Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology PhD/MPhil

Overview

The University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s leading centres for sociology, social policy, and criminology, a status it has enjoyed for more than 100 years. A shared pursuit of research-based knowledge in support of social justice sets the department apart from most of its contemporaries in the UK and beyond.

Introduction

The Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology’s research clusters provide focal points for collaboration in different areas of sociological, social and criminological research.

They provide a platform for undertaking sociological, social policy and criminology research in areas including:

• Ageing and the life course, focusing on factors that create inequalities and examining how health and wellbeing are experienced in later life
• Sociological research, exploring topics like AI, online life, state structures, racial capitalism, climate change social class, education, culture and architecture
• Coloniality and decoloniality, examining theoretical and applies approaches, from the harms of colonialism and neo-colonialism to the potential harms of purported efforts to decolonise
• Technology, law and society, investigating the impact of technology on society, the economy, and human interactions
• Criminal justice, generating impactful knowledge that informs policy, enhances justice, and contributes to the overall understanding of criminal justice systems, both locally and globally
• International criminological research, focusing on research in criminology that’s grounded in theory, backed by evidence, and relevant to both local and global issues.

Research topics

We welcome research proposals which align with the research expertise of staff in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology.

Research topics could be related to:

• Activism, protests and resistance
• Ageing and the life course
• Alcohol, drugs, and the night-time economy
• Critical military studies
• Class
• Community engagement
• Corporate and state harms
• Courts and sentencing
• Cultural and creative industries
• Cultural criminology
• Death studies
• Digital culture and society
• Education
• Extremism
• Family sociology
• Gender-based violence
• Green criminology
• Hate crime
• Historical criminology
• Immigration and asylum
• Police
• Politics and Government
• Race, ethnicity and post-colonialism
• Science and technology studies
• Social policy
• Sociology of sporting cultures and physical activity
• Social theory
• Sociology of architecture
• Sociology of health and illness
• Sociology of gender
• Sociology of religion
• The sex industry
• Victims and crime.

Research culture

The Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology (SSPC) has a rich research culture where postgraduate researchers engage in cutting-edge research and work with world-leading experts in their field.

Our research clusters provide access to some of the most rigorous and advanced research in sociology and social policy. As a postgraduate researcher with us, you’ll benefit from:

(Research Excellence Framework, 2021)

• Access to Methods NorthWest , a cross-institutional initiative that promotes methodological innovation, excellence and an interdisciplinary approach
• Prestigious events such as the Eleanor Rathbone Lecture Series and the Engage@Liverpool ‘how to’ talk series where lectures and lively debates focus on innovative research methods and practice
• Opportunities to experience and conduct real-world research with voluntary groups and organisations across Merseyside through Interchange , our registered charity.

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors View the staff list for the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology for details of potential supervisors in this area. You can also view a list of research interest areas on our research expertise page. Members of academic staff are listed under all topics that they would be happy to hear proposals around. If you’d like any help finding a supervisor, please email slsjpgr@liverpool.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)151 794 3450.

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 - £25,350 Part-time place, per year - £12,650

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

Postgraduate researchers will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities of the School of Law and Social Justice Building, as well as excellent library and IT facilities just one minute’s walk away.

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.

We typically expect applicants to hold a UK undergraduate degree, at 2:1 or above, or a 2:2 undergraduate degree plus a master’s degree, or equivalent, preferably in the social sciences. If you are considering undertaking our PhD programme, you should equip yourself with a good standard of literacy in social research methods across a range of data collection, analysis and management techniques. We recommend that all prospective postgraduate researchers take modules in both qualitative and quantitative methods, either in the University or elsewhere, such as across the MethodsNorthWest initiative.

We typically expect applicants to hold a UK undergraduate degree, at 2:1 or above, or a 2:2 undergraduate degree plus a master’s degree, or equivalent, preferably in the social sciences.

If you are considering undertaking our PhD programme, you should equip yourself with a good standard of literacy in social research methods across a range of data collection, analysis and management techniques.

We recommend that all prospective postgraduate researchers take modules in both qualitative and quantitative methods, either in the University or elsewhere, such as across the MethodsNorthWest initiative.

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 | If you took a TOEFL test on or before 20 January 2026, you’ll need 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. If you took a TOEFL test from 21 January 2026 onwards, when a new scoring system was introduced, you’ll need 4.5 overall, with 4 or above in all components. 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