Education PhD

Overview

The aim of the PhD in Education is to support you to become a fully-fledged independent researcher and expert in your chosen area within the broad field of education, so you're fully prepared to make a difference in practice or through theory.

Introduction

The Institute of Education is part of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures , exploring culture and society from the origins of humanity to modern day politics. The contribution of education as a field is also to test the capabilities and the limits of the human and of society.

At the Institute of Education, we’re home to a multinational team of experts in educational research, sharing a commitment to innovation in teaching and learning as well as to the fundamental understanding of education as a human and societal creation. As a PhD student, you’ll prepare an original thesis of your own conception under the expert guidance of two supervisors.

Research topics

As an applicant, you’ll propose your own research topics and approach. The current research activity of the core and wider team of the Institute includes a broad range of topics, covering most areas within Education as a discipline. These include:

• All levels of formal education, from early years to doctoral
• Non-formal, informal, adult and lifelong learning and education
• The education of professionals and other workers in the education sector, and in other sectors, including healthcare, accountancy and vocational trades sectors
• Reflective practice in education
• Entrepreneurship and education
• Educational leadership, management and policy change, including for sustainability
• Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, including micro-credentials
• The use of artificial intelligence and other technologies in learning and teaching
• Education and social justice
• The history, the politics, the sociology, the psychology and the philosophy of education.

Research culture

The Institute has run the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education, which has now been succeeded by the PhD. The theses of over 200 successful candidates supervised by us are available in the University Library Repository . We also offer the Education MA programme and, in addition, we host the Institute of Education research seminar series.

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors Firstly, please go to the Institute’s Staff list in order to view potential supervisors and contact one staff member to discuss the suitability of being matched with them. If they agree, you can nominate them on the application form. If the discussion does not lead to an agreement, you may move on to another member of staff (please only contact one potential supervisor at a time). To nominate a second supervisor, you should choose one or two staff members from those listed as core academic staff of the Institute. You do not need to contact them first. All nominations are provisional, subject to review of your application by the Institute.

1. Identify potential supervisors

• 2. Prepare your application documents You may need the following documents to complete your online application: A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake) University transcripts and degree certificates to date Passport details (international applicants only) English language certificates (international applicants only) A personal statement Names of two proposed supervisors Names and contact details of two referees.

2. Prepare your application documents

• A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
• University transcripts and degree certificates to date
• Passport details (international applicants only)
• English language certificates (international applicants only)
• A personal statement
• Names of two proposed supervisors
• Names and contact details of two referees.
• 3. Apply Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £5,238 Part-time place, per year - £2,619

International fees

Full-time place, per year - £24,599 Part-time place, per year - £12,300

Fees stated are for 2026/27 and may be subject to change for academic year 2027/28. The University may administer inflationary rises to international fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this degree, as well as general student living costs .

Funding your PhD

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.

There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding . These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.

We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom . Change it here.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.

Duncan Norman Research Scholarship

If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £23,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.

John Lennon Memorial Scholarship

If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Facilities and resources

The Institute of Education is based in 8-14 Abercromby Square.

Careers and employability

The PhD in Education can support a career, or career enhancement, in the Education sector, including in Higher Education. It can also contribute to other professional fields .

Career support from day one to graduation and beyond

Once you graduate after completing your PhD, you’ll gain free access to Prosper to help you unlock your potential and kickstart your postdoctoral research career.

Prosper provides structured career development and support, designed specifically for postdocs, in close collaboration with employer partners and principal investigators.

Opportunities include coaching, workshops, webinars and a buddy scheme designed to help you realise the next step in your career journey.

You can also access online resources including the Prosper portal so you can manage your personal and professional development at your own pace.

As a postgraduate researcher at the University of Liverpool, you have access to an exciting portfolio of development opportunities, designed to support your ongoing success and help you realise your ambitions.

These development opportunities, available through The Academy’s PGR Development Hub , are suitable for all subject specialisms. You might be just commencing your research or in the final stages of completing your PhD.

An initial Development Needs Analysis will encourage you to reflect on your abilities. This exploration of your personal, professional and career development needs will form the foundation of a bespoke development plan you’ll agree with your supervisor.

The aim is to immerse yourself in new experiences, engage in development opportunities designed exclusively for postgraduate researchers, and reflect on your progress.

Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in planning for your future career.

You can access tailored guidance and support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops.

The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.

Meet our PhD researchers

These are the trailblazers, the leaders, the true originals. Our postgraduate researchers are shaping their future, and the future of the world we live in, advancing knowledge with each discovery.

Entry requirements

Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.

The typical requirement as regards academic attainment is (in the UK system) a 2:1 at Bachelor’s level and 65% at master’s level, or equivalent academic qualifications from non-UK institutions, in a relevant subject area. Individual consideration, as constituting equivalent attainment, will be given to those with significant or relevant experience or with professional qualifications.

English language requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country .

We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications .

International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.

Qualification | Details

IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0

TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.

Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59.

Pre-sessional English

Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?

The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.

If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests , to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.

Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.

Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online

6.0 overall, with writing at 6.0 and no component below 5.5 | 6 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with writing at 5.5 and no component below 5.0 | 10 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no more than one component at 5.0 | 12 weeks | Online

5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus

5.0 overall, with no more than one component at 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus

4.5 overall, with no more than one component at 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus

If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.

Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.

Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Research areas