Planning PhD

Overview

Our Planning PhD covers a wide range of topics, reflecting the diverse expertise of our academic staff. When you study with us, you'll develop strong research skills, including data collection, modelling, critical analysis, and academic writing.

Introduction

As the world’s first planning school, established in 1909, civic design at Liverpool offers a research environment with a rich history of innovation and impact. With close links to schools across Europe, the Americas, and Pacific Asia, our postgraduate researchers engage in international collaboration and are encouraged to present at global conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals. When you study with us, you’ll also benefit from the diverse expertise of our academic staff, which will enable you to become a well-rounded researcher in the field of planning.

Research topics

We welcome research proposals that are in areas matching the expertise of our researchers. Potential themes of your research could include:

• Analysis
• Design
• Policy formulation
• Management and governance
• Earth surface dynamics
• Geology and geophysics
• Earth’s interior dynamics
• People, space and place.

Research culture

Our research community is vibrant and interdisciplinary, spanning topics such as analysis, design, policy formulation, management and governance. PhD researchers are fully integrated into research groups and benefit from a supportive academic environment that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange. The School’s strong international links provide opportunities for engagement with researchers worldwide, enhancing both academic and professional development.

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors For help finding a supervisor, please get in touch with our Postgraduate Administrator. Email: envspgr@liverpool.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)151 794 2874

1. Identify potential supervisors

• Email: envspgr@liverpool.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)151 794 2874
• 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.

Tuition fees

If you’re a UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland student, tuition fees for academic year 2026/27 are:

If you’re an international student, tuition fees for academic year 2026/27 are:

Please note, the tuition fee you pay will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others, for example if you’re required to undertake laboratory work. You’ll be informed of the fee for your intended PhD in your offer letter.

The University may administer inflationary rises to international fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

• Full time: £5,238 per year
• Part-time: £2,619 per year.
• Full time: £25,350 or £32,200 per year.
• Part time: £12,650 or £16,100 per year.

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

PhD researchers benefit from world-class research facilities. Our laboratories are part of a 4 research environment, ranked joint 8th in the UK. Facilities include the Hydraulics Laboratory in the School of Engineering, specialised research spaces in the Roxby Building, and the Central Teaching Laboratory, which embeds research-led science into our learning programmes. These resources support advanced research in urban planning, governance, and environmental management.

Careers and employability

A PhD in Planning equips you with high-level research, analytical, and communication skills, ensuring you are well prepared for a career in academia, urban planning, policy development, and consultancy. You’ll graduate ready to address complex environmental, social and governance challenges at a global level.

Graduates from this programme pursue careers in academia, government agencies, international organisations, and private sector consultancy. Many work in urban and regional planning, environmental management, policy research, and infrastructure development. With a strong foundation in data analysis, critical thinking, and policy formulation, you’ll be well placed to influence decision-making in urban governance, spatial planning, and sustainable development worldwide.

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 entry requirement is a good first degree (2:1) or above, in a related area from a UK university or equivalent overseas. Applications from those with non-traditional qualifications and relevant work experience are also welcomed and will be considered on their individual merits.

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 5.5

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 no component below 5.5 | 6 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no more than one component at 5.0 | 10 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | Online

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

5.0 overall, with no component below 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 5.5, 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