Become a residential adviser

Residential advisers (RAs) live amongst students in our halls of residences. Their role is to provide support, guidance and out-of-hours contact for our residents, as well as to help run our exciting social programme. RAs receive free accommodation as recognition for the vital service they provide.

RESIDENTIAL ADVISER APPLICATIONS FOR 2025/26 WILL OPEN IN FEBRUARY 2025.

Becoming an RA

To be eligible for the role, you must be a registered postgraduate or returning undergraduate (second year and above) student of the University of Liverpool for the 2025/26 academic session, OR a member of staff of the University of Liverpool, holding a substantive rather than casual post for the 2025/26 academic session. If there is a high volume of applications, priority will be given to students who have applied over staff members. Applications are expected to close around May time or when we receive a substantial amount of applicants the vacancy will be closed.

The Residential Adviser role is a highly rewarding position, with a variety of challenges and opportunities for personal development. In becoming an RA you will have the chance to diversify your skill set in many areas, including event planning, communication and leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Please note we advise that you apply for University halls (subject to availability) while you are waiting to hear the outcome of the Residential Adviser application process so that you have a room in reserve should you be unsuccessful in your application. If you are successful, we will swap your room allocation to a Residential Adviser room.

Duties

Key duties include:

Working closely with the Hall Warden, who has overall responsibility for the hall and line manages the RAs
Providing an overnight support service to students dealing with incidents in the halls (typically one night per week)
Taking pastoral responsibility for a set group of 80 students in a hall (around 40 students in Melville Grove and Tudor Close), maintaining regular contact with them, providing opportunities to meet one another, and ensuring their wellbeing
Planning and delivering community-building events with the help of the Halls Life team
Developing knowledge of the support available in halls and the wider University, and directing students accordingly.

Living environment

Residential Advisers will be provided with FREE accommodation in recognition of the vital service they provide within our halls of residence.

There are a range of living options available to Residential Advisers, from shared RA flats to individual studio apartments. You will be given the opportunity to state your preference on your application form, though allocations will be made based on where support is needed most. Take a look at the different accommodation and room types we have available at the University.

Melville Grove and Tudor Close are two great locations to be an Residential Adviser. Here, you'll share a house with other RAs (sharing bathrooms) and in light of this have a reduced cohort of students that you are responsible for. Where other sites have a cohort of 80 students, you will have just 40.

Recruitment process

This role is a great chance to diversify your skill set in many areas, including event planning, communication and leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Key duties include:

In the first instance you will need to apply by providing a CV and completing a Competency Question Sheet. After this is submitted, you will be sent a personal link to complete a video interview task.

Current students and staff of the University of Liverpool must submit their applications via the Careers platform, Handshake. You can find the vacancy on Handshake after you login on the website here Handshake (joinhandshake.co.uk) by searching 'Residential Adviser' through the search request.

New students who will be starting studies for the 2025/26 academic session and cannot gain access to Handshake can also apply. You will need to email accommodation@liverpool.ac.uk to express your interest and we will send you the Competency Question Sheet and request your CV for consideration. A video interview link will also be sent.

Please read through the documents listed below prior to applying for the position of Residential Adviser:

If shortlisted, you will be invited to interview with a panel consisting of the relevant Hall Warden and a member of the hall's Life team.

You will need to provide a reference at the point of application. If we do not receive a reference letter from your referee, we cannot guarantee you a position as an RA.

If you are successful at the interview, we will send further information regarding the next steps.