MPhil, PhD Postgraduate research opportunities in Art and Design

Entry year:
2024/25
Start date:
October 2024, February 2025, June 2025
Study mode:
Full-time, Part-time
Course duration:
PhD Full-time: 4 years, PhD Part-time: 7 years
Campus:
City
99% of graduates are in full-time work within a year
Study abroad at 100+ partner universities worldwide
2,000+ PCs and loan laptops on campus

About this course

Excellent research opportunities await at the Liverpool School of Art and Design, enabling you to work at the forefront of developments with leading experts.

  • Study full or part-time according to your other commitments 
  • Choose from a wide range of subject areas (see Details tab for more information)
  • Complete your research degree (MPhil/PhD) in a Faculty known for its internationally-acclaimed research
  • Explore scholarship opportunities 
  • Benefit from expert supervision and researcher training
  • Enjoy excellent facilities and great employment connections

The programme route you undertake will depend on your qualifications and experience. 

You can study for an MPhil / PhD full or part-time over two to seven years. 

Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University is a member of AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 

AACSB International is a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide. Through membership, accreditation, research, thought leadership, professional development, and advocacy, AACSB partners with over 1,500 organizations, from more than 90 countries globally. Membership or participation in the Global Education Alliance does not imply accreditation.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Discover excellent postgraduate research opportunities at the Liverpool School of Art and Design where practice-led research enables you to articulate your own practice and explore contemporary developments.

Liverpool School of Art and Design is organised around strong disciplinary cultures, within a dynamic environment that supports interaction and debate between staff and students within and across subject areas.

The School conducts internationally important research which informs student learning. In the 2014 REF, 85% of research submitted by Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory at LJMU was recognised internationally or considered internationally excellent. This research helps ensure our learning is positioned at the leading edge of developments in the field and that you have an opportunity to study alongside leading experts.

Research is organised thematically to bring disciplines together and exploit their methods, addressing issues with broader cultural significance. We have significant research expertise in: the History of Art, Exhibition Studies,

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Your Learning Experience

An insight into teaching on your course

To complement your research, specific training needs will be identified on an individual basis. You can study topics such as:

  • Advanced Presentation Skills 
  • Applying for Ethical Approval 
  • How to be an Effective Researcher
  • Poster Presentation/Design
  • Postgraduate Employability Skills
  • Project Management
  • Writing Skills including Creative Planning for Writing your Thesis
  • Surviving the Viva
  • Speed Reading

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The programme is based in the Liverpool School of Art and Design’s John Lennon Art and Design Building, a purpose-built facility in the Mount Pleasant Campus, which brings together the varied disciplines studied at the School.

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

Studying for a postgraduate research degree enhances your employability in a number of ways.

As well as enabling you to focus on your specific areas of interest and expand your subject knowledge ready for employment in your chosen sector, a postgraduate research qualification enables you to take charge of your career path by demonstrating your contribution to an area of knowledge. It enhances your self-confidence and showcases your ability to work independently and ‘go it alone’.

According to a report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), more than a quarter of graduates felt that their employment prospects were increased by their PG qualification. And when it comes to earnings, those with a postgrad qualification have been shown to earn an average of 24% more than those who leave education with an undergraduate degree.

Some postgraduate research students are already in full-time employment when they begin their studies, whilst others are recent graduates looking to extend their research capabilities and subject expertise.

A good proportion of our students return to their existing roles with enhanced career prospects, others move on to further study or take up teaching roles in educational establishments.

Fees and funding

How to fund your postgraduate research

Securing funding can be one of the main hurdles you face when considering postgraduate research. However, help is available. LJMU has a team of fees and funding experts who can offer advice based on your personal circumstances. You can contact them on 0151 231 3153/3154 or via studentadvice@ljmu.ac.uk

You may also wish to contact the Liverpool School of Art and Design direct about locally available funding opportunities.

Entry requirements

You will need:

  • Minimum of a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree and a Masters degree with a research dissertation in a relevant subject.
  • In exceptional circumstances we may consider applicants without a Masters degree based on the level of research training completed in their undergraduate degree programme and any subsequent research work.
  • We also welcome applications from those with non-standard qualifications who can demonstrate knowledge, experience, and skills developed in the workplace or other setting relevant to the programme of research. If you do not hold the standard academic entry requirements, please use your personal statement to provide further details. Non-standard applications will be considered by the Admissions Tutor(s) on a case-by-case basis.

Additional information:

  • IELTS 6.5 minimum 5.5 in each component)
  • 58-64 (minimum 51 in each component for UKVI purposes)
  • RPL is accepted on this programme
  • If you have any specific queries, please contact apsadmissions@ljmu.ac.uk

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

Your student experience

There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student through Unibuddy for insights and advice on university life, courses, and more.

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.