ljmu phd sport science

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

PhD Postgraduate research opportunities in Sport and Exercise Science

Liverpool john moores university, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Sports / Movement Science Research Methods (Science)

Course type

About this course

Excellent research opportunities await at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, enabling you to work at the forefront of developments with leading experts.

• Study full or part-time over one to seven years
• Choose from a wide range of subject areas (see Details tab for more information)
• Complete your research degree (MPhil/PhD) in a Faculty known for its internationally-acclaimed research
• Explore scholarship opportunities
• Benefit from expert supervision and researcher training
• Enjoy excellent facilities and great employment connections

The programme route you undertake will depend on your qualifications and experience. Most of our students initially register for MPhil/PhD and go on to complete their PhD via successful progression from MPhil.

You can study for an MPhil full time over one or two years or part time over two to four years. Progressing from an MPhil (and including MPhil registration), you can study for a PhD full time over 33 to 48 months or part time over 45 to 84 months. If you are taking a direct route PhD, you can study full-time over two to three years or part-time over three to six years.

On joining LJMU you will be allocated up to three supervisors (including a Director of Studies) who will work with you during your studies. Progression monitoring is undertaken formally and informally by this team on an ongoing basis.

Each year, each Faculty provides the University Research Degrees Committee with a summative report on the progress of all its eligible postgraduate research students.

Throughout your studies, you will also have the support of LJMU’s Graduate School which offers expert advice and guidance to those enrolled on MPhil and PhD programmes.

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. Assessment techniques vary from module to module to reflect relevant assessment approaches and the key learning points of each topic.

Final examination for both the MPhil and the PhD is by thesis and oral examination.

The MPhil differs from the PhD in terms of the depth of study required and the extent of your personal contribution to knowledge. It requires competence in conducting an independent enquiry as well as in the use of appropriate research methods and techniques. Examiners will expect you to display satisfactory background knowledge of the subject.

To gain a PhD you are expected to show mastery of a special field and to have made an original personal contribution to the understanding of a problem, the advancement of knowledge, or the generation of new ideas. Examiners will expect you to be at the forefront of understanding in your chosen topic.

If you are studying for an MPhil you may be able to progress to a PhD, via written and oral assessments in Year 2 (for full-time students) or Year 3 (for part-time students).

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

You need a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject, preferably also a Masters degree in a relevant subject. Additional information: The applications of those with alternative qualifications will be considered on merit; Appropriate research and previous experience will be taken into account.

Founded in 1823, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is ranked in the top 600 higher education institutions in the world and attracts staff and students from over 100 countries. A host of taught courses and research opportunities are available across LJMU’s five faculties: Arts, Professional and Social Studies Business and Law Engineering and Technology Health Science The International Study Centre gives international... more

MSc Sport Nutrition

Full time | 1 year | SEP

DSportExSci Professional Doctorate in Applied Sport and Exercise Science

Full time | 2 years | JAN

MPhil Postgraduate research opportunities in Sport and Exercise Science

Full time | 2 years | JUN-24

• Log in
• Site search

School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

About school of sport and exercise sciences.

Liverpool John Moores University’s (LJMU) School of Sport and Exercise Sciences was the first institution in the world to host a single honours degree programme in sport science back in 1975, and the first academic department to offer a single honours in science and football in 1998.

The School continues to be at the forefront of development and innovation in sports and exercise sciences and is truly recognised as a world-leading department. We are ranked 9th in the world for sports science (QS World University Rankings 2023).

We welcome students from over 100 different countries and work in collaboration with businesses, professional bodies and educational institutions from all over the world. Our research-active academic staff are world-leading experts in their fields of expertise.

Our facilities

We have made multi-million pound investments into our facilities to ensure they are world-class. All of our state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces feature the latest equipment.

