the first time in 2015 (for the 2016 editions), the university increased its positions, notably in the Guardian league table (which excludes research metrics). In the 2018 table announced in May 2017, the university outperformed its more prestigious neighbour the University of Liverpool for the first time, a fact used by the student news site The Tab in a 2018 April Fool's Day hoax that the University of Liverpool would lose its Russell Group status.
=== Teaching Excellence Framework ===
In June 2017 the university was awarded Gold by the UK Government's Office for Students in its Teaching Excellence Framework. It was one of two universities in the Liverpool metro area (the other being Edge Hill) to achieve this rating. The university (alongside Coventry and Nottingham Trent) was named by the Guardian as one of the "excellent modern universities" who had been "rewarded with gold ratings, while some Russell Group institutions had to suffer the indignity of being awarded bronze". In the 2023 TEF assessment, the university's award was revised to "silver".
=== Research ===
The university has 12 research projects/centres:
Andrew F. Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies
Association for Continental Philosophy of Religion
Centre for Christian Education and Pastoral Theology
Centre for Culture and Disability Studies (CCDS)
Centre for Education and Policy Analysis (CEPA)
Irish Studies Research Group
Ministry Research Project
Popular Culture Research Group
Sand Dune and Shingle Network
Sarcopenia Ageing Trial
Socio-Economic and Applied Research for Change (SEARCH)
== Student life ==
=== Halls of residence ===
There are 12 halls of residence for students enrolled at the university. (The university runs a free shuttle bus between the campuses.)
=== Students' Union ===
Students at the university are represented by the Students' Union (HopeSU), which is affiliated to the National Union of Students.
=== Student body ===
In 2023/24 the university …
