Engineering PhD / MPhil
Our staff are world-renowned for their creativity and results across a broad spectrum of single-discipline and multidisciplinary research. The School is a centre of excellence for engineering research and has a reputation for its experimental and computing facilities.
Why study with us?
£36m
recent refurbishment of the School
17th
in the UK for 'world leading' (4*) overall quality in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
6th
in the UK for 'outstanding' (4*) impact in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
Overview
We consistently achieve high research grades including top ratings for most of our research areas in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
Our research has consistently attracted the highest grades in research assessments and our research is supported by industrial companies such as Agusta Westland, Airbus, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, Unilever, Jaguar and Ford, and by national and international bodies such as EPSRC and the European Commission.
Below you can find out about our research interests in-depth and about the wide-ranging PhD and other research opportunities available.
The School has a number a number of different research groups. Specific research interests can be found in our staff profiles. We welcome research proposals and will do our best to identify potential supervisors.
Facilities
The facilities and environment in the School has recently undergone a £36 million refurbishment. This has created state of the art research laboratories, equipped with equipment which includes rapid prototyping machines, a range of Lasers, two research quality flight simulators and a civil structures laboratory, amongst others.
The renovation also created a unique active learning laboratory which provides open plan space for student team projects, alongside a workshop equipped with rapid prototyping machines for student use. Research students are based in open plan accommodation close to the academic staff offices so that they benefit from regular interaction with each other and with staff.
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year
| MPhil / PhD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £4,786 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,393 |
|
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.
Entry requirements
The indicative entry requirement is an Honours degree in an Engineering, Physical Sciences or Computer Sciences subject at a level of 2:1 or above for research programmes.
Each application is assessed individually to reflect students’ qualifications with respect to requirements for each individual programme.
Mature students are eligible via standard University requirements which allow appropriate qualifications plus experience as an alternative to an Honours degree.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall 6.5 no band below 5.5 |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 88 overall with L 17 W 17 R 17 and S 19 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 176 with no less than 162 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 61 with minimum scores of 59 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- Postgraduate Office
- Email: pgeng@liverpool.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)151 794 4857/4705
Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects
Related Doctoral Training Partnerships
Doctoral Training Partnerships support future researchers with funding and a rewarding learning environment where you can collaborate with leading researchers.
- EPSRC CDT in Distributed Algorithms
- ERDF Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory (LCEI)
- NERC DTP in Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE)
- EPSRC DTP
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy – GREEN (Growing Skills for Reliable Economic Energy from Nuclear)
- University of Liverpool Doctoral Network in Technologies for Healthy Ageing
Find a scholarship
We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.