Spread across the city centre of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University – commonly known as LJMU – is a public research university with a history stretching back two centuries. Its origins lie in the Liverpool Mechanics’ School of Arts, established in 1823, making it one of the older higher education institutions in the north of England. Over the following decades, the institution absorbed several colleges, including the F. L. Calder School of Domestic Science and the C. F. Mott College of Education, before forming Liverpool Polytechnic in 1970. The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 granted university status, and the Privy Council approved the name Liverpool John Moores University on 15 September that year.
The Name Behind the University
The university takes its name from Sir John Moores, the Liverpool businessman who built the Littlewoods empire and invested in the institution’s predecessor colleges. Moores believed strongly in creating opportunity regardless of background or age, a principle that shaped how LJMU has approached education ever since. His financial support helped fund buildings and facilities, including the John Foster Building, which houses the Liverpool Business School and was both designed by and named after architect John Foster. The campus retains a number of Georgian and Victorian buildings that date from the institution’s earliest years.
Maritime Roots and Physical Education Firsts
LJMU has a long connection with the maritime industry, tracing back to the founding of the Liverpool Nautical College in 1892. Separately, a predecessor institution called the Liverpool Gymnasium College was founded in 1900 by Irene Marsh to train physical education teachers, initially at 110 Bedford Street near the city centre. By 1947 it had been renamed the I.M. Marsh College of Physical Education, becoming the first state-maintained specialist college for women’s physical education in the United Kingdom. The I.M. Marsh Campus joined Liverpool Polytechnic in 1981 and remained active until July 2021, when academic activities transferred to LJMU’s city centre campuses.
Students and Membership
In 2024/25, LJMU had 25,050 students in total – 20,105 undergraduates and 4,945 postgraduates – placing it 30th among UK universities by student population. The university holds membership of the AACSB, MillionPlus, the Northern Consortium and the European University Association.