phd in education liverpool

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2024/25 entry

MPhil, PhD Postgraduate research opportunities in Education

Tuition fees.

Fee information can be found on the Doctoral Academy web pages

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Entry requirements

About this course.

Excellent research opportunities await at the School of Education, enabling you to work at the forefront of developments with leading experts.

• Study full or part-time over two to seven years
• Complete your research degree (MPhil/PhD) in a Faculty known for its internationally-acclaimed research
• Explore scholarship opportunities 
• Benefit from expert supervision and researcher training
• Enjoy excellent facilities and great employment connections

The programme route you undertake will depend on your qualifications and experience. 

You will be allocated up to four supervisors, including a Lead Supervisor who will work with you throughout your studies and provide you with appropriate levels of support and guidance.

Throughout your studies, you will also have the support of LJMU’s Doctoral Academy which offers expert advice and guidance to those enrolled on MPhil and PhD programmes.

Fees and funding

How to fund your postgraduate research.

Securing funding can be one of the main hurdles you face when considering postgraduate research. However, help is available. LJMU has a team of fees and funding experts who can offer advice based on your personal circumstances. You can contact them on 0151 231 3153/3154 or via [email protected]

Employability

Further your career prospects.

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

Studying for a postgraduate research degree enhances your employability in a number of ways.

As well as enabling you to focus on your specific areas of interest and expand your subject knowledge ready for employment in your chosen sector, a postgraduate research qualification enables you to take charge of your career path by demonstrating your contribution to an area of knowledge. It enhances your self-confidence and showcases your ability to work independently and ‘go it alone’.

Some postgraduate research students are already in full-time employment when they begin their studies, whilst others are recent graduates looking to extend their research capabilities and subject expertise.

A good proportion of our students return to their existing roles with enhanced career prospects, others move on to further study or take up teaching roles in educational establishments.

According to a report by the  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) , more than a quarter of graduates felt that their employment prospects were increased by their PG qualification. And when it comes to earnings, those with a postgrad qualification have been shown to earn an average of 24% more than those who leave education with an undergraduate degree.

The student experience

Discover life as a postgraduate student at ljmu..

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Course modules, discover the building blocks of your programme, school of education, explore the possibilities.

Explore fascinating postgraduate research opportunities in the School Education. Undertake world class research and lead the debate on the future of education.

Our School of Education has significant experience delivering innovative teacher education in partnership with Primary, Secondary and other education providers. 

We provide space and support for professional study that will impact on the learning outcomes of young people and  the effectiveness of team leadership in schools and colleges as they enact change. While developing an up-to-date perspective on specialist areas and key skills in critical analysis and practitioner research, you will be able to relate your learning to your own professional practice or areas of specific interest.

An insight into teaching on your course

To complement your research, specific training needs will be identified on an individual basis. You can study topics such as:

• Advanced Presentation Skills 
• Applying for Ethical Approval 
• How to be an Effective Researcher
• Poster Presentation/Design
• Postgraduate Employability Skills
• Project Management
• Writing Skills including Creative Planning for Writing your Thesis
• Surviving the Viva
• Speed Reading

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

Final examination for both the MPhil and the PhD is by thesis and oral examination. 

The MPhil differs from the PhD in terms of the depth of study required and the extent of your personal contribution to knowledge. It requires competence in conducting an independent enquiry as well as in the use of appropriate research methods and techniques. Examiners will expect you to display satisfactory background knowledge of the subject. 

To gain a PhD you are expected to show mastery of a special field and to have made an original personal contribution to the understanding of a problem, the advancement of knowledge, or the generation of new ideas. Examiners will expect you to be at the forefront of understanding in your chosen topic.

School facilities

What you can expect from your school, you will need:.

• a minimum of a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree and Masters degree with a research dissertation in a relevant subject 
• In exceptional circumstances, we may consider applicants without a Masters degree based on the level of research training completed in their undergraduate degree programme and any subsequent research work.
• We also welcome applications from those with non-standard qualifications who can demonstrate knowledge, experience, and skills developed in the workplace or other setting relevant to the programme of research. If you do not hold the standard academic entry requirements, please use your personal statement to provide further details. Non-standard applications will be considered by the Admissions Tutor(s) on a case-by-case basis.

