May became an honorary fellow of the university earlier this year

The guitarist will begin the role in February, taking over from former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie.

May said he would be celebrating "with a delicious vegetarian roast and a glass of choice dessert wine".

May was awarded a doctorate in astrophysics earlier this year, 36 years after abandoning his thesis to pursue a career with Queen.

The musician became an honorary fellow of the university earlier this year for his contribution to the arts and encouraging public understanding of science.

'Challenge'

His duties will include presiding over graduation ceremonies and representing the university on special occasions.

"This is a great honour and a great new challenge for me," May said.

"I am looking forward to discovering more about the University and the people that make LJMU such a unique place of learning."

Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Michael Brown, said May was "an intensely talented individual".

"In this age of celebrity culture, it is rare to find someone who has fame, fortune and universal acclaim and yet who remains true to his core values of learning and enlightenment," he said.

May was awarded his PhD for his 48,000 word thesis, A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud in August.