Our focus on critical care encompasses conditions such as sepsis and trauma, which are leading causes of death globally. As part of our Critical Care programme, you can address unmet global health challenges. This includes identifying early signs of maladaptive events to inform the development of therapeutic innovations and improved diagnostic tools.
Critical care research involves understanding the complex mechanisms that follow acute cell damage and injury. These injuries may be caused by infection, trauma or ischaemia and infarction from thromboses. The dynamics involve an interplay between the inciting event and the host response. Initially, this response is adaptive to protect the host. However, when the response becomes excessive and unregulated, it can lead to harmful effects with potentially lethal consequences. These events link the processes of coagulation, inflammation and innate immunity to varying degrees and at varying time points.
At the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), researchers focus on identifying the molecular events that mark the transitional phases during critical illness, especially in identifying the signatures of early maladaptive events. This research translates into the development of better diagnostic tools, helping clinicians recognise the appropriate time points for intervention. Additionally, there is the need to drive therapeutic innovations for patients with critical illnesses. The focus is also on developing novel biomarker-targeted therapeutics.
We particularly welcome proposals that match those of our researchers, including:
It’s useful to contact potential supervisors before you begin your application. Explore our staff lists for the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences for details of potential supervisors.
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 - £31,250
Part-time place, per year - £15,650
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
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.
IVES supports modern, well-equipped research laboratories on the University’s main Liverpool campus, including the Ronald Ross, Biosciences, Nuffield and IC2 Buildings. We also have facilities in Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia. Researchers benefit from access to world-class equipment and facilities via the Liverpool Shared Research Facilities (LIV-SRF), many of which are based within the institute.
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.
Applicants are normally expected to hold both of the following:
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 | IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17 and speaking 19 |
| 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.
Our Pre-sessional English courses vary from 6, 10, 12, 20, 30 or 40 weeks.
You can email us at elc@liverpool.ac.uk for advice on the length of Pre-sessional English course you require. Please let us know your most recent score in one of the following English languages tests so we can assess your current English language ability:
We’ll be in touch to let you know the length of Pre-sessional English course you require. We’ll also confirm whether you can study Pre-Sessional English on campus or online.
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.