The foundation of the university was the result of a long intellectual tradition which dates back to the origins of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

Beginning in the eleventh century, the influence of the principality attracted students and prominent scientists and philosophers, such as Petrarch, to study in its libraries.

The university is located at the edge of the river Meuse, in the center of the Island, the Latin Quarter of Liège.

[16] The University of Liège counts: ULiège comprises 11 faculties: Since the 1970s, ULiège's main campus has been the Sart-Tilman [fr] hill, a vast planned community campus located about ten kilometers south from the center of Liège.

The Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech campus and faculty are located in the city of Gembloux, Namur Province, and Faculty of Science Department of Environmental Science and Management is located in Arlon, Luxembourg Province.