Continue with FacebookLooking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
We have 51 Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK
Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK
We have 51 Astrophysics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK
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.
PhD saved successfully
Improved time-stepping schemes in weather and climate models
"The task of predicting weather and climate may be reduced to the following iterative procedure. First, given the state of the system at any time (the input), use the governing equations to compute the state at a slightly later time (the output). Read more
Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Likelihood and impact of severe space weather events on the resilience of nuclear power and safeguards monitoring
The risks posed by space weather are faced globally and can only be monitored effectively with a globally distributed network of monitors and validated models. Read more
Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholarships 2023 – TRANSFORM: Transformations of Human-Environment Interactions for Sustainable Development
Global Sustainable Development at the University of Warwick is calling for PhD applications for the Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholarships Programme - TRANSFORM. Read more
Optimisation of Landing Gear at Overall Aircraft Level PhD
This 4-year PhD opportunity is sponsored by UKRI/EPSRC, Airbus and Cranfield University. Eligible students could receive a tax-free bursary up to £17,312 per annum. Read more
Dark Matter Search with the LZ Experiment
LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a high-sensitivity dark matter experiment currently operating in the deep underground laboratory at SURF (South Dakota, USA). Read more
Cosmic-Ray Muons in Different Applications
Cosmic-ray muons are known to be useful in applications beyond particle astrophysics. They have helped with mapping structure of volcanoes and with finding voids in various geological structures. Read more
Last chance to apply
Scientific Machine Learning for Solar Physics
We invite applications for a PhD position in Applied Mathematics funded by the STFC at the University of Dundee, Scotland. This project aims to develop a new generation of statistical learning and anomaly detection technologies to support real-time decision-making in solar physics. Read more
Fully funded EPSRC studentships cohort for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral training Hub “Cleaning with Air”
The School of Chemistry, Cardiff University are recruiting up to 4 funded EPSRC studentships for a cohort for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral training Hub “Cleaning with Air”. Read more
Coronal genealogy: the evolution of high-energy emission from low-mass stars
This PhD project will use models and observations of forming low-mass stars to shed light on the history and evolution of Sun-like stars. Read more
What time can tell us about space: Using time-resolved observations of young stars to explore the circumstellar environment beyond what direct resolution can achieve
What happens in the planet-forming region when planets form? How are stars like our Sun formed? Observational answers have to deal with one fact. Read more
Hunting for Hidden Black Holes in our Cosmic Neighbourhood
Supervisory Team. Prof. Poshak Gandhi. Project description. Black holes are the densest form of collapsed matter. Understanding these enigmatic objects has implications not only for extreme physics at energies far beyond what we can create in laboratories, but also for galaxy evolution and cosmology. Read more
Toward next generation space environment modeling capability
The ionosphere is a layer of plasma in the upper atmosphere (thermosphere), produced by the ionization of atmospheric constituents by solar radiation and energetic particles. Read more
Space Plasma Turbulence Throughout the Solar System and Beyond
The vast majority of the visible Universe is in a plasma state, and one of the most widespread behaviors observed in such plasmas is turbulence – the transfer of energy across a broad range of scales that leads to complex chaotic motions, structure formation, and energy conversion. Read more
PhD in Physics - Experimental quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames
Quantum mechanics and general relativity are at odds, theory has not provided an answer to how these two areas of physics come together and experimental evidence is very sparse. Read more
Last chance to apply
Volatile evolution during planet formation
Research Group:
School of Physics and Astronomy
Planet formation begins with the growth of dust grains from micron sizes to the millimetre sizes seen in proto-planetary discs. However, the processes that convert these millimetre-sized grains into planets are poorly understood. Read more