Two members of staff from the Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences, Christine Wall and Akhtar Houssein Wallymahmed (pictured opposite), were awarded their PhDs at the University's graduation ceremony on Thursday.

Christine's PhD was entitled, "A phenomenological study of patient and partner experiences during the period leading up to diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's Lymphona". Akhtar's PhD study explored "Illness perception, coping and adjustment to Diabetes".

Christine, who has taught at LJMU for 16 years, spoke about her time as a research student, saying: "The support I've received throughout my PhD has been absolutely fantastic, it's been a wonderful learning experience. The ceremony was excellent too, very moving."