Earth Sciences PhD / MPhil

Research themes

Earth Science research at Liverpool is exciting and dynamic, and has a tremendous breadth of topics. We are internationally recognised for our studies of both the solid Earth and Earth surface processes. We aim to understand the Earth and contribute to society’s energy and environmental efforts through studies that employ field, experimental, analytical and numerical techniques, providing an integrated approach to some of the most fundamental questions in our science.

We have unique, extensive and world-leading laboratory facilities for rock deformation, electron microscopy, geomagnetism, volcanology, seismology and diagenesis. We are also passionate about fieldwork and conduct field studies around the world.

We aim to produce researchers who are internationally recognised in their own fields and understand current environmental and academic research problems, and who also have strong, transferable research skills.

You will develop your research skills primarily by completing a project under supervision. These skills include:

• data collection and management;
• data interpretation and modelling;
• critical analysis;
• analysis and discussion of literature;
• presentation skills, through international conferences;
• paper writing skills, through writing manuscripts.

We encourage and train you to publish academic papers. It is not unusual for our students to complete their PhD programme with 2-3 papers published in international peer-reviewed journals.

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.