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 (duration 3.5 years, full time) 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 the next round (starting October 2026), the PhD projects  that will be offered in each research area are detailed on the following pages:

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

Priority will be given to applications received before 9 am on 2 February 2026, with interviews taking place during March.

STFC and UH PhD Research Studentships

The Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics expects to offer a number of full-time STFC studentships and additional UH-funded studentships to start in October 2026. These full-time studentships are normally awarded for 3.5 years, and include fees and an annual stipend at the prevailing UKRI rate (for 2026-27 this is confirmed to be £20,780 per annum, paid in monthly installments). The  UH studentships are virtually identical to the STFC studentships (fees and stipend identical). At the point of application, candidates must hold (or be in the final stages of obtaining) 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, both the UH and STFC-funded studentships are open to UK residents and international applicants alike.

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 MSc Projects page contains some example projects that are being offered for our October 2026 intake.

How to apply:

Applicants are required to provide the following documents via email to the Doctoral College Admissions address by the closing date noted above:

• a completed application form, including details of two academic references who have agreed to write on your behalf. You should arrange for your referees to send their reference directly to the doctoral college (these must come direct from the referees; we do not accept references forwarded on by candidates). Both references must be received before the deadline for applications to be considered;
• copies of academic degree certificates;
• copies of academic degree transcripts.

Certification of English language competence (minimum IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) is also required for candidates for whom English is not their first language. Since there is cost associated with this, it is not normally necessary to provide this at the point of application, however it will be required before any offer can be made.

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) from the above research areas 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.

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.