About the university
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a specialist performing arts school in central Liverpool. It took its first students in 1996 in the former Liverpool Institute for Boys building, after plans drawn up by Mark Featherstone-Witty and Paul McCartney. It teaches about 1,000 students on foundation, BA (Hons) and MA courses in acting, dance, music, sound technology, filmmaking, theatre design and production, and arts management.
A quarter of LIPA's students are international, and India is one of the countries it lists as a common source of applicants. Courses are small, with 20 to 36 places a year on many degrees, and applicants are assessed through the application and an interview or audition stage.
- First students
- January 1996
- Type
- Specialist performing arts higher education provider
- Current students
- About 1,000
- International students
- 25%, from 40+ nationalities
- Campus
- Mount Street, central Liverpool
- Intake
- September (degree and CertHE courses)
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £23,450
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 in each component
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £21,650
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 in each component
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Management (Music Industry Management)
- Fee / year
- £20,850
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 in each component
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Filmmaking & Creative Technologies
- Fee / year
- £20,850
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 in each component
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £20,850
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 in each component
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £21,650
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each component
- Postgraduate
MA Filmmaking & Creative Technologies
- Fee / year
- £21,650
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each component
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £23,450
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each component
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Acting | 3 years full-time | £23,450 | ≈ ₹28.6 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Music (Production) | 3 years full-time | £21,650 | ≈ ₹26.4 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Management (Music Industry Management) | 3 years full-time | £20,850 | ≈ ₹25.4 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Filmmaking & Creative Technologies | 3 years full-time | £20,850 | ≈ ₹25.4 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Sound Technology | 3 years full-time | £20,850 | ≈ ₹25.4 lakh |
| MA Music Industry Management | 1 year full-time | £21,650 | ≈ ₹26.4 lakh |
| MA Filmmaking & Creative Technologies | 1 year full-time | £21,650 | ≈ ₹26.4 lakh |
| MA Acting | 1 year full-time | £23,450 | ≈ ₹28.6 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- International applicants need qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. The UK requirement for most degrees is 96 UCAS tariff points plus five GCSEs at grade 4/C including English and Maths, or equivalents. For Indian Class 12 equivalence, email international@lipa.ac.uk.
- You are assessed on your application and at an interview or audition stage. Music courses also test theory knowledge at audition.
- The international application deadline for 2027 entry is 31 May 2027. Applicants aged 21+ without the usual qualifications may be considered on relevant work experience.
Postgraduate
- A 2:1 or above in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- The MA application deadline for 2027 entry is 31 July 2027, with assessment at an interview stage.
Documents
- Passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (bachelor's transcripts for an MA)
- English test results (a UKVI SELT if you accept a place)
- Material asked for at audition or interview
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Degree and CertHE courses | IELTS 5.5 in each of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, or an equivalent test |
| MA courses | IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component, or an equivalent test |
| When to show it | English need not be evidenced at application, audition or interview; applicants who accept a place sit a UKVI-approved SELT |
Accommodation and living costs
LIPA has no halls of its own. Its accommodation guide lists private halls and student apartments within about a mile of the Mount Street building, with prices for 2026 entry. Many providers try to place LIPA students together on a floor or in a house, but there is no guarantee.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Halls, non en-suite roomFrom this price, 2026 entry | £107per week | ≈ ₹13,054 |
| Halls, en-suite roomStarting prices at listed providers, 2026 entry | £127–165per week | ≈ ₹15,494 – ₹20,130 |
| Studio apartmentStarting prices at listed providers, 2026 entry | £169–221per week | ≈ ₹20,618 – ₹26,962 |
| House share or private flat roomTypical range | £90–150per week | ≈ ₹10,980 – ₹18,300 |
Campus and location
LIPA is based on Mount Street in Liverpool's Georgian quarter, in the former Liverpool Institute for Boys building, opened by the Queen in 1996.
- Performance and rehearsal spaces, with about £500,000 invested in facilities each year.
- Small cohorts, often 20 to 36 places a year per degree.
- International Orientation Day and induction week in September.
- Private halls within walking distance of the building.
Careers and graduate outcomes
LIPA's courses are built around the performing arts and creative industries, where much work is freelance. Its LIPA Enterprise team supports graduates who want to work for themselves. See our UK guide for Graduate visa rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
What are LIPA's fees for Indian students?
For 2027 entry, international fees are £20,850 to £23,450 a year for BA courses and £21,650 to £23,450 for MA courses, depending on the course. A £2,000 deposit is asked for after an offer.
Does LIPA offer scholarships to international students?
No. LIPA says it does not currently offer scholarships to international students. Its bursaries are for UK students.
What English score do I need?
IELTS 5.5 in each component for degree and CertHE courses, and IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component for MA courses. Equivalent tests are accepted.
When do courses start?
September. In 2026, international orientation was on 11 September and term began on 21 September.
Sources
- LIPA: finance (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: international students (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: undergraduate courses (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: BA (Hons) Acting (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: MA Music Industry Management (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: term dates (opens in a new tab)
- LIPA: our story (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lipa.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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