• The Tom Reilly Building offers some of the best facilities in the world
• The Life Sciences Building houses laboratories for biomolecular and stem cell biology
• Primrose Hill is home to our high performance gym and performance analysis suite
• Our Copperas Hill site features an eight courts sports hall to Sport England specification, two multi-purpose sports hall and techno gym

Our extensive range of labs and equipment includes:

• Brain and behaviour lab
• Biochemistry teaching lab
• Cardiac assessment suite
• DEXA scanner
• Environment chambers
• High resolution ultrasound
• Indoor 70-metre running track
• Isolation unit for sleep research
• Movement function research lab
• Neuroscience lab
• Normobaric hypoxic chambers
• Respiratory clinic
• Temperature chambers for acclimation

World-leading staff

Staff from the School are research active and work with a host of high-profile organisations.

Postgraduate courses

• MSc Sport and Clinical Biomechanics - Full Time
• MSc Sport and Clinical Biomechanics - Part Time

MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology

• MSc Exercise Physiology - Full Time
• MSc Exercise Physiology - Part Time
• MSc Sport Coaching - Full Time
• MSc Sport Coaching - Part Time
• MSc Sport Psychology - Full Time
• MSc Sport Psychology - Part Time
• MSc Sport Nutrition - Full Time
• MSc Sport Nutrition - Part Time

MSc Strength and Conditioning

• Professional Doctorate Sport and Exercise Psychology - Full Time
• Professional Doctorate Sport and Exercise Psychology - Part Time
• Professional Doctorate Applied Sport and Exercise Science - Full Time
• Professional Doctorate Applied Sport and Exercise Science - Part Time
• Postgraduate Research opportunities to achieve an MPhil or PhD

Hear what our students think about the course:

MSc Exercise Physiology

MSc Sport Psychology

MSc Sport Nutrition

Professional Doctorate Sport and Exercise Psychology

Professional Doctorate Applied Sport and Exercise Science

Future career prospects

Our Postgraduate programmes offer a routeway into many career destinations spanning high performance sport, exercise, health and clinical settings including:

• Athlete development co-ordinator
• Performance analyst
• Health advisor
• Strength and conditioning coach
• Sport psychologist
• Performance and lifestyle advisor
• Teacher and lecturer
• Physiologist
• Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
• Sports nutrionist

More information and apply

For more details or to apply, go to:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-science/school-of-sport-and-exercise-sciences

For enquiries, please contact: Tel: +44 (0) 0151 231 5090 Email: [email protected]

Contact details

• Home »
• Liverpool John Moores University »
• School of Sport and Exercise Sciences »
• Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Liverpool john moores university: professional doctorate in sport and exercise psychology.

The programme is designed to meet BPS Stage 2 requirements in Sport and Exercise Psychology and eligibility for HCPC registration.

Benefit from quality teaching and supervision provided by experienced sport and exercise psychologists

Study on a course underpinned by high-grade research and designed to meet BPS Stage 2 training requirements in Sport and Exercise Psychology and eligibility for registration as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Enjoy the world-class facilities in the award-winning Tom Reilly Building

Look forward to enhanced career opportunities in Sport and Exercise Psychology professional practice and promotion, as well as education, teaching and research

The programme is underpinned by a strong focus on equipping future Sport and Exercise Psychologists with the competencies required to work in a range of professional practice scenarios.You will work closely with academic staff who are leaders in their research field and experts in training.

In keeping with the nationally agreed curriculum competences for Sport and Exercise Psychologists, you will develop your professional skills in teaching and training (education and dissemination), ethics and professional standards, research and consultancy through your own work-based learning experiences, taught sessions on the programme and extensive supervision.

Professional Doctorate

Full-time, 2 years starts jan 2025, part-time, 4 years starts jan 2025.

Reach new heights in your career with a master’s qualification

LJMU delivers innovative, research-led, employability-focused programmes supported by world-class academics and state-of-the-art facilities. Our thriving postgraduate community encourages students to contribute to our ground-breaking work, developing the skills and knowledge required to take them to the top of their chosen career ladder.

