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Liverpool John Moores University

Coordinates: 53°24′11″N 2°58′12″W / 53.403°N 2.970°W / 53.403; -2.970
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(Redirected from Liverpool Polytechnic)
Not to be confused with University of Liverpool or Liverpool Hope University.

Liverpool John Moores University
Coat of arms
MottoLatin: Audentes fortuna juvat
Motto in English
Fortune favours the bold
TypePublic
Established1823 – Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts
1992 – Liverpool John Moores University
ChancellorNisha Katona
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Mark Power
Administrative staff
1,095[1]
Students28,420 (2022/23)[2]
Undergraduates22,425 (2022/23)[2]
Postgraduates5,995 (2022/23)[2]
Location
Liverpool
,
England
,
United Kingdom

53°24′11″N 2°58′12″W / 53.403°N 2.970°W / 53.403; -2.970
CampusUrban
Colours  Navy blue
  Lime green
AffiliationsUniversity Alliance
EUA
Northern Consortium
Websiteljmu.ac.uk

Liverpool John Moores University (abbreviated LJMU) is a public research university in the city of Liverpool, England. The university can trace its origins to the Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts, established in 1823.[3] This later merged to become Liverpool Polytechnic. In 1992, following an Act of Parliament, the Liverpool Polytechnic became what is now Liverpool John Moores University.[4] It is named after Sir John Moores, a local businessman and philanthropist, who donated to the university's precursor institutions.

The university had 25,050 students in 2022/23, of which 20,105 are undergraduate students and 4,945 are postgraduate,[2] making it the 30th largest university in the UK by total student population.

It is a member of the University Alliance, the Northern Consortium and the European University Association.

History

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Origins

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Founded as a small mechanics institution (Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts) in 1823, the institution grew over the centuries by converging and amalgamating with different colleges, including the F.L. Calder School of Domestic Science,[5] the City of Liverpool C.F. Mott Training College, before eventually becoming Liverpool Polytechnic in 1970.[6] The university also has a long history of providing training, education and research to the maritime industry, dating back to the formation of the Liverpool Nautical College in 1892.

The institution then became a university under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 under the new title of "Liverpool John Moores University". This new title was approved by the Privy Council on 15 September 1992. The university took its name from Sir John Moores, the founder of the Littlewoods empire. Moores was a great believer in the creation of opportunity for all, which embodies the ethos of LJMU in providing educational routes for people of all ages and from all backgrounds. This belief led Sir John Moores to invest in the institution and facilities, such as the John Foster Building (housing the Liverpool Business School), designed by and named after leading architect John Foster.[6] With the institution's backgrounds dating back as far as 1823, many of the university buildings date back also, with aesthetically pleasing Georgian and Victorian buildings found on a few of the campuses.[1]

Present day

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The James Parsons Building at LJMU's City Campus

LJMU now has more than 27,000 students[7] from over 100 countries world-wide, 2,400 staff and 250 degree courses.[8] LJMU was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2005.[9]

Currently, Liverpool John Moores University is receiving more applications than previously seen[citation needed]; according to data in 2009, the total number of applications submitted to LJMU was 27,784.[10]

On 28 March 2022, former student and founder of Mowgli, Nisha Katona was installed as Chancellor of the university.[11] Previously, in 2008, astrophysicist and Queen lead guitarist Brian May was appointed the fourth Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University. He replaced outgoing Chancellor Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Honorary fellows in attendance at the ceremony included astronomer Sir Patrick Moore and actor Pete Postlethwaite.[12] May was succeeded as Chancellor by judge Sir Brian Leveson in 2013.

LJMU is a founding member of the Northern Consortium, an educational charity owned by 11 universities in northern England.

