The Liverpool School of Architecture is an internationally recognised centre for architectural and built environment research. Established in 1894, we became the first university in the UK to award a RIBA-accredited degree in Architecture. We are proud of our long tradition and position in the world of Architecture, both nationally and internationally.
Research in the School of Architecture spans across the architectural humanities, heritage, environment, digital culture, and design practice. Our research has produced world-leading academic outputs and shows strong commitment to local, national, and international public engagement activities and partnerships, and to generating maximum impact on issues ranging across acoustics, heritage, and policy.
Our research centres include:
We have international partnerships with higher education institutions and several partnerships and knowledge transfer partnerships with leading businesses, third sector, and public sector associates. We have secured considerable research funding from various sources, including the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the British Academy, Aga Kahn, the Leverhulme Trust, Paul Mellon, Royal Institute of British Architects and a range of commercial companies and government agencies.
Our research themes are:
We welcome applications that fall within these categories, but please check our individual staff pages for details of other specialisms.
Key to our research strategy is the establishment of research centres and research clusters across our main areas of expertise and scholar work. These research units facilitate peer support, foster collaborative research, and encourage different kinds of knowledge exchange and public engagement. As well as writing journal articles and monographs, our research work is shared through exhibitions, films, animations, digital media, 3D models, simulations, and design projects.
Please look at our staff list to try and identify potential supervisors. You don’t have to identify potential supervisors on your application form, we can approach members of staff that might be able to supervise your chosen research area when we have your full application.
You may need the following documents to complete your online application:
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.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £5,006
Part-time place, per year - £2,503
Full-time place, per year - £24,600
Part-time place, per year - £12,300
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.
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 offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.
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 £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.
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).
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.
Our Postgraduate Research Centre provides personal workstations, dedicated work and study spaces, and a comfortable, open-plan space where our postgraduate researchers can meet. Our computing facilities include a selection of major computer-aided architectural design environments.
There’s also a well-equipped physical modelling workshop, equipment for digital video film and editing, and specialist science and engineering areas. These include sound transmission suites, an anechoic chamber, a robotic arm, a lighting laboratory with artificial sky, and computer laboratories.
All facilities are supported by a team of specialist technicians.
Late 2025 will see the opening of our £23m extension, which will offer an enhanced learning environment for students in the Liverpool School of Architecture.
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.
Want to find out more about studying a PhD with us? Chat with our postgraduate research student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.
The typical minimum entry requirement is an undergraduate degree at 2:1 level or above, or equivalent, in a relevant field of study. Individual consideration is given to mature students with significant and relevant experience with professional qualifications.
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 | 88 overall with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
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 no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.5 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no more than one component below 4.5, and no component below 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.
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.