• We are ranked amongst the top 500 higher education institutions in the world (The World University Ranking 2022) and 95% of our postgraduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA 2020)
•  Postgraduate students at LJMU benefit from the university’s strong industry connections, gaining practical …

Not what you are looking for?

Scholarship Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you a PG student at this University or have you applied to study a postgraduate program at a university in Europe? Tell us your plans and qualify for a £500.00 PGS Scholarship.

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Sign up now!

Take 2 minutes to sign up to PGS student services and reap the benefits…

• The chance to apply for one of our 5 PGS Bursaries worth £2,000 each
• Fantastic scholarship updates
• Latest PG news sent directly to you.

Sport and Exercise Sciences

Liverpool John Moores University

www.ljmu.ac.uk

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across all of their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Join LJMU’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences - the UK’s second highest ranked sport and exercise science institution. Explore fascinating postgraduate research opportunities, work alongside leading experts and access state-of-the-art facilities.

• Study full or part time
• Complete your research degree (MPhil/PhD) in an Institute known for its internationally-acclaimed research
• Explore scholarship opportunities
• Benefit from expert supervision and researcher training
• Enjoy excellent facilities and great employment connections

Why study this course at LJMU?

The Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES) was established in 1997 and continues to be a cutting-edge and vibrant home for research activity within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

The success of RISES staff, since its inception in 1997, is demonstrated by our high-profile international reputation for Research Training and Research Outputs.

In the 2014 REF, 97% of research submitted by LJMU’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences was considered world-leading or internationally excellent. This research helps ensure that our postgraduate learning is at the vanguard of developments in the field and that you have an opportunity to study alongside leading experts.

We offer a fantastic and supportive environment in which to study Sport and Exercise Science at postgraduate level. Our postgraduate community is thriving and fully integrated into wider School activities – one of the many reasons we are so highly rated by our postgraduate students.

• Sport and Exercise Sciences including Biomechanics
• Brain and Behaviour
• Cardiovascular Science
• Chronobiology
• Muscle Metabolism and Nutrition
• Physical Activity Exercise and Health
• Psychology and Development
• The Science of Football

You can study topics such as:

• Advanced Presentation Skills    
• Applying for Ethical Approval
• How to be an Effective Researcher
• Poster Presentation/Design
• Postgraduate Employability Skills
• Project Management
• Writing Skills including Creative Planning for Writing your Thesis
• Surviving the Viva
• Speed Reading

Requirements

• Have a Masters degree with a research dissertation in a relevant subject
• Have undertaken research training directly related to the PhD project
• An IELTS 6.5 score demonstrating your proficiency in English 
• Make sure you add as much detail as possible – including grades and results. Without enough information universities might struggle to make a decision.
• The application fee is £13 if you’re applying to just one course, or £24 for multiple courses 
• All academic transcripts
• Copies of degree/diploma certificates or work reference (if employed)
• One academic reference
• Your personal statement
• Copy of your valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months left before expiration)
• Due to Visa restrictions, international students may only study in the UK on a full time basis. However, you may be able to undertake a part time research degree in your home country and travel to LJMU for campus-based research for a short period each year. Please contact LJMU’s International Admissions Team for further details.
• To obtain a Tier 4 Visa for full time study in the UK, you will need to show evidence that the money to cover your tuition fees and living expenses has been in your bank account for at least 28 days prior to submitting your Visa application. For more details, see ourinternational website
• Some subject areas require ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance. Find out how to apply for ATAS clearance here, see more information about ATAS on theBritish Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website or contact LJMU’sInternational Admissions Team for guidance.
• Scholarships
• Developing Global Citizens Postgraduate Scholarship
• English for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies Bursary

Imperial College London

Electrical and electronic engineering, research programme, experimental psychology.

University of Oxford

Engineering science, postgraduate research, mind reading, quality and safety in healthcare, deformation and stress corrosion cracking in ni alloys, deadline information.

