Liverpool John Moores University

(LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES)

Overall ranking: 68th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Originally a small mechanics institution (Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts), it grew by converging with different colleges and eventually became the Liverpool Polytechnic. In 1992, the polytechnic became Liverpool John Moores University. The university is named after John Moores, the founder of Littlewoods.

Address: Three main campuses. The City Campus is located close to the William Brown Street area, near to St Georges Hall, the Walker Art Gallery, the Liverpool Museum and Central Library. The Mount Pleasant campus sits between the city's two cathedrals, and the IM Marsh campus lies four miles south of the city centre.

Ambience: A buzzing, thriving university smack bang in the centre of Liverpool.

Who's the boss? Professor Nigel Weatherill, an aeronautical mathematician, has been vice-chancellor since 2011.

Prospectus: 0151 231 5090 or request one here.

UCAS code: L51

What you need to know

Easy to get into? It varies significantly: courses ask for between 160 and 320 UCAS entry points.

Vital statistics: One of Britain's biggest universities, currently boasting over 24,000 students and teaching 122 undergrad courses. Over 20,000 undergrads, 4,270 postgrads and 5% international students. All degree programmes have elements of vocational or on the job training. Links with over 450 companies ranging from IBM to HM Treasury mean graduates stand a good chance of landing quality employment after their stints here.

Added value: Voted the most gay friendly according to the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2014. The University has continued to invest in its capital programme which includes upgrading existing properties and developing new buildings. Developments include the RIBA award-winning £24-million Art and Design Academy, the £25.5-million Tom Reilly Building (opened by footballer and LJMU Honorary Fellow Steven Gerrard), a new life sciences building where facilities include an indoor 70-metre running track and labs for testing cardio-vascular ability, motor skills and bio-mechanics functions. Named after the founders of Mersey Television and the creators of Brookside, the new £37.6million Redmonds Building is the latest addition to Liverpool John Moores University’s property portfolio. The building is as ground-breaking as its namesakes, LJMU Honorary Fellows Phil and Alexis Redmond, with a High Definition TV studio, a TV news studio, a radio studio and a ‘green room’ – all provided by industry giants Sony Europe Limited and worth around £1million, resulting in facilities which are among the best in the UK. The new LJMU School of Nursing and Allied Health Practice Suites provide students with hospital-standard facilities including virtual patients and a state-of-the-art birthing simulator. The University is also continuing to invest in upgrading its estate at Byrom Street and Tithebarn Street.

Teaching: 58th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for student satisfaction with teaching.

Graduate prospects: 81st out of 126 with 61.1 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? All new students are guaranteed a room, with a wide range of rooms available around the city centre. Standard rooms range from £86 to £105. En-suites can be secured for £102 to £127. Limited number of self-contained studios available at £140.

Cheap to live there? Relatively. Self-catered accommodation in the city centre starts at £86 per week including all bills, wifi and contents insurance.

Transport links: Excellent. There are direct road, rail, air and sea links to locations all over UK.

Fees: £9,000 per year for full-time home undergrads starting in September 2014.

Bursaries: LJMU have a range of scholarships to support and reward able students, including the National Scholarship Programme, a scholarship for students from England or the EU and worth £2,000 in the first year only. Plenty of means-tested bursaries on offer. See here for more details.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: University has two bars in the Haigh, the Students' Union building, and two other boozers on IM Marsh and Byrom Street. Many club nights are free. The city centre provides a wealth of entertainment possibilities with theatres, cinemas and an abundance of pubs, bars and clubs to cater for all tastes.

Price of a pint: £2.68 on average in Livepool's pubs and bars, but head to the SU for some great drinks deals throughout the week.

Sporting reputation: Not great but could be worse- 66th out of 145 in the current BUCS league.

Notable societies: Dance is a big with a range of genres from Irish to breakdance and freestyle. JMU Jets cheerleading group and Looprevil radio and newspaper.

Glittering alumni: John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe were at the art school, while Caroline Aherne was a media student.

Alternative prospectus: Find out more and put any questions to current students on The Student Room's Liverpool John Moores board here.