Information for students
Postgraduate Courses in Astrophysics
Applications must be made online via the Postgraduate Prospectus. You are strongly encouraged to contact our staff members to discuss potential projects before making your application. Answers to frequently asked questions about study here and the application process can be found via the links on the right of this page.
Interested in a PhD in Astrophysics for October 2012 entry?
The College and Department of Physics Open Day was held on Wednesday 7th December 2011 and the Astrophysics Group Open Day was held on Wednesday 18th January 2012. Please contact us if you were unable to attend and have questions.
Interested in a PhD in Astrophysics for October 2013 entry?
Come along to the College and Department of Physics Open Day on Wednesday 5th December 2012. The College Open Day runs from 12.30 - 16.00 in the Great Hall, Sherfield Building and the Department Open Day takes place from 14.00 - 17.00 in the Physics Common Room, Level 8 Blackett Laboratory.
Funding
A PhD normally takes 3.5 years to complete. We accept around 2-3 PhD students each year, mainly funded by STFC. Please see the STFC website to check your eligibility for these.
Most of our PhD applications are for STFC funded places, so we have set up formal deadlines for applications and dates for interviews. The application deadline for STFC funded places will be 15th February 2012 (if you submit your application close to this date it would be helpful if you could also send a copy to astro@ null imperial.ac.uk). We will then shortlist applicants and invite those shortlisted for interview on 7th and 8th March. Please reserve these dates in your diary! If you already expect to have problems coming to Imperial for interview on these dates please let us know in your application, or as soon as possible after such a problem emerges. We hope to be able to make offers of STFC funded PhD places soon after the interviews are completed.
If you are not eligible for STFC funding, there are some scholarships available for UK, EU and overseas students through Imperial College. Applications for these are made in the same way via the Postgraduate Prospectus; please check the scholarships page for deadlines.
Applicants from the US may be eligible for Fullbright awards which have an early deadline of 17th October and thus should contact us as soon as possible.
Applicants who are resident in India and who have their first degree from an Indian institution may be eligible for the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation.
PhD projects
Astrophysicists at Imperial College London are engaged in research involving everything from our own sun to the most distant galaxies and the primordial Cosmic Background Radiation left over from the Big Bang. Our work uses some of the most powerful and sensitive astronomical instruments ever built, including several of the largest telescopes on Earth, and the Hubble, Herschel and Chandra Space Telescopes.
Elsewhere on this site you will find details of the main areas of research that we cover. These are: cosmology, formation and evolution of galaxies, and stellar and planetary astrophysics. We also have major expertise in the application of statistics to a wide range of astrophysical problems through our Astrostats Centre. The major projects within the group include AEGIS, EGAPS, Herschel, Planck UKIDSS and Euclid. There are staff members named under each topic and you are welcome to contact them to discuss possible projects.
A list of projects available for entry in 2012 can be found in the links on the right.
Undergraduate Summer internships IN ASTROPHYSICs
Opportunities are available for summer internships in the astrophysics group. However, the group is unable to provide funds for this from its own resources. Imperial College, UK and EU students may apply for money under the college Undergraduate Research Opportunities scheme, more details of which can be found on the College UROP pages.
For more information on placements please contact Dr David Clements or, if there is a particular project and supervisor you have in mind, you can discuss possibilities directly with them.
WORK EXPERIENCE
The Department co-ordinates work experience requests from school students - see http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/about/outreach/workexperience