Campuses

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The university is separated into two campuses in Liverpool:

Between the two campuses is the Copperas Hill Site, opened in summer 2021, containing many faculties moved from the former IM Marsh Campus, and home to the Student Life and LJMU Sports Buildings. Its location between the two sites has been described by the university to help connect both of its campuses together, and is not regarded to be part of either. It is however closer to the Mount Pleasant Campus and separated from the City Campus by the A5047, and Liverpool Lime Street railway station.[13]

Libraries

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Aldham Robarts Library as viewed from Mount Pleasant gardens

There are currently two libraries operated by LJMU, one for either campus:[14]

  • The Aldham Robarts Library is part of the Mount Pleasant Campus, and provides for students studying at the Mount Pleasant Campus or otherwise residing in the central Knowledge Quarter area. The library is situated on Maryland Street and caters mainly for the Faculty of Business and Law and the Faculty of Media, Arts and Social Science.
  • The Avril Robarts Library is part of the City Campus, and mainly provides services to students studying in the City Campus. It is located on Tithebarn Street, and covers three faculties: Faculty of Health, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Technology and Environment. The library hosts the Superlambanana sculpture at its front.

There is an LRC present in the Learning Commons of the Student Life Building on the Copperas Hill site between the two campuses.

Students of the university can use any library in term-time and some non-term time periods within the library's opening hours. The Student Life Building is open 24/7 in term time. Students need their student identification card for entry to all buildings.

There are more than 68,500 books in the Libraries' collections, with 1,630 work spaces available for students 24 hours a day. In addition to this there are over 16,000 e-books and 5,000 e-journals available.[15] It is a member of the Libraries Together: Liverpool Learning Partnership (evolved from Liverpool Libraries Group) which formed in 1990. Under which, a registered reader at any of the member libraries can have access rights to the other libraries within the partnership.[16]

Tom Reilly Building

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The Tom Reilly Building houses the School of Sports and Exercise Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, which are both part of the Faculty of Science.[17] Some 8,000 students use the building which is located at LJMU's City Campus on Byrom Street. The five storey, 6,493 m2 (69,890 sq ft) building was completed in November 2009[17] and opened in March 2010 by Liverpool F.C. captain Steven Gerrard.[18] The building provides sports and science facilities including; appetite laboratories, psychology testing labs, neuroscience labs, an indoor 70-metre running track, force plates, caren disc, physiology suites, a DEXA scanner, a driving simulator and a chronobiology lab.[17]

Organisation and structure

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Faculties

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Liverpool Business School
Liverpool School of Art and Design
School of Natural Sciences and Psychology

The university is organised into five faculties (which are each split into schools or centres), most of the faculties are based at a particular campus site however, with many joint honours degrees and some conventional degrees, the faculties overlap meaning students' degrees are from both faculties. The five faculties are:

Faculty of Business & Law
  • Liverpool Business School
  • School of Law
Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies
  • Liverpool School of Art and Design
  • Liverpool Screen School
  • School of Education
  • School of Humanities and Social Science
  • School of Justice Studies
  • Institute of Culture Capital
Faculty of Health
  • School of Nursing and Allied Health
  • Public Health Institute
  • School of Psychology
Faculty of Science
  • School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
  • School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
  • School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
  • Astrophysics Research Institute
  • School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment
  • School of Computer Science and Mathematics
  • School of Engineering
  • LJMU Maritime Centre

Governance

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Main articles: Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, and Pro-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University

Academic profile

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LJMU is highly ranked for teaching and research in Sports and Exercise Sciences.[19][20] The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) awarded LJMU £4.5 million over five years for the establishment of a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)[citation needed]. The CETL award recognises LJMU's record for Physical Education, Dance, Sport and Exercises Sciences. LJMU is the only United Kingdom university to be awarded an Ofsted Grade A in Physical Education and it is also the premier institution for both teaching and research in Sport and Exercise Sciences.[20]

Business School

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Liverpool Business School (LBS) is located in the Redmonds Building on the Mount Pleasant Campus and has over 2,500 students and 100 academics.[21][self-published source?]

LBS offers undergraduate, postgraduate (including an Executive MBA) and research based programmes.[21][self-published source?] Research areas include International Banking, Economics and Finance, Sustainable Enterprise, Public Service Management, Development of Modern Economic Thought, Performance Management, Marketing, Project Management, and Market Research.[22][self-published source?]

