LJMU Vice-Chancellor PhD Scholarships 2027 in UK (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the LJMU VC PhD Scholarships 2027 at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to both UK and international students and covers a wide range of fields, including science, engineering, health, business, law, education, arts and social sciences. The full time award is fully funded and covers course fees, a stipend and a research bench fee, while the part time award covers course fees only.

Up to 20 studentships are available, and the deadline is 5pm on 29 January 2027. The official information does not mention any application fee. Students from a small number of countries are currently not being accepted, so check the full list below before you apply. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

University: Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
Host country: United Kingdom
Degree level: PhD
Funding type: Fully funded & partial funded
Duration: 3 years (full time) or 6 years (part time)
Application deadline: 5pm on 29 January 2027
Results announced by: 15 April 2027
Application fee: Not mentioned in the official information

Interested in More Positions? Follow links below

What Does the Scholarship Cover:

Full Time Scholarship (3 Years)

Course fees: paid
Stipend: paid (check the LJMU Doctoral Academy for the current amount)
Bench fee: currently £1600 per year, awarded to the Lead Supervisor to support research costs

Part Time Scholarship (6 Years)

Course fees: paid

Important Note on Bench Fees

Bench fees must be spent each year and cannot normally be rolled over, except in exceptional circumstances.
The Lead Supervisor must monitor the spending, as it is not managed by the finance team.
Spending should be allocated to the relevant school code.

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Who Can Apply:

Student Requirements

UK and non UK citizens can apply (home and international fee status).
You must meet the academic requirements for PhD study.
If you are currently on a Masters programme (taught or research), you must finish it before enrolling at LJMU in August or September 2027.
Students already enrolled on an LJMU PhD, or any other Level 8 programme, are not eligible.
This scheme does not support Professional Doctorates or any other non PhD Level 8 registrations.

Supervisor Requirements

Lead supervisors must be permanent staff at Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level or above.
Postdoctoral Researchers and Research Assistants cannot be Lead Supervisors, but they can be part of the supervisory team.
A staff member can supervise more than one applicant but can be the Lead Supervisor for only one.
Applications without an identified supervisor will not be accepted.

Reserved Scholarships for Ethnic Minority Applicants:

Up to three scholarships are reserved for talented UK applicants from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds. This is a positive action measure under section 158 of the Equality Act 2010. The scheme offers full financial support and a skills development programme designed to support both academic and alternative academic careers.

The ethnic minority groups covered are:

Black or Black British: Caribbean, African or Other Black background
Asian or Asian British: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese or Other Asian background
Other: Arab
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian, or Other Mixed background

Applicants must meet the UK residency criteria to be considered for these places.

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Research Areas Available:

Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science

Faculty of Society and Culture

You can browse staff research specialisms on the LJMU faculties page to find a supervisor who matches your interests.

Countries Currently Not Accepted (Visa Brake):

LJMU is not currently accepting applications from students in the following countries:

Afghanistan
Cameroon
Myanmar
Sudan
Pakistan
Iran
Iraq

Also Check: Wellcome Sanger Institute PhD Programme 2027 in Cambridge, UK

Projects Involving an External Organisation:

If your PhD involves an external organisation in any way, Research and Innovation Services must review the application before it is submitted. Send the following details to Jane Townend ([email protected]) and copy in Peter Leather ([email protected]):

Full company name
Address
Webpage
Main contact name
The intended role of the partner in the PhD

You will receive feedback within ten working days.

Information for International Applicants:

At the same time as completing the form, email International Admissions ([email protected]) to check your eligibility, including English language and visa requirements.
You are responsible for checking and resolving visa, English language, cost and logistics issues.
If you do not meet the UK residency criteria, you must apply as an international student. For example, if you lived or studied outside the UK at any point in the 3 years before starting, even as a UK national, contact International Admissions to resolve any settled status questions.

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How Applications Are Assessed:

Applications go through a two stage review.

Stage 1: Faculty Panel

Organised by the Faculty Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange. The panel includes staff with relevant academic expertise and extensive PGR experience.

Stage 2: University Panel

Chaired by Professor George (PVC Research and Knowledge Exchange), with Associate Deans and other members of the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. This panel reviews the highest ranked applications from each faculty.

Assessment Criteria

Calibre of the candidate (double weighted): academic qualifications, research achievements, outputs, experience, skills and abilities
Supervisory team: relevant experience, achievements and quality of the team leading the project
Quality of the research project, including:
- Clarity and quality of the Lay Summary
- Clarity and quality of the proposed research studies
- Clarity, appropriateness and relevance of the PhD training plan
- Clarity and relevance of the link to LJMU Faculty or University strategies and priorities

After the Results:

All applicants and lead supervisors will be told the outcome by 15 April 2027, whether successful or not.
Successful candidates must then complete the formal online PGR application form to register for the PhD.
The whole process must be finished in time for the August or September 2027 enrolment point, or the offer will be withdrawn.
Do not complete the formal PGR application form until the scholarship outcome is known.

Also Check: VISTEC Scholarship for Master’s and PhD Programs 2027 (Fully Funded)

How to Apply:

Step 1: Find a Supervisor
Step 2: Download the Application Form
Step 3: Prepare the Required Content
- Student information and details
- A “Lay Summary” of up to 250 words that explains the rationale, aims, objectives and planned outcomes for a non specialist audience
- A “Proposal” describing your research work and training plan
- A “Statement of link” connecting your project to the LJMU Strategy 2030 or the relevant Faculty Research and Knowledge Exchange Plan
Step 4: Submit the Application
- Your Lead Supervisor must email the completed form to [email protected] by 5pm on 29 January 2027. Late applications will not be considered.
Step 5: Send the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
- You (not your supervisor) must send this form directly to [email protected], with your name at the top, by 5pm on 29 January 2027.

Official Website

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