The University of Liverpool is leading a Doctoral Focal College on the theme of ‘Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet’ and the first round of recruitment is now open. We are keen to support applications from prospective PhD students with projects in relevant fields in philosophy: e.g. care ethics, environmental philosophy, philosophy of medicine, philosophy of psychiatry, philosophy of art, philosophy of literature.
Submissions must apply under one of the following four Project Areas:
- Catalysing Care through Creative Arts/Practices
- Communicating and Curating Care
- Nourishing Care
- Spaces and Places for Care
You can find details of what is envisaged as falling under each area here.
Expressions of Interest due by the 1st December 2025, after which a shortlisted number of promising candidates will be supported to work with prospective PhD supervisors to develop a full PhD proposal by the 1st April 2026. Nine of those candidates will be selected to become the first cohort of Crafting Care PhD students in October 2026. You can find more here.
More about our PhD programme
Our PhD students are a central part of our research community of our department, contributing to our work in progress seminars, research projects, undergraduate teaching and social activities. We have a dedicated department library, common room and PGR office. The department is part of the School of the Arts, which offers many opportunities for training, interdisciplinary work and support.
The Department of Philosophy at Liverpool has a long history of combining research excellence in core areas of philosophy with innovative work at the frontiers of the discipline. We have particular strengths in: philosophy and the future; metaphysics of mind; philosophy of psychiatry; aesthetics; history of analytic philosophy; philosophy of science and society; religion and spirituality (including non-Western traditions); legal philosophy and political philosophy; Hellenistic and neo-Platonic philosophy. For more information see our staff page and the profiles of our current students.
In addition to PhD positions funded by the AHRC Focal Colleges, we will soon be announcing further opportunities. Current students are funded through the AHRC, European Research Council, John Lennon Memorial Scholarships, Sir Joseph Rotblat Alumni Scholarship.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss a potential application, please contact one of the Department’s Directors of Post Graduate Research Rachael Wiseman or Robin McKenna. We encourage you to approach any promising candidates in your networks with this exciting opportunity.