DOC Professional Doctorate in Engineering | Part-time
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- January
- Study mode:
- Part-time
- Course duration:
- 6 years
- Campus:
- City
Why study this course with LJMU?
The Professional Doctorate in Engineering, also referred to as the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) advances professional practice through the application and development of theoretical frameworks. The EngD at LJMU’s School of Engineering and Built Environment offers key advantages:
• A qualification equal in standing to a PhD, designed for professionals who wish to continue working
• Research is rooted in real workplace challenges, ensuring relevance and impact
• Participants develop new theoretical insights while applying them directly to practice
• Students gain advanced methodological skills to design and evaluate high-quality research
• Individual projects deliver tangible benefits to employers and wider industry
• Engagement with supervisors and peers promotes collaboration and knowledge exchange
• The programme strengthens critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving abilities for strategic roles
About this course
EngD suits candidates who wish to pursue their studies on a part-time basis while holding senior professional or leadership roles, enabling them to achieve the highest level of academic qualification without stepping away from full-time employment.
An EngD from LJMU enhances professional credibility and offers globally recognised academic and practical expertise.
Candidates are expected to make significant contributions within their organisations, demonstrating the practical application of both new and established theories. The programme promotes research, collaboration with employers, and the cultivation of leadership capabilities, preparing candidates to drive innovation and promote sustained professional and personal growth within their respective fields.
The EngD Ethos
Designed as an alternative to the traditional PhD, the EngD suits those seeking the highest academic qualification either to progress to or maintainer their leadership roles in engineering and related sectors. Like a PhD, it requires a theoretical contribution, but its distinguishing feature lies in its emphasis on practice. Candidates must demonstrate tangible impact, whether through contributions to their own organisation, professional bodies, or wider industry. For employers, this engagement can be highly advantageous, with outcomes such as innovation, knowledge transfer, and even significant cost savings directly benefiting the organisation.
Becoming part of a dynamic and diverse research community at LJMU allows you to contribute to advancing the frontiers of science, engineering, and technology. The programme is specifically designed so that you can integrate your research into the ongoing priorities of your business, meaning that organisational progress can be achieved without requiring you to step away from your professional role. Through direct collaboration with employers and industry partners, the EngD enables you to engage with live projects that are sponsored by companies, giving you the opportunity to apply innovative research to address practical and industrially relevant challenges. Importantly, the academic rigour and intellectual contribution of the EngD are comparable to those of a traditional PhD, but with a stronger emphasis on real-world application.
The EngD offered at LJMU’s School of Engineering and Built Environment is distinctive both in its structure and the extensive support it provides to candidates throughout their research journey. It is particularly valuable for experienced engineers and professionals, including those working in maritime and related industries, who are seeking to enhance their expertise and career prospects. Earning an EngD will strengthen professional credibility, expand networks, and provide a robust foundation for career progression or even a major transition into new roles. Employers who invest in supporting candidates will gain significantly by attracting, developing, and retaining key talent while simultaneously building new knowledge that contributes directly to organisational competitiveness.
EngD - the Route to becoming a Scholar-Practitioner
Becoming a scholar-practitioner entails the responsibility of applying rigorous research methods to address professional challenges and contribute meaningfully to practice. Within the EngD, you will learn to navigate the demands of both academic and practitioner contexts, developing strategies to analyse and resolve complex, work-based problems. Your professional expertise provides the foundation for this process, while engagement with academic literature deepens your understanding of the multifaceted role of a scholar-practitioner and strengthens your ability to connect theory with application.
The EngD distinguishes itself by embedding industry relevance at its core. Research is centred on live, industry-focused projects, undertaken with the guidance of supervisors from academia and, where possible, industry partners. This dual supervision ensures that your work is both intellectually robust and practically applicable. The structured programme consists of seven integrated modules, culminating in a single thesis at the same level as a PhD. This format enables you to showcase a breadth of knowledge, innovation, and problem-solving approaches that respond to the evolving demands of modern industry, while also advancing organisational effectiveness and competitiveness.
As part of the course, you will benefit from the following:
- Supervision throughout the duration of your doctoral studies by a qualified supervisory team
- Participation in the Faculty Doctoral Conference and PhD/EngD Seminars
- Participation in research methods training
- Access to thousands of academic journals and books including e-books
You also have access to the doctoral facilities at LJMU whenever you decide to come to Liverpool.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
The programme has 2 levels: Masters and Doctoral, with a total of 540 credits. The Masters level (FHEQ Level 7) comprises 180 credits. Applicants may only join the programme at the Doctoral level (FHEQ Level 8) and must have 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 from a Masters degree in an appropriate discipline demonstrating that the student has:
- A systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the engineering discipline, field of study or area of professional practice.
