Research degrees and studentships

We are looking for highly motivated and suitably qualified individuals who wish to undertake postgraduate research in astrophysics leading to either the PhD or MSc degree. We also offer, if resources allow, part-time PhDs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and especially from groups who are traditionally under-represented in Physics.

In this round, PhD projects are being offered in the following research areas. PhD places are 3.5 years full time, starting in October 2025. Priority will be given to applications received before 9 am on 3 February 2025, with interviews taking place during March.  The links below contain short outlines of the projects offered for the 2025 recruitment round in each subject area:

• Galaxies, Active Galactic Nuclei and Cosmology
• Solar, Stellar and Time-domain Astrophysics
• Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs

STFC PhD Research Studentships

The Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics expects to offer a number of full-time STFC studentships to start in October 2025. These full-time studentships are normally awarded for 3.5 years. Applicants must hold, or expect to have been awarded by the starting date, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g. physics, astrophysics, mathematics, computer science). In practice we would normally expect applicants to hold an undergraduate Masters degree (MPhys/MSci) or a masters-level postgraduate qualification, or to be able to demonstrate significant relevant professional experience gained outside academia. Applicants must also meet the eligibility requirements for STFC studentships, which are now open to UK residents and international applicants alike.

UH PhD Research Studentships

These studentships are open to both UK and international students and provide a stipend equivalent to that provided by STFC (see above). A few of these studentships are available every year. Applicants must meet the same academic criteria as STFC students. The University also expects International applicants to have an IELTS (English proficiency) score of normally 6.5 or above.

Self-funded and part-time PhD

Suitably qualified candidates may also register as self-funded full-time or part-time PhD students, contingent on sufficient resources being available and research staff commitments. Applications are considered on an individual basis and may be made at any time. Potential applicants should contact Professor Daniel Smith, postgraduate admissions tutor, for advice on qualifications, fees, possible research projects and working arrangements. Self-funded PhD students can apply for a government loan.

MSc by Research

We also offer an MSc by Research degree which can be taken either full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). Students who enrol in this programme will gain a training in research methods and have the opportunity to work on a substantial research project under the supervision of a member of the research staff. As with the PhD, assessment is through submission of a thesis documenting the research project and a viva voce examination. Students are responsible for the payment of fees and living expenses, visit our fees and funding webpage for more information. Please note, a Brian May Scholarship in Astronomy, worth £2000, is awarded each year. We accept applications from candidates who have an integrated masters degree (e.g. an MPhys/MSci) or an MSc in physics, astrophysics, mathematics or computer science. Candidates who have equivalent non-academic experience may also be considered. Entrance is not automatic at this level and we will be particularly interested in any previous research or other relevant experience that you may have. Applications are welcome up until June for entry in October. Potential applicants should contact the postgraduate tutor for advice on qualifications, fees and further information. The link below contains some example projects that we have offered in previous years.

• MSc Projects

How to apply:

To apply, a completed application form, along with copies of higher education certificates, transcripts, a copy of your passport should be emailed to the Doctoral College, by the closing date. You should arrange for your referees to send their reference via email directly to the Doctoral College. Both references must be received before the deadline for applications to be considered.

Download the application form or request it from the Doctoral College admissions team.

Prospective candidates should contact Professor Daniel Smith for advice on making their application or for further information, and are particularly encouraged to contact potential supervisors directly for more details about specific projects. Please use the 'further information' section of the application form to describe your motivation for doctoral research, and explain which projects (i.e. more than one) you are most interested in.

Finally, please note that applicants who need a student visa will be required to pay for this themselves along with the Immigration Health Surcharge. For more information, please visit the relevant pages of our website (linked here and here).

Come and meet us

Perhaps the best way to determine whether we are the right fit for the next steps in your research career is to come and visit us. Our PhD interviews are normally held in-person for UK-based applicants for this reason, but if you're unsure whether you want to apply for doctoral study with us, we totally understand. To help with this, we have (limited) funding available to support reasonable travel expenses for qualified (or soon-to-be qualified) UK National applicants wishing to visit our research group (located in the brand new Spectra building). Please contact Professor Daniel Smith if you would like to discuss a visit.