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We have 12 Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Cardiff
Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Cardiff
We have 12 Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Cardiff
A PhD in Astrophysics will give you the chance to lead your own research project that will further our current understanding of our cosmos. Whether you are interested in dark matter and dark energy, evolution of galaxies or how stars are formed, you will be aiming to improve our knowledge of the great space beyond our planet.
What's it like to study a PhD in Astrophysics?
Doing a PhD in Astrophysics, you will become proficient in the skills necessary to contribute to a research portfolio which spans observational, theoretical and experimental projects. You will work with your supervisor, university and experts in the field to answer some of the biggest research questions pulsar astronomy, solar physics, galactic astrophysics and instrument development.
Some typical research topics in Astrophysics include:
- cosmology
- active galactic nuclei and related objects
- nearby galaxies
- stellar astronomy
- star formation
- planet formation
Typical Astrophysics PhD research projects take between three and four years to complete. As well as undertaking research training within your department, you will also attend external meetings and conferences and may be submitting research posters as your research develops.
To be awarded your PhD, you must submit a thesis of about 60,000 words and defend it during your viva exam.
PhD in Astrophysics entry requirements
The entry requirements for a typical PhD in Astrophysics usually involves 2:1 Masters degree or a first degree Bachelors and Masters degree in a related subject such as Astronomy, Physics, or Astrophysics. Research experience will also be taken into consideration if you don’t quite meet the Masters degree requirement. You will also need to submit a compelling research proposal detailing your study plans.
PhD in Astrophysics funding options
In the UK, PhDs in Astrophysics are funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) who provide a tuition fee waiver and a living cost stipend. Depending on the programme, you may submit your own research proposal before being considered for funding or apply for a project that already has funding attached.
It is also possible to apply for a PhD loan to help with the costs of a doctorate in Astrophysics (although this cannot be combined with Research Council funding). Other options for financial support include university scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships and charities.
PhD in Astrophysics careers
You may choose to continue your research in your chosen area at a university, or work with the commercial sector, sharing your knowledge and expertise.
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Astrophysical interpretation of gravitational waves with space-based observatories.
Research Group:
Gravity Exploration Institute
Gravitational-wave astronomy was pioneered in September 2015 with the first direct observation of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO). Read more
Star Formation Triggered by Colliding Interstellar Clouds
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
CONTEXT. Much of the interstellar gas in a galaxy like the Milky Way is in dense molecular clouds. When these clouds enter a spiral arm, they merge to form larger clouds, and are compressed to higher densities. Read more
The formation and evolution of star-forming filaments
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
CONTEXT. Filaments play a critical role in star formation. Read more
Fully funded EPSRC studentships cohort for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral training Hub “Cleaning with Air”
The underlying research aim of the projects is to develop intersectional research solutions (supported by 2 schools) where reactive oxygen species (produced from air and/or water using heat, electricity or electromagnetic radiation) are used to drive chemical and biological oxidation on surfaces, in air and in liquids. Read more
Exploring the Gravitational-Wave Sky with Machine Learning
Research Group:
Gravity Exploration Institute
Gravitational waves (GWs) are produced by some of the most violent events in the Universe, such as the mergers of black holes and the explosive deaths of massive stars. Read more
Time variability and fragmentation of massive star forming cores.
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
Stars light up every single galaxy across the Universe, allowing us to study their structure across the cosmos. Despite their importance, there are still many aspects of the star formation process that remain poorly constrained. Read more
Does magnetic field matter during the earliest stages of star cluster formation?
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
Stars light up every single galaxy across the Universe, allowing us to study their structure across the cosmos. Despite their importance, there are still many aspects of the star formation process that remain poorly constrained. Read more
Simulation-based Inference of gravitational waves signals from black holes and neutron stars
Research Group:
Gravity Exploration Institute
Black holes and neutron stars are the densest objects in the universe, well beyond what we can produce in a laboratory and at the very edge of our understanding of physics. Read more
It’s a shock! The light side of circumstellar interaction in stellar explosions
Research Group:
Gravity Exploration Institute
Supernovae are catastrophic stellar explosions shaping the visible Universe. They play an important role in the synthesis and distribution of almost all elements and especially heavy elements such as iron, enriching the Universe since the first supernova explosion when the cosmos was metal-free. Read more
It’s a shock! The dark side of circumstellar interaction in stellar explosions
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
Supernovae are catastrophic stellar explosions shaping the visible Universe. They play an important role in the synthesis and distribution of almost all elements and especially heavy elements such as iron, enriching the Universe since the first supernova explosion when the cosmos was metal-free. Read more
Quantum-Enhanced Interferometry for Quantum Gravity
Research Group:
Gravity Exploration Institute
Quantum mechanics and general relativity are the most successful physics theories of the last century with impacts on our daily lives from smartphones, medical diagnostics to GPS navigation. Read more
Seeing the Obscured Universe: Understanding the cosmic dust and cold ISM in Galaxies.
Research Group:
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
Over half the light ever emitted by stars in the Universe having been absorbed by cosmic dust, and the situation is worse (>90%) when looking at regions where star-formation is occurring. Read more
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