Research

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Mount Pleasant Campus Centre

In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), LJMU reported notable research strengths in general engineering and sports-related sciences. By the 2008 RAE, LJMU was the top-performing post-92 university for Anthropology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, General Engineering, Physics (Astrophysics) and Sports-Related Studies. According to the UK Research Assessment Exercise 2014 (RAE 2014), LJMU every unit of assessment submitted was rated as at least 45% internationally excellent or better.[23] In 2012, the university's scientist published notable research suggesting that the dinosaur's extinction may have been caused by increased methane production from the dinosaurs, with some informally saying that dinosaurs "farted" their way to extinction.[24]

Rankings

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Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025)[25]81
Guardian (2025)[26]54
Times / Sunday Times (2025)[27]66=
Global rankings
ARWU (2024)[28]601–700
QS (2025)[29]801–850
THE (2025)[30]601–800

Liverpool John Moores University was included in the new 2013 Times Higher Education 100 under 50, ranking 72 out of 100. The list aims to show the rising stars in the global academy under the age of 50 years.[31]

First Destination Survey results show that 89% of LJMU graduates are in employment or undertaking postgraduate study within six months of graduating.[1]

Student life

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Students' Union

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Main article: John Moores Students' Union

Students at the university are represented by the John Moores Students' Union.

Representation for all students is central and is conducted by executive officers elected annually. In most cases, these students will be on a sabbatical from their studies. The election process is normally contested in mid April, successful candidates assuming office the following academic year.

Sports

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I M Marsh Campus' swimming pool and sports hall

Liverpool John Moores University has BUCS-registered teams in badminton, basketball, cricket, football, cycling, hockey, netball, rugby league, rugby union, tennis, volleyball, swimming, and American football. Many of the sports teams compete in BUCS competitions. Liverpool Students' Union has 15 BUCS sports, from which 36 teams run, catering for over 800 athletes. In recent years, LJMU students have competed for BUCS representative squads, in national finals and at World University Championships.[32] In addition, the Students' Union also runs intramural sports leagues.

LJMU Fury, American football team

The university also enjoys success at national and world level. Gymnast Beth Tweddle studied at LJMU and has achieved national, Commonwealth, European, and World medals whilst also competing at the Olympic Games.

Every year the university sports compete for 'The Varsity Cup' in the inter-university derby, Liverpool John Moores University Vs. University of Liverpool. The competing sports include: badminton, basketball, hockey, football, netball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, and the snowriders racing team.

Notable alumni

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See also: Category:Alumni of Liverpool John Moores University

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Liverpool John Moores University | Push university guide | University rankings". Push.co.uk. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ "UK Education and Studying in the UK – Liverpool John Moores University". ukeas.com. 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ "The History of our Buildings". Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. ^ "F. L. Calder College of Domestic Science". Merseyside at War 1914 – 1918. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b "A brief history of LJMU". Liverpool John Moores University. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Students by HE provider". hesa.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ^ "LJMU Together – making a difference".
  9. ^ Neil Grant (10 March 2006). "Queen's Anniversary Prize". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Profile: Liverpool John Moores University". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Nisha Katona installed as Chancellor". LJMU website. LJMU. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  12. ^ Shonagh Wilkie (17 April 2008). "News Update". Liverpool John Moores University. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  13. ^ "Your campus". ljmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Library locations". ljmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  15. ^ Jon Morris (19 September 2011). "Library Services and Facilities". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  16. ^ "Liverpool Libraries Together". liv.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "Tom Reilly Building Data". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Liverpool FC's Steven Gerrard 'blown away' by Liverpool John Moores university's £25m new sports science base". Liverpool Echo. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  19. ^ "Education UK – Innovative. Individual. Inspirational". Educationuk.org. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  20. ^ a b Helena Eaton (2 September 2011). "Sport at LJMU". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Welcome to Liverpool Business School". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2008.[self-published source]
  22. ^ "Liverpool Business School Research". Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2008.[self-published source]
  23. ^ "RAE 2014 – World Leading Research at LJMU". UK Research Assessment Exercise 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Gone with the wind – Rethink 'big bang' theory". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. 15 August 2024.
  29. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 4 June 2024.
  30. ^ "THE World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education. 9 October 2024.
  31. ^ "So far, so good: 100 under 50" (PDF). 20 June 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  32. ^ "LJMU Sports Teams". Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  33. ^ Art Day's Night! LJMU to rename arts academy after John Lennon Liverpool Echo Retrieved 2017-01-11
  34. ^ "Wathan Edhey Gothah – MDP". voteanni.com. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
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