- A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship.
- Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their engineering discipline.
- Conceptual understanding that enables them to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in their discipline; and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.
Applicants will be required to make a claim for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at FHEQ Level 7 (up to 180- credits) with their qualification assessed against the above Learning Outcomes.
The Doctoral phase comprises 360 FHEQ Level 8 credits, all of which must be completed successfully to obtain the award of Doctor of Engineering.
The Level 8 credits will take a minimum of 3 years to complete. Students must complete the Doctoral Skills Programme in order to gain the award and evidence this in 8401ENGD.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Research Planning
60 credits
60 credits
This module emphasizes the development of advanced research skills and a critical understanding of complex methodologies. Students will create research proposals showcasing their potential to contribute to new knowledge and their adept use of suitable techniques. The proposals will cover objectives, research questions, literature reviews, methods, data collection, and analysis at a postgraduate level, emphasizing their contribution to knowledge or professional practice. Students will also develop a learning agreement, reflecting on their learning process, identifying support needs, and outlining expectations for supervision and research skills development.
Reflective Research Strategy
20 credits
20 credits
This module focuses on equipping students with the skills to be reflective researchers and critical scholars. It emphasizes the importance of critically reflecting on personal, work-based, theoretical, and research practice experiences, which contribute to the generation of new knowledge.
Literature Review
60 credits
60 credits
This module is designed to empower students with the skills and confidence to conduct an in-depth literature review in their field of professional practice. By critically examining existing knowledge and theories, students will lay the groundwork for creating new knowledge at the forefront of their area of expertise, which will eventually contribute to their final thesis submission.
Research Methodology
60 credits
60 credits
This module is structured to enable students to critically evaluate the suitability of research methodologies, designs, and methods within their specific area of inquiry. By doing so, students will gain the skills and confidence to construct a comprehensive methodology section that plays a pivotal role in their final thesis submission.
Research Enquiry and Analysis
60 credits
60 credits
This module is tailored to guide students in the collection and analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data, enabling them to support the creation of new knowledge. By completing this module, students will acquire the skills and confidence necessary to construct a robust research inquiry and data analysis section, which will be a valuable component of their final thesis submission.
Final Thesis
60 credits
60 credits
This module serves as the culmination of the research journey undertaken by the student. It involves the production of a final written thesis, which must adhere to the University's research degree regulations. The primary aim is to enable students to communicate, discuss, and defend their ideas in a clear and concise manner to the satisfaction of their peers. Throughout their research journey, students have developed a body of work that contributes to this final thesis.
Reflective Research Portfolio
40 credits
40 credits
This module emphasizes the importance of critical reflection on personal, work-based, theoretical, and research practice experiences, which collectively contribute to the creation of new knowledge. Central to this process is the development of reflective research skills that enable students to navigate their research journey effectively. The culmination of this journey is the creation of a reflective portfolio of evidence, showcasing their growth as scholar-practitioners.
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
Face-to-face workshops: You will engage in interactive, in-person sessions that promote collaboration, discussion, and immediate feedback from your peers and facilitators.
Asynchronous online learning: You can access digital materials, activities, and resources at any time, progressing at your own pace while complementing your blended learning experience.
Action learning sets: You will work in small groups with peers to tackle real workplace problems, share experiences, and reflect to develop practical solutions.
Self-directed study: You take responsibility for planning, managing, and advancing your own learning, building independence and reinforcing your understanding of the subject.
Supervision: Supervision is a central part of the EngD experience, ensuring that candidates meet milestones, achieve learning outcomes, and maintain research relevance to both academic and professional contexts. Regular meetings and progress reviews guide student’s work and provide structured support throughout the programme, helping them integrate rigorous research with practical application.
