The University of Liverpool was founded in 1881 with the establishment of University College, Liverpool. It received its Royal Charter in 1903 and was one of the first civic universities.
The distinctive appearance of the Victorian building, erected in 1892, gave rise to the term red-brick university. Liverpool University has a number of affiliated institutions, including Liverpool Hope and Chester College of Higher Education, which are accredited to offer courses leading to the award of University of Liverpool degrees.