Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Vice Chancellors Scholarship in UK

The LJMU VC PhD Scholarship is now open (7 October 2026 to 29 January 2027).

The Vice-Chancellor and the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee have endorsed the 2027 version of the programme. Now in its 12th year, the university invites applications from exceptional students and supervisors to apply with high-quality projects.

LJMU has a reputation for delivering pioneering research that is extending our knowledge and understanding across a diverse range of areas from neuroscience to engineering and public health to criminology. We strongly encourage multidisciplinary research and actively support collaboration with institutions across the world.

To be considered for the LJMU VC PhD Scholarship, you must:

• Be home or international students

• Meet the entry requirements for a PhD at the University

• Satisfy the English Language requirements of Liverpool John Moores University.

Applications from exceptional students and supervisors proposing high-quality research projects are highly welcome worldwide.

Students

• Students currently enrolled on Masters’ programmes (Taught or Research M-level awards) must have completed their course prior to the enrolment onto the PhD at LJMU in August/September 2027.

• Students already enrolled on an LJMU PhD (or any other level 8 programme of study) are not eligible to apply.

• This specific scholarship programme does not support Professional Doctorates or any other non-PhD level 8 registrations.

Supervisors

• Lead supervisors must be permanent staff at Lecturer/Senior Lecturer status or above.

• Postdoctoral Researchers or Research Assistants are not eligible to be Lead Supervisors on this scheme, but they may be included in supervisory teams.

• Academic staff can be a supervisor to more than one studentship applicant but must be the nominated Lead Supervisor to only one applicant.  

The Liverpool John Moores University Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship covers the selected candidates'

• tuition fees

• living stipend

• Bench fee: Currently £1600 pa, with the award made to the Lead Supervisor to support research costs.

1. 1

   Review the official guidance: Read the eligibility, support, criteria and review-process information on the university’s scholarship webpage.

2. 2

   Identify a suitable research project and supervisor: Discuss the proposed doctoral research with an appropriate supervisor and establish whether the project meets the competition requirements.

3. 3

   Download the application template: Obtain the official Word application form from the scholarship webpage.

4. 4

   Prepare the application: Complete the required documentation with the lead supervisor and follow the university’s instructions for the proposed project.

5. 5

   Submit the final application: The lead supervisor must submit the completed application to VCScholarships@ljmu.ac.uk by the deadline.

6. 6

   Submit the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form: The student applicant must send the completed monitoring form directly to VCScholarships@ljmu.ac.uk, ensuring their name appears at the top of the document. It must arrive no later than 5:00 p.m. on 29 January 2027.