About the Postgraduate Research Programme

What are the supervisory arrangements?
How long does it take to complete a PhD/MPhil?
What research and academic skills training is there?
Research seminars for students and staff
How is progress tracked?
Advice and guidance

What are the supervisory arrangements?

All students will be allocated at least two supervisors. Supervisors provide guidance and support throughout a student’s period of study.

Further details are available in Liverpool Hope’s Handbook for Research Students and in the University of Liverpool Postgraduate Handbook.

How long does it take to complete an Mphil, PhD or EdD?

PhD
[a]    Full-time students shall normally submit their thesis after a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years from initial registration.
[b]    Part-time students shall normally submit their thesis after a minimum of four years and a maximum of six years from initial registration.

MPhil
[a]    Full-time students shall normally submit their thesis after a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years from initial registration.
[b]    Part-time students shall normally submit their thesis after a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years from initial registration.

EdD
The programme is available by part-time study and will take a minimum of four years to complete. During the first phase of the programme (years one and two) students will be expected to attend three residential study weekends each year (six in total).

Please click here for more information about the EdD programme.

What research and academic skills training is there?

All MPhil and PhD students are required to complete a programme of research skills development before they can submit their thesis. The Liverpool Hope scheme offers a mixture of subject specific and generic research training, as well as a range of transferable skills. Constituent components include key elements like research skills and career skills development.

The scheme is individually tailored for each student. It includes research seminars and events based at Liverpool Hope as well as nationally arranged events such as UKGrad Schools/Conferences in which students can meet with researchers from other institutions and develop their own skills.

Research seminars for students and staff

We hold research seminars for research students and staff across the subject areas for example the by the Hope Theological Society alongside inaugural lectures by professors and presentations by visiting professors. All of these contribute to an interesting and varied postgraduate research environment.

How is progress tracked?

Towards the end of each Academic Session, usually in May or June each year, students complete an Annual Progress Report. The purpose of the report is to ensure that students are making progress as expected but also to provide an opportunity to raise other issues. The report is also the formal recommendation of re-registration each year.

Advice and guidance

The first point of contact for academic advice is their research supervisors but there are also support and guidance can be provided by subject areas, faculties and centrally within the University through COMPASS ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

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