Additional information :

• IELTS 6.5 minimum 5.5 in each component)
• 58-64 (minimum 51 in each component for UKVI purposes)
• RPL is accepted on this programme
• If you have any specific queries, please contact  [email protected]

Application and selection

Securing your place at ljmu.

Places on our PhD in Education programme will be awarded accordingly to the quality of research proposal, interview and availability of an appropriate supervisory team. In developing your research proposal, applicant are strongly advised to read the research profiles of academic staff and the research groups that form part of the Centre for Educational Research (CERES).

All research degree registrations are subject to approval by the Faculty and University’s Research Degrees Committee. The Applications process is as follows:

• Complete and submit your application using this  online form
• You will receive an acknowledgement
• Your application will be considered by the Admissions Tutor
• We will take up your academic references
• You may need to provide further information or attend an interview
• You will be informed if your application has been successful and will find out about any conditions of acceptance

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.

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• Postgraduate Research

Medical Education PhD / MPhil / MD

• Part time available: yes

Studying in:

• institute-of-life-course-and-medical-sciences
• Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

The School of Medicine offers a range of research areas spanning medical education. Our current portfolio includes topics covering the development of professional identity and professionalism lapses and the development of empathy during undergraduate medicine studies. In line with current changes in the NHS and workforce, transitioning into clinical posts and their impact upon wellbeing, is also a research area.

Why study with us?

Associate Clinical Teachers for trainee doctors in Merseyside recruited in the 2017/18 Academic Year

postgraduate students in the Faculty.

of the largest medical schools in the country.

Situated within one of the UK’s larger Schools of Medicine, undertaking a PhD in Medical Education at Liverpool gives PhD candidates based here a unique opportunity to work alongside an engaged and committed cohort of Medical Students all of whom are encouraged to take an interest in the development of medical education, for the improvement of systems and processes for future generations of students. 

The University of Liverpool’s School of Medicine is one of the largest medical education providers in the UK. We train and develop doctors throughout their careers, enabling them to use the latest advances to provide exceptional care to their patients.

We deliver teaching and training for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as continuous professional development for medical practitioners.  Joining our department involves you in this vibrant medical education community.

We work collaboratively; across professions, institutions and departments.  Completing your studies with us means an opportunity to work with world-leading educators and clinical staff across a full range of disciplines.  In all these areas, our work is characterised by a focus on research excellence and by attention to the real world impact of our scholarship.

We have expertise in a range of methodological approaches, and are happy to hear from potential PhD candidates who are interested in undertaking either quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method approaches to their work. Our current PhD students are using a range of unique techniques, including longitudinal impact studies and narrative interviewing and analysis.

PhD students undertaking their research here often have the opportunity to see the they develop as part of their research implemented immediately into the curriculum, as part of research-led practice.

Research themes

We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers, including:

• Professionalism
• Curriculum Development
• Technology Enhanced Learning
• Professional Identity Development
• Simulation-based training
• Wellbeing and resilience
• Interprofessional / inter-disciplinary working
• Leadership and Management.

Research undertaken within Medical Education is usually desk-based, but you may be interested in working with one of our NHS sites.  Please visit our undergraduate website pages for details of each of the different sites aligned to Liverpool.  We are also willing to consider co-facilitation with other, relevant departments (psychology, sociology, history etc) so please do not hesitate to contact us if you would be interested in such arrangements.

Study options and fees

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

You'll need a 2:1 or first class or equivalent first degree in a relevant discipline, such as medicine, psychology or sociology. This breadth reflects our commitment to multidisciplinary approaches when investigating complex research questions.

English language requirements

Additional requirements.

Your research can be in any area that matches our research interests and expertise, outlined above. CRB and other checks may be necessary for some project types and every proposal will need to receive ethical approval.

You'll also need coherent writing skills, along with the stamina, self-motivation and organisation to complete a demanding research project.

How to apply

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are  open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

Professor Taz Goddard-Fuller - [email protected]

Professor Hazel Scott - [email protected]

Dr Dominic Johnson - [email protected]

Dr Neil Henney - [email protected]

Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us

• ILCaMS PGR Administrator
• Email: [email protected]

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Find a scholarship.

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

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