Liverpool John Moores Collaborative Doctoral Award 2025-2026

Liverpool John Moores University invites applications for a fulltime, funded PhD researcher to work on a collaborative doctoral project with the Bluecoat, Liverpool’s contemporary arts centre.

The project will explore the global and imperial history of Liverpool’s Blue Coat Charity School in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. It will focus on the extent to which the growing globalisation of the port of Liverpool, and associated colonial connections and structures, were reflected in the people involved in the charity school – its trustees, supporters, pupils and staff - and the School’s wider activities. The period covered is from the formal end of the slave trade and slave ownership in the early-nineteenth century to the purchase of the Bluecoat’s city-centre buildings – significantly by Merseyside philanthropist and imperialist William Lever (later Lord Leverhulme) – in the Edwardian era. As well as the completion of a PhD thesis, the project will involve the co-production of a contemporary arts programme, reflecting upon the Bluecoat’s imperial connections and legacies. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineAugust 28, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorLiverpool John Moores University
• City to studyLiverpool
• School to studyLiverpool John Moores University
• Course to studyHumanities & Social Sciences , Humanities and Social Sciences , Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Full time funded PhD Project. The studentship includes a tax-free stipend of £20,780 p.a. and the tuition fees for three years.

Requirements

• The successful candidate will have an interest in nineteenth century history, and the history of Britain and empire.
• They will have strong critical thinking skills, be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• The candidate should be comfortable working across disciplines, and with external stakeholders. Experience in archival research is desirable.
• LJMU are seeking PhD applicants with a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree
• An MA or MRes in a relevant subject area.
• You should have a commitment and strong interest in interdisciplinary research, be motivated and be prepared to work independently.
• Full training will be given to the successful candidate.

Selection Process

The student will complete programme approval 3 months from the date of enrolment and will be expected to confirm the PhD registration within 12 months (subject to satisfactory progress and approval of the confirmation of registration report).

• Closing date for applications:  29th August 2025
• Interviews: w/c 22 September 2025
• PhD start date: between October 2025 and Feb 2026 (earlier start date preferred)

Application Documents

• CV
• A one-page expression of interest that details your approach to the research and interest in this area, relevant skills and experience that you will bring to the study and why this research area interests you.

Check also:
Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures by Mastercard Foundation 2026-2027
Department of Aeronautics MSc Scholarship at Imperial College London 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

To apply, send a

• CV
• a one-page expression of interest that details your approach to the research and interest in this area, relevant skills and experience that you will bring to the study and why this research area interests you.
• Please send these to Professor Nick White [email protected].

For any other queries, contact Professor White

For more details, visit LJMU Scholarship webpage