The university, which has declared its intention to charge tuition fees of £9,000 a year from 2012-13, said the investment was part of a drive to provide a “world-class student experience”. In addition to the sum spent on accommodation, Liverpool has made a £9 million commitment to refurbish the Guild of Students.
Around £350 million has been earmarked for an improvement of academic facilities. This includes £25 million for new teaching laboratories for science-based subjects, £32 million for teaching facilities in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and £70 million for a scientific research facility, which is scheduled for completion later this year.
Steven Dickson, director of facilities management at Liverpool, said the cash injection was in line with the institution’s strategic plan to enhance the student experience and research excellence: “Applications for our [student] accommodation have doubled this year and it’s important that we make this significant investment in order to meet demand in the future. The student population is very important to the city – students contribute around £300 million to Liverpool’s economy every year,” he said.