipment
- Learning resources and digital technologies
- IT systems and campus-wide infrastructure
- Student services, including wellbeing, careers and disability support
- Academic and course administration
- Study spaces and campus facilities
- Scholarships and bursaries
While tuition fees are an important source of funding, they do not cover the full cost of delivering a university education on their own. They are combined with income from other sources to support the complete range of academic and student services provided by the University.
Investing in your future
The University of Liverpool is a not-for-profit institution. Any surplus generated is reinvested back into the University rather than distributed to shareholders.
This allows us to continue investing in teaching facilities, digital infrastructure, research environments, campus improvements and student support services that benefit current and future generations of students.
By understanding how University finances work, students can see how tuition fees contribute not only to teaching and learning, but also to the wider experience and opportunities available throughout their time at Liverpool.
Further information, including detailed charts and financial breakdowns, is available on the University’s Financial Information for Students webpages.