Dreaming of a funded PhD in the United Kingdom? Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has opened its Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships 2027. The full-time award covers tuition fees, a living stipend and research costs for three years. Both UK and international students can apply. However, there are only 20 places, and you must apply together with an LJMU supervisor. The deadline is January 29, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. UK time.
About the LJMU Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships
LJMU is a public research university in Liverpool, England. Its research covers fields from neuroscience and engineering to public health and criminology. The university also strongly supports multidisciplinary research and global collaboration.
The Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships scheme is now in its 12th year. It forms part of the university’s Strategy 2030 and aims to attract excellent students with high-quality research projects across both of its faculties.
Benefits of the LJMU Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship
Full-time scholarship (3 years):
- Tuition fees paid (home or international rate)
- Living stipend (the rate is set by the LJMU Doctoral Academy)
- Bench fee of £1,600 per year to cover research costs, managed by your lead supervisor
Part-time scholarship (6 years): course fees and bench fees only, with no stipend.
Please note: international students must cover their own visa costs and handle visa and English language requirements themselves.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements
- UK and non-UK citizens (home and international fee status)
- Applicants who meet LJMU’s academic requirements for PhD study
- Current master’s students, if they finish before PhD enrolment in August/September 2027
- Applicants with an LJMU lead supervisor (a permanent Lecturer or Senior Lecturer or above) who agrees to submit the application
Not eligible: students already enrolled on an LJMU PhD or other doctoral-level programme, and applicants for professional doctorates.
Country restrictions: LJMU is not currently accepting applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. Nigeria is not on this list, so Nigerian applicants can apply. Some countries also require a pre-CAS interview before a visa letter is issued.
Research Areas
You can propose a project in any area where LJMU has supervisors. Schools and institutes include:
- Health, Innovation, Technology and Science: Astrophysics, Maritime, Public Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Mathematics, Engineering and Built Environment, Nursing and Allied Health, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Psychology, Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Society and Culture: Liverpool Business School, Art and Creative Industries, Education, Humanities and Social Science, Law and Justice Studies
What the Application Must Include
- Your student details
- A lay summary of up to 250 words, written for a non-specialist reader
- Your research proposal and training plan
- A statement linking your project to LJMU’s Strategy 2030 or a faculty research plan
Do not attach anything else, because extra material will not be assessed. You must also send an Equal Opportunities monitoring form yourself, directly to the scholarship email.
How Applications Are Judged
A faculty panel reviews applications first, then a university panel. They look at:
- Your calibre as a candidate: qualifications, research outputs, experience and skills (this counts double)
- The experience and quality of your supervisory team
- The quality of your lay summary, research plan and training plan
- How well your project links to LJMU’s research priorities
Important Dates
- October 7, 2026: Applications opened
- January 29, 2027, 5:00 p.m. UK time: Deadline
- By April 15, 2027: Outcomes announced
- August/September 2027: PhD enrolment
How to Apply for the LJMU Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship 2027
- Read the full rules on the official LJMU VC PhD Scholarships page.
- Browse LJMU staff research profiles and find a supervisor whose work matches your idea.
- Email the supervisor with a short proposal and your CV. Ask if they will be your lead supervisor.
- International applicants: at the same time, email LJMU International Admissions to check your English and visa eligibility.
- Download the application form template from the official page and complete it with your supervisor.
- Your lead supervisor submits the final form to [email protected] by the deadline.
- Send your own Equal Opportunities form to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on January 29, 2027.
Only apply through LJMU’s formal online PhD application after you win the scholarship.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Contact supervisors early, ideally in November or December. Good supervisors receive many requests.
- Write a sharp lay summary. Imagine explaining your project to a friend outside your field.
- Show research outputs, such as publications, conference papers or a strong master’s thesis.
- Tie your project clearly to LJMU’s Strategy 2030 and the faculty’s research plan.
Key Details at a Glance
- University: Liverpool John Moores University, UK
- Level: PhD (full-time 3 years, part-time 6 years)
- Places: Up to 20
- Funding: Fees, stipend and £1,600/year bench fee (full-time)
- Who: UK and international applicants
- Deadline: January 29, 2027, 5:00 p.m. UK time
