LIVERPOOL John Moores University is proposing to scrap its politics courses.

The Daily Post can reveal students who had enrolled on politics and geography-based courses to begin in September at JMU would be affected.

The university insisted the proposal was based on demand and all 67 students would be offered alternative places.

The move comes just a year after the University of Liverpool took steps to close its own politics department.

JMU’s plan has caused grave concern to student and staff unions, but the university said the idea – which comes in advance of funding cuts next year – would not lead to compulsory redundancies.

A spokesman for the lecturers’ union the UCU said its members were “discussing with the university its proposals to close these programmes”.

He added: “We are concerned if the provision is being scaled back.

“Our major concern is this could be a sign of things to come across the region, where all universities are facing major funding cuts.”

Last year, JMU said it needed to shelve 33 degree courses in an effort to cut student numbers by 1,000.

In September last year, the university ceased to accept students onto a raft of mainly combined degree courses in subjects including journalism and politics, business and finance, and economics.

Last night, university sources told the Daily Post they felt the politics and geography courses performed well and achieved good grades.

One source said: “Our concern is the university seems to forget it is in the business of education.

“There is plenty of non-frontline spending which could easily be cut.”