Public Health PhD / MPhil / MD

Overview

Undertake research with real-world benefits to improve health and reduce inequalities with our research degree in Public Health. You’ll explore the application of the social model of health to key challenges in population health and discover how to enhance systems and policies to address inequalities and improve health and social care systems.

Introduction

Our research in public health prioritises tackling existing and emerging population health issues, especially those that affect our community and lead to health inequalities. We are at the forefront of research into public health, policy and systems, in particular addressing health inequalities through action on the social determinants of health, both locally and globally. Underpinning our research, teaching and service work is the social model of health and how that can be applied to address health inequalities and inequalities within health and social care systems.

Our research challenges include:

• How to improve systems that promote, protect and sustain health, prevent disease and care for the sick
• How to evaluative and promote effective, equitable and cost-efficient health and non-health policies to reduce inequalities
• How to reduce disease burden from air pollution
• How to advance and strengthen social science approaches in and of public/population health.

Research topics

This research degree covers a broad range of potential topics for investigation. We welcome research proposals that match the research areas of our researchers in topics including:

You can read more about our current research projects, methodological interests and expertise in public health on the Institute of Population Health’s pages .

• Policy research on social determinants of health and child health
• Energy, air pollution and health
• Non-communicable disease prevention and food policy
• Public health simulation modelling
• Routine or administrative data for analysis of health inequalities
• Social science approaches in and of public or population health

Research culture

The University of Liverpool’s Institute of Population Health is dedicated to globally important and locally impactful population health scholarship through programmes or research and civic partnerships.

The Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems is one of the largest in the UK and has a world-leading status for its excellence in research and education, offering the ideal environment to become a recognised specialist in the field of public health.

We have significant leadership roles in initiatives including:

We are a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Policy Research on Determinants of Health Equity.

Civic collaboration is a cornerstone of our research, working with a range of partners including Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Wirral Council, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, N8, Health Equity North and the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA), NHS Secure Data Environment for the NorthWest and UNICEF Child Friendly Cities.

• The National Institute for Health and Care Research’s School for Public Health Research
• The National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Public Policy Research Unit
• The National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST)
• UK Prevention Research Partnership: Groundswell Consortium
• Population Health Improvement UK: Healthy Urban Places (UK Research and Innovation funded)
• Liverpool City Region Civic Data Cooperative, and
• The National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North West Coast.

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors It’s useful to contact potential supervisors before you begin your application. Explore our staff lists for the Institute of Population Health for details of potential supervisors.

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 A curriculum vitae (CV) Contact details for 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
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Contact details for 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 - £32,200 Part-time place, per year - £16,100

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 Population Health is situated in several buildings across the University campus, including the Waterhouse Building, Whelan Building, Thompson-Yates Building, and Eleanor Rathbone Building.

Postgraduate researchers have access to dedicated research facilities, applicable to specific PhD projects, along with a range of meeting and social spaces.

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.

You’ll normally be expected to hold both: A UK honours degree, or overseas equivalent, at 2:1 or above, in a relevant subject A UK master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject.

You’ll normally be expected to hold both:

• A UK honours degree, or overseas equivalent, at 2:1 or above, in a relevant subject
• A UK master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject.

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 | 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.0

TOEFL iBT | If you took a TOEFL test on or before 20 January 2026, you’ll need 100 overall, with minimum scores of listening 21, writing 21, reading 21 and speaking 23. If you took a TOEFL test from 21 January 2026 onwards, when a new scoring system was introduced, you’ll need 5 overall, with 4.5 or above in all components. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.

Pearson PTE Academic | 69 overall, with no component below 61

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.

Our Pre-sessional English courses vary from 6, 10, 12, 20, 30 or 40 weeks.

You can email us at elc@liverpool.ac.uk for advice on the length of Pre-sessional English course you require. Please let us know your most recent score in one of the following English languages tests so we can assess your current English language ability:

We’ll be in touch to let you know the length of Pre-sessional English course you require. We’ll also confirm whether you can study Pre-Sessional English on campus or online.

• IELTS
• LanguageCert Academic
• Pearson PTE
• Skills for English
• Oxford Test for English
• Duolingo English Test

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