Liverpool John Moores University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships 2027 in the UK

Scholarship Details

Introduction

The Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is accepting applications for its Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships 2027, offering research funding to exceptional students interested in pursuing a PhD in the United Kingdom.

The programme is open to eligible UK and international applicants and supports high-quality research projects across a broad range of disciplines, including neuroscience, engineering, public health, criminology, technology, education, business and the humanities.

A maximum of 20 studentships will be available for the 2027 competition. The university is also reserving up to three scholarships for eligible UK applicants from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds.

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Scholarship Details

• Host institution: Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
• Scholarship name: Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships Scheme 2027
• Study destination: United Kingdom
• Study level: PhD/Doctoral research
• Eligible applicants: UK and international students
• Funding options: Full-time and part-time studentships
• Number of awards: Up to 20 studentships
• Application opening date: 7 October 2026
• Application deadline: 29 January 2027, by 5:00 p.m. UK time
• Expected notification of results: By 15 April 2027
• Official application page:

The competition is in its 12th year and forms part of LJMU’s efforts to strengthen its research and knowledge-exchange culture under University Strategy 2030. The university encourages multidisciplinary research and collaboration with institutions around the world.

Scholarship Benefits

The financial support depends on whether the successful applicant receives a full-time or part-time studentship.

Full-time PhD scholarship — three years

Successful full-time students receive:

• PhD course fees: Paid.
• Stipend: Available; applicants should consult the university’s Doctoral Academy for the current stipend award.
• Research bench fee: Currently £1,600 per year, awarded to the lead supervisor to support research costs.

The bench fee must be spent during the relevant year and cannot normally be carried over. Carry-over requests are considered only in exceptional circumstances. The lead supervisor is responsible for monitoring this expenditure, which should be allocated to the relevant school code.

Part-time PhD scholarship — six years

Successful part-time students receive:

– PhD course fees: Paid.

The published scheme does not list a stipend or bench-fee award for part-time studentships. Applicants should therefore not assume that these are included in the part-time package.

Additional support for eligible UK ethnic minority applicants

Up to three scholarships will be ring-fenced for talented UK applicants from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds who meet the relevant residency criteria.

This strand offers full financial support and a skills-development programme designed to support both academic and alternative-academic career paths.

The university welcomes applicants from diverse ethnic backgrounds and states that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment. It also has faculty Associate Deans for Diversity and Inclusion, a central Diversity and Inclusion Team, and established ethnic diversity networks. Its inclusion initiatives include decolonising curriculum research practices, Athena Swan Silver recognition and Race Equality Charter Bronze Awards.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet LJMU’s academic requirements for PhD-level study and have a suitable research project and supervisory arrangement.

The scheme accepts applicants with UK or non-UK citizenship, covering both home and international tuition-fee status, subject to the university’s eligibility and immigration requirements.

Key eligibility conditions include:

• Academic readiness: You must meet the relevant academic requirements for doctoral study.
• Master’s students: Applicants currently enrolled in a taught or research Master’s programme must complete it before starting their PhD at LJMU in August/September 2027.
• Existing doctoral students: Students already enrolled in an LJMU PhD or another Level 8 programme are not eligible.
• Eligible qualifications: The scheme supports PhD registrations only. It does not cover Professional Doctorates or other non-PhD Level 8 registrations.
• Research supervision: Every application must have an identified lead supervisor who meets the scheme’s requirements.

Requirements for lead supervisors

The lead supervisor must be a permanent member of staff at Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level or above.

Postdoctoral Researchers and Research Assistants cannot act as lead supervisors, although they may be members of the supervisory team. An academic may supervise several applicants but can be the nominated lead supervisor for only one applicant under this scheme.

Research Areas and Faculties

LJMU welcomes high-quality research across its faculties and encourages multidisciplinary projects. Applicants can explore staff research specialisms in the following areas.

Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science

• Astrophysics Research Institute
• LJMU Maritime Centre
• Public Health Institute
• School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
• School of Computer Science and Mathematics
• School of Engineering and Built Environment
• School of Nursing, Public and Allied Health
• Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
• School of Psychology
• Sports and Exercise Sciences

Faculty of Society and Culture

• Liverpool Business School
• Liverpool School of Art and Creative Industries
• School of Education
• School of Humanities and Social Science
• School of Law and Justice Studies

Applicants should investigate the relevant faculty and potential supervisors to identify a research direction that fits their expertise and the university’s research priorities.

Application Requirements and Documents

The scholarship application must contain the following information and materials:

• Student information: Complete details about the applicant.
• Lay Summary: A maximum of 250 words explaining the project’s broad rationale, aims, objectives and planned outcomes in language that a non-specialist can understand.
• Research Proposal: The specific proposal for the planned research work.
• PhD Training Plan: Details of the proposed training plan and its relevance to the research.
• Statement of Link: An explanation of how the proposed project connects with LJMU’s University Strategy 2030 or the relevant Faculty Research and Knowledge Exchange Plan.
• Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form: This must be completed and sent directly by the student applicant to the scholarship email address, not through the supervisor.