Ask admission

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Their use improves our sites' functionality and enables our partners to advertise to you. By continuing to use our website or clicking on the I agree button you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Details on how we use cookies can be found in our Cookie Policy

Don’t miss out!

Sign up or Log in now to save your favorites.

Get updates on your chosen subjects and programs

Wishlist your ideal programs

Save time sending enquiries to programs providers

• Program Finder
• Internships
• Collections
• Bachelor programs
• Masters programs
• PhD programs
• MBA programs
• PostDoc programs
• Norway programs
• US programs
• UK programs
• Canada programs
• Germany programs
• Italy programs
• Netherlands programs
• Australia programs
• New Zealand programs
• Applied Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Clients and Partners
• Public relations

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

• SUBSCRIBE & SAVE UP TO 25% OFF EVERY ORDER
• FREE BETA FUEL CHEW ON ALL ORDERS OVER £10
• THE WORLD LEADER IN ENDURANCE NUTRITION

• Compare Products

Order within

for next day delivery

Our Experts

• Find a course

Search LJMU Research Online

Browse Repository | Browse E-Theses

Sport & Exercise Psychology Professional Doctorate Portfolio

Swettenham, L (2021) Sport & Exercise Psychology Professional Doctorate Portfolio. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

This portfolio provides an insight into the development of a trainee sport and exercise psychologist from January 2018 – March 2021 during the professional doctorate in sport and exercise psychology at Liverpool John Moores University. The portfolio provides evidence, through a combination of consultancy, research, and reflective practice, of how the trainee successfully meets the competencies (professional standards, consultancy, research, and dissemination) documented in the British Psychological Society's (BPS) Stage 2 programme accreditation criteria and the Health and Care Professions Council Standards for approved programmes in Sport and Exercise Psychology. The practice log tracks the trainee’s work and experiences over this three year period. The reflective practice diary provides a window into her professional development by zooming into critical events as well as providing meta reflections on key topics and experiences to help tell a story about her journey. For example, highlighting struggles with confidence and imposter syndrome, key learning experiences within consultancy, and her evolving professional philosophy. The three applied case studies evidence the trainee’s development as a practitioner through her evolving use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the use of Needs Supportive Communication (NSC) as she strove to become more client-let to suit the client’s needs. The teaching case study explores the trainee’s experience working within a new context and developing series of workshops in line with her professional philosophy and the needs of the client. The two empirical papers and the systematic review highlight the trainee’s focus on bridging research and applied practice. Here, the trainee has explored the use of NSC within exercise referral practitioners, the use of Think Aloud as a reflective development tool for football coaches, and the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and performance in athletes.

Actions (login required)

EDITORIAL article

This article is part of the research topic.

Body Composition and Cardiovascular Health

Editorial: Body Composition and Cardiovascular Health Provisionally Accepted

• 1 Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
• 2 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
• 3 School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

1. Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. 2. School of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University, located at Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS. 3. Advanced Pattern Analysis and Countermeasures Group, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.Cardiovascular disease (CVD) displays a major global concern, has a strong relationship with obesity and an emerging association with lower levels of muscle mass or sarcopenia, highlighting the importance of measuring body composition in cardiovascular (CV) health research (1, 2). Several methods are available to measure body composition, including gold standards such as Dual-Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DXA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other more accessible methods, such as Bioimpedance (BIA) (3). These measures provide analysis of skeletal muscle and body fat metrics, that influence basal metabolic rate (BMR) and metabolic and CV health. In the absence of sophisticated equipment, and especially for large-scale observational studies, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are useful in CVD prediction models either as an exposure or covariate but novel indices such as the Body Roundness Index (BRI) are also gaining traction. BRI is calculated from height and WC and is proposed to improve determination of total body fat percentage and visceral adipose tissue mass. However, it remains equivalent in predicting CVD related disease (4), highlighting the need for further research.Gaining a deeper understanding of body composition and its related measures, provides a greater insight of CVD risk and will drive future research innovations, which may lead to preventative strategies. This special issue explores the role of body composition in cardiovascular health, with four novel studies investigating cardiovascular endpoints; risk factors such as blood pressure and thrombotic risk; and the relationship of vitamin D with CVD risk.A study by Zhang et al. focused on the relationship of BRI with composite cardiovascular endpoints (CCE), consisting of stroke, myocardial infarction, and CVD death, conducted in rural regions of China (n = 13,209) (5). This is an understudied area where the population has a different diet and lifestyle compared to urban areas of China, and there is limited longitudinal research on BRI and CV health. The results revealed both moderate and high BRI trajectories (over a 6-year period) increased CCE risk. While this evidence highlights the potential utility of BRI as a predictive tool, other studies have shown varied results. For example, analysis of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (n = 47,356) over approximately 8 years, found the relationship with BRI and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was U-shaped (6). This suggests that both low and high BRI values are associated with increased (cardiovascular) mortality risk, while moderate values are associated with lower risk. Lower BRI values, are linked with malnutrition and muscle atrophy (7) emphasising the significance of measuring key metrics of sarcopenia, such as Hand Grip Strength (HGS) and/or muscle mass. However, there is a lack of longitudinal evidence using muscle mass, along with conflicting cross-sectional data, regarding cardiovascular health.In another of our special issue studies, Bu conducted a longitudinal analysis of middle-aged Korean adults (n = 2,669), showing an inverse association between relative skeletal muscle mass (RSM) (as measured by BIA) and incident hypertension over a 16-year follow-up period (8). The participants were categorised into tertiles (T) of RSM, revealing higher hypertension risk in T1 and T2 compared to T3 (the highest RSM). Notably, a recent meta-analysis demonstrated that sarcopenia is associated with a 1.67 and 1.31-fold increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD), respectively (9), highlighting the potential significance of hypertension and muscle health in CVD.Mechanistic evidence supports vitamin D's involvement in various metabolic pathways relevant to skeletal muscle atrophy and vascular function respectively (10,11), which may present a bridge between body composition, vitamin D status, and CVD. A study by Che et al. in our special issue, analysing the US NHANES database (n = 17,467), revealed a non-linear (U-shaped curve) inverse association between vitamin D levels and elevated blood pressure, even after adjusting for BMI in individuals without prior hypertension diagnosis (12). While epidemiological studies suggest increasing doses of vitamin D have an inverse association with hypertension (13), evidence is uncertain from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) ( 14). The Che et al. ( 12) study suggests an upper ceiling of vitamin D intake, which is consistent with other research when high plasma levels may have a detrimental effect in other areas such as fracture risk (15). There is emerging evidence on the relationship with skeletal muscle, hypertension, and vitamin D, implicating the role of mitogenactivated protein kinase signalling and angiotensin ( 16), but large-scale dose response and mechanistic studies are needed for a more comprehensive understanding.Basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is heavily influenced by body composition, is notably higher in obesity, but primarily driven by fat-free mass (17). Recently, it has emerged as a novel factor impacting CVD risk. In our special issue, employing Mendelian randomisation (MR) methods, Huang and Xie investigated the novel causal relationship between BMR and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in European populations (18). Their findings uncovered a significant positive association between elevated BMR levels and heightened VTE risk, encompassing pulmonary embolism (PE) and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Potential mechanisms include increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), a pro-inflammatory state, and enhanced platelet activation and aggregation, fostering a prothrombotic milieu. Obesity alone, and its coexistence with low muscle mass and strength (sarcopenic obesity), correlates with VTE and related outcomes (19,20), influencing BMR in a nuanced manner. While lower muscle mass reduces BMR, when coupled with excess adiposity (particularly visceral adipose tissue), a prothrombotic environment may persist. The study in our special issue sets the stage for further MR research into VTE and body composition, emphasising the need to address the nuanced interplay of body composition factors.In summary, while the results of the above studies showcase novel evidence regarding body composition and CV health, there is clearly more research needed in this area. The special issue offers the latest evidence on how novel indices of body composition, skeletal muscle mass, BMR and vitamin D impact health, from cardiovascular risk factors through to cardiovascular endpoint and mortality. The hope is the reader will be engaged not only by the evidence presented but will also be intrigued by how the role of body composition in CV health is nuanced, requiring further research that will potentially lead to preventative strategies.