At LJMU, EngD candidates are supervised exclusively by full-time, research-active academics with strong records of publications and conference presentations. Typically, a supervisory team consists of two members, with a third supervisor added if required. All supervisors participate in ongoing training to stay current with best practices in professional doctorate supervision. When a candidate is supported by their employing organisation, an industrial advisor, usually a manager or senior professional expert in the research area, can join the team, providing guidance and ensuring the work aligns with industry needs.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
The assessment approach reflects the dual nature of EngD, which integrates advanced research with practical application in a workplace or industry context. EngD candidates will be assessed through a combination of methods that focus on both academic rigor and professional impact. Key elements of the assessment include:
The first year students will be required to submit a research proposal (approx. 5,000 words), learning agreement (approx. 3,000 words) and submit an application for LJMU Ethical Approval for their research. In the subsequent years, students will complete the remaining modules culminating in a thesis (approx. 80,000 words) leading finally to completion of a reflective portfolio (final module). During this process, students are also expected to publish research papers and/or journal articles highlighting the impact of your studies.
The individual modules will be assessed through reports, presentations and reflective journals demonstrating student’s progress and their relevance to professional practice.
The thesis may be submitted no earlier than the completion of Year 3. Students will defend their thesis in an oral examination (viva voce) with an academic panel, conducted by two examiners who are experts in the relevant field. One of these examiners will be an internal independent from LJMU and with the other, external to the University. These examiners will evaluate understanding, critical thinking, originality, and the practical significance of students’ work.
Where you will study
The School of Engineering and Built Environment is based in the James Parsons Building in Liverpool city centre. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, social spaces, and a café. It is only a short walk from LJMU's City Campus Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies.
Postgraduate research opportunities
At LJMU, you can take the next step in your academic journey with a PhD or MPhil, available on a full-time or part-time basis. International students also have the option to study remotely.
- PhD duration: Up to 4 years full-time, or up to 7 years part-time
- Funding options: Choose between funded projects (with supervisors already in place) or self-funded study
Our Doctoral Academy is here to support you every step of the way—from your first enquiry through to successful completion—working closely with Schools, Faculties, and Professional Services.
For more details on postgraduate research and full details on how to apply, visit the Doctoral Academy website.
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 97% of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025). Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
For students undertaking the EngD, research activities are often closely aligned with the needs of their employer’s organisation. This creates an immediate and practical relevance, ensuring that your academic efforts are directly connected to ongoing business priorities. When research is embedded in large-scale or strategically important projects, the outcomes can offer particularly significant value, enhancing both your professional development and your employer’s capacity to innovate and grow.
Past participants in related doctoral programmes, such as the EngD, have highlighted the substantial benefits of this model. Many have found that their research provided objective insights and constructive feedback which, in practice, acted as a form of highly targeted internal consultancy. Employers, therefore, gained both actionable knowledge and enhanced employee expertise, reinforcing the mutual benefits of supporting employees through advanced, research-driven programmes like the EngD.
Tuition fees and funding
- Part-time per year:
- £5,100
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
Financial Support
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
- Part-time per year:
- £11,400
International Scholarships and payment plans
Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.
Scholarships
LJMU provides a variety of postgraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university. Postgraduate scholarships include tuition fee reductions and are often offered in partnership with external funding organisations such as the British Council and Chevening.
All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £4,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.
Deposit
All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.
For more information view our deposit page.
Tuition Fee Payment Plan
After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.
All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Alternative qualifications considered
Applicants may only join the programme at the Doctoral level (Level 8) and must have 180 credits at Level 7 from a Masters degree in an appropriate discipline which must have included training in research and the execution of a research project.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be awarded following confirmation that the learning outcomes of the applicant's Masters degree map to the learning outcomes stipulated in the Programme Rules section.
Applicants must make the RPL claim, and the credits must be awarded, before enrolling on the EngD programme.
If the applicants Masters qualification is older than five years, then they will need to demonstrate they have maintained and extended their professional competence through continuing professional development activities, which can include formal and informal activities. This should be evidenced through a portfolio of CPD against the five core competences A to E defined by the Engineering Council in UKSpec.
International requirements
Other international requirements
An English language capability of at least IELTS 6.5 (with 5.5 in each component).
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
When submitting your online application form, you must also provide the following documents:
- Masters degree certificate
- Transcript of Masters study
- An academic reference
- A reference from your current employer
A personal statement (1500-2000 words) to include:
- Reasons why you want to study on the EngD course
- Reasons why you are suitable for the course
- Details of your previous research experience and a brief introduction to your research including the title, a literature review of current studies, research methods and the contribution made by your research
Should you have any queries regarding the entry criteria or documents required, please contact the Faculty Admissions Office.
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