Important: The university states that no additional supporting material is expected with the scholarship application. Any extra material submitted will not be included in the assessment. Follow the official application template and instructions rather than attaching unsolicited documents.

How to Apply

The process requires collaboration between the applicant and an eligible lead supervisor. Students cannot submit the final scholarship application independently.

• Review the official scholarship page: Read the requirements, funding arrangements, research areas and submission instructions carefully.
• Identify a suitable research area and supervisor: Explore the relevant faculty pages and discuss your proposed project with a potential supervisor.
• Develop the application jointly: Prepare your student information, 250-word lay summary, research proposal and training plan, and statement linking the project to LJMU’s strategy or relevant faculty plan. The university recommends that applications be completed jointly as a starting point for collaboration.
• Download the application template: Obtain the official Word application form from the .
• Submit through the lead supervisor: The lead supervisor must submit the completed scholarship application by email to VCScholarships@ljmu.ac.uk no later than 5:00 p.m. on 29 January 2027. Applications without an identified supervisor will not be accepted, and late applications will not be considered.
• Submit the monitoring form separately: The student—not the supervisor—must send the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form directly to VCScholarships@ljmu.ac.uk, with the student’s name at the top, by the same deadline.
• International applicants should contact International Admissions: Non-UK citizens must email InternationalAdmissions@ljmu.ac.uk while completing the application process to clarify eligibility, English-language requirements, visa requirements and the process if successful.

If your research involves an external organisation

Any proposed PhD that involves an external organisation in any aspect must be reviewed by LJMU Research and Innovation Services before the application is submitted or an award is made.

Send the following information about the external partner to Jane Townend at j.c.townend@ljmu.ac.uk, copying Peter Leather at p.leather@ljmu.ac.uk:

• Full company or organisation name
• Address
• Website
• Main contact person’s name
• The intended role of the organisation in the PhD

The university states that review feedback will be returned within ten working days of submission.

Selection Process and Assessment Criteria

Applications will go through a two-stage review process.

Stage 1: Faculty-based panel

The Faculty Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange organises this panel in collaboration with the Faculty Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

The panel includes staff with relevant academic expertise and substantial postgraduate research experience. It also reflects a broad range of equality and diversity within the faculty. Applications are assessed consistently against the scheme’s excellence criteria.

Stage 2: University panel

The university panel is chaired by Professor George, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, alongside Associate Deans for Research and Knowledge Exchange and other members of the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

This panel reviews the highest-ranked applications from each faculty.

What makes a strong application?

The university assesses both the applicant and the proposed research project using the following criteria:

• Candidate calibre — double weighted: Academic qualifications, research achievements, research outputs, experience, skills and abilities.
• Supervisory team: Relevant experience, achievements and the team’s quality and ability to guide the project.
• Research project quality: Clarity and quality of the lay summary.
• Research design: Clarity and quality of the proposed research studies.
• Training plan: Clarity, appropriateness and relevance of the PhD training plan.
• Strategic alignment: How clearly the project connects with LJMU’s faculty or university research and knowledge-exchange strategies, plans and priorities.

Application Deadline and Important Dates

All applicants and their lead supervisors will be notified of the outcome, whether successful or unsuccessful, by 15 April 2027.

Successful applicants will then need to complete LJMU’s formal online postgraduate research application to register for the PhD. The scholarship page contains an apparent date inconsistency in its enrolment instructions: one section refers to an August/September 2026 enrolment point, while its eligibility section specifies August/September 2027. Applicants should confirm the correct enrolment arrangements with the university before proceeding.

Important Information for International Applicants

International applicants should consider the following before applying:

• Contact International Admissions at InternationalAdmissions@ljmu.ac.uk about eligibility, English-language requirements and visa requirements.
• Applicants are responsible for checking and resolving visa, language, cost and logistical issues.
• Applicants who do not meet the criteria for UK student status must apply as international students.
• Even UK citizens may need to clarify their status if they have lived or studied outside the UK at any time during the three years before starting the programme. Contact International Admissions to resolve any settled-status questions.
• LJMU is currently not accepting applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq.
• Applicants from countries listed on the university’s Pre-CAS interviews page must complete a pre-CAS interview before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) can be issued.
• Applicants can consult for guidance on studying in the UK.
• Where relevant, students should also familiarise themselves with the university’s accommodation facilities.

All enquiries should be made while completing the application process.

For enquiries about the scholarship, contact VCScholarships@ljmu.ac.uk. International applicants should also contact InternationalAdmissions@ljmu.ac.uk.

Conclusion

The LJMU Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships 2027 offer an opportunity for qualified UK and international applicants to pursue doctoral research with tuition-fee support, and additional funding for eligible full-time students. With up to 20 studentships available, applicants should start early, identify an eligible lead supervisor and prepare a clear, well-aligned research proposal.

Remember that the lead supervisor must submit the final scholarship application by 5:00 p.m. UK time on 29 January 2027. International applicants should check the country restrictions and resolve their admission, language and visa questions before applying.