Alumnus graduates with PhD at 83-years-old

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Alongside thousands of Class of 2025 graduates, 83-year-old John Harrison graduated with a PhD in Architecture this week - exactly sixty years after completing his undergraduate degree at Liverpool.

Originally from Preston, John returned to campus to complete his third degree. Drawing on decades in the architectural field documenting and restoring traditional Tibetan and Himalayan architecture, his academic publications formed the basis of his PhD.

graduate in academic dress

To mark his third graduation, John celebrated with a meal with his partner, sister who lives in Liverpool, and friends.

John doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon, following his graduation he’ll be embarking on a six-week work trip, he said: “I’m going to the Himalayas. The first week I will work with young Tibetan architects, and we will be looking to document monasteries.”

A global career

John spent his early career working in private practice and local government whilst spending time restoring a stone cottage in Snowdonia, where he still lives.

From 1975 to 1985 he was Conservation Officer in the Liverpool City Planning Department and following this he left the UK for an extended architectural journey through Asia and the Americas, eventually turning his focus to the Himalayan region.

That focus led to long-term fieldwork in remote mountain communities, where he lived for seasons at a time, studying and drawing buildings. His research has contributed to international heritage projects in Nepal, India, and Tibet.

More recently, his long-running study of buildings in Mustang, Nepal culminated in the book Mustang Building, and in 2022, he led conservation work at one of the region’s oldest monasteries.

Reflecting on Liverpool in the 1960s

Looking back on his time as an undergraduate, John commented: “I saw the Beatles twice, the second time in New Brighton after they’d had their first big hit. I was impressed. The 60s were a good time to be in Liverpool.”

John would like to thank supervisor, Professor Soumyen Bandyopadhyay for his support.