University Centre

Undergraduates are increasingly recognising the benefits of staying closer to home and continuing their education at their local college, making the best progression into their working lives without running up debts through accommodation and living costs.

You don’t need to change your lifestyle or rack up lots of debt. The Hugh Baird University Centre gives you access to some of the best degree qualifications in an affordable way, and you can study on your time, around all your existing family and work commitments.

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Our University Partners

  • University of Central Lancashire
  • University of Cumbria

About the Hugh Baird University Centre

Housed in our multi-million pound state-of-the-art building, our University Centre is the dedicated place for all of our 400+ degree-level students studying with us.


With a relaxed open-plan study area, a specialist student zone, a flexible performance space, and some great refreshment areas, everything you need is right here on campus.

We’re continually investing in our facilities and resources to help our students get the very best from their university experience. Alongside our superb creative facilities, unique enterprise zone and extensive digital library of study materials, we’re committed to expanding our courses with extensive industry links and highly experienced lecturers.


Money Matters

We want to make your university education as flexible and affordable as possible. Investing in your future doesn’t need to be a financial burden. We offer a number of financial support options to help you go further by staying local.

Financial support

Life in Liverpool

We are located in the suburb of Bootle, approximately four miles outside of Liverpool’s vibrant city centre. The city’s reputation for friendly, down to earth people, passionate sporting roots, comedy and music is known worldwide.

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Trips and Visits

Many of our courses include educational trips to international destinations such as New York, Milan, Prague and Paris. But, during Freshers’ Week, students have their own tour of Liverpool, so you’ll not only get your bearings and find all of the best ‘places to be’, but you’ll also meet new friends from the very start of your university experience.

Not quite ready for a Foundation Degree?

Our ‘Foundation Degree with Foundation Year’ courses are designed for those who want to study for a foundation degree, but don’t have the necessary formal qualifications.

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Career Focused

We work with many different industries to ensure that our programmes have that vocational edge. The courses are work related, aimed at those who prefer to take a vocational route and build up skills to develop their careers. They include the skills and knowledge you will require to progress in the real world and succeed in the competitive jobs market.

Policies and Procedures

Our commitment to you is important and we therefore need regulations, policies and codes of conduct, which are designed to protect and maintain both academic quality and your rights and responsibilities as students of the Hugh Baird University Centre.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your time at university is an important chapter in your life, and it can be a big commitment. But we can help you get all the information you need to make the right decisions for your future.

Anyone who has the right qualifications and/or experience can do a university course. For example:

  • Students who come straight from 6th form or college
  • Mature students aged 18+ who want to return to education
  • Individuals who are working in industry and want to study for qualifications to progress within their profession

We want to make your university education as flexible and affordable as possible. We offer a number of financial support options to help you go further by staying local. You don’t need to pay for your tuition fees up front - Tuition Fee Loans cover university or college tuition fees and are paid direct to the university or college, by Student Finance England.

They are available to all eligible students regardless of household income. The amount you pay back is dependent on how much you earn. You may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan to help support your living costs. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/student-finance

No, not necessarily. In general, applicants to our undergraduate courses are normally expected to have completed level 3 qualifications – i.e. A-levels, BTEC Extended Diploma or equivalent – as well as a minimum of 3 GCSEs or equivalent including maths and English at grade C or above (grades 4 – 9 in the new grading system).

However, we do encourage applications from those who may not have the standard entry requirements, but may have gained knowledge and skills from relevant work experience. We also offer a number of Optional Integrated Foundation Entry routes and Access to Higher Education courses for those not quite ready for a Foundation Degree.

Yes. We have a dedicated team of staff on hand to help guide you through the admissions process, from selecting the right course, to completing your UCAS application and applying for financial support.

If you have any questions, or need help at any stage, call the Retention and Progression Team on 0151 353 4444, or email careers@hughbaird.ac.uk.

Where are they now?

Stacie Madine

School Engagement Manager at Progress Schools.

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Kate Hill

Founder and Creative Director at Lola Starr.

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Quality Assured

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is a national organisation which reviews the quality of Higher Education delivered by colleges.

Their assessments are based on the core themes of academic standards, quality of learning opportunities, public information and enhancement. In our most recent review (May 2015), we were recognised with two commendations and seven areas of good practice.

A full copy of our Higher Education Review can be downloaded here.