Keywords: body c omposition, cardiovasccular disease, Muscle mass and fat mass, sarcopaenia, Vitamin D

Received: 08 Apr 2024; Accepted: 11 Apr 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Davies, Clayton and Kirwan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Mx. Ian G. Davies, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

People also looked at

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You can change your cookies in your browser at any time.

• Skip to content
• Skip to menu

• Find a course

Spring Graduation: Galaxy is 'over the moon' with degree

For some students, deciding the best course to enrol on can be a worry; a weighty, earthly burden.

For others, like Galaxy Nova Salo – it’s simply written in the stars.

With a name like that, Astrophysics was surely a no-brainer – and so it proved for the young American from Seattle, Washington.

Galaxy has recently completed the LJMU Masters in Astrophysics and is due to graduate on Monday, 15 April with a cohort of around 15 coursemates, many studying, appropriately, by distance learning!

So, which came first, the name or the interest in Space?

“I chose my first and middle names myself. I am nonbinary and wanted a more gender-neutral name, and I was inspired by my interest in astrophysics. It just hit me one day that my name could be Galaxy, and I have used it in the few years since. I changed it legally about two years ago and am very happy with that decision." 

Galaxy says they were inspired by The Elegant Universe, a book by Brian Greene, which posits that to really understand physics you need to learn the math involved and as they always enjoyed math in school, the physics degree was a natural choice.

The problem with the Bachelor’s degree was that it didn’t really delve too far out into astrophysics, so Galaxy says the LJMU Master's was “a great next step”.

“I love space science, there are so many new frontiers. One of the most interesting things I learned during the astrophysics course was that gamma ray bursts were discovered by accident! They were found by devices designed to detect nuclear testing in space. It makes you wonder what else we can find unintentionally! 

“The LJMU program was definitely a challenge, but one that I immensely enjoyed. I learned so much, and am more confident in the skills required for scientific research. Despite being a fully online course, I felt a great connection to my classmates. We learned a lot from each other, and my collaborations with them helped me enjoy the program even more.” 

Galaxy is hoping to do a PhD “in the fall” (autumn for us Brits!) and pursue a career teaching Astrophysics at university.

“Whatever I end up doing, I have high hopes for my future”, they say.

Look out for the name!  - Galaxy* Nova** Salo.

You can follow next week’s ceremonies on a live feed on the LJMU website – ljmu.ac.uk/graduation and see your course-mates graduate. The Astrophysics ceremony is Monday 15 th April 3.45pm GMT.

*A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek galaxias, literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System.

 **A nova is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. 

Astrophysics at LJMU

LJMU’s Astrophysics Research Institute is one of the world’s leading authorities in astronomy and astrophysics.  We are currently building the world’s largest fully robotics telescope the Liverpool Telescope, sited on the Canary Islands. Find out more about astrophysics or studying the subject at LJMU here.

• Postgraduate

News from around LJMU

Immersive storytelling artist celebrates second graduation with LJMU

Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies graduates celebrated in style on the last day of spring graduation.

Instagram: no link with anxiety, depression and loneliness

Research presented at British Psychological Society counters assumptions around self worth and lifestyle

Get in touch with the Press Office on 0151 231 3369 or

[email protected]

Cookie Settings

Essential cookies cannot be turned off as they are key in helping you to navigate through our website and use its features.

These cookies collect information about your browsing habits in order to make advertising more relevant to you and your interests, and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

These cookies capture anonymous data that helps us to understand how people are using our site, so that we can continually improve it.

These cookies allow the website to remember the choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features.

Learn more about our cookies