Admission to a research degree (starting October 2010)

The Astrophysics and Space Research group welcomes applications from suitably qualified applicants who wish to join us to carry out research leading to a PhD degree. The range of the research undertaken by our PhD students can be seen from the following links:

Our group has opportunities for PhD students in many areas of our research programme starting next year:

Extragalactic Astronomy - theory and observations sprial blue Prospective PhD projects
Gravitational Waves: Sources and Observations gravity rouge Prospective PhD projects
Experimental Gravitational Wave Detection (Advanced Optics and Interferometry) sat orange Prospective PhD projects
Fundamental Physics Experiments funda orange Prospective PhD projects
Extrasolar planets and stellar variability sat orange Prospective PhD projects
Massive stars and star clusters sat green Prospective PhD projects
Computational astrophysics sat orange Prospective PhD projects

Studentships and Financial Aid

We admit 4 students (shared with the HIROS and X-ray binary groups) from the UK per year, who are awarded fully-funded 3.5-year studentships funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the University. In addition, applications are welcome from UK/EU students who have external sources of funding or can part-fund their studies. We do not offer any research-based Masters' (MPhil) degrees.

We are now considering applications for October 2010. Both UK and Overseas candidates should aim to complete their applications by 31 January, 2010.

We welcome applications from students in non-EU countries. However, currently we have no financial aid available for them, since from 2009, the Overseas Research Studentship Scheme (ORSAS) has been discontinued. Further information for home and overseas students:

Deadlines and Required Qualifications

The normal minimum requirement for support for a STFC studentship is a Upper second class (II:i) M.Sci. (four-year undergraduate degree) or its equivalent. However, we typically require a first class degree if you are an applicant for a PGTA position (UK students only). For UK students, interviews for STFC studentships are expected to take place in late February or early March, so potential candidates are advised to complete their applications (including letters of reference) as soon as possible (certainly by 31 January).

Further Details and Application Form

Potential applicants are advised to browse through the research pages of the Astrophysics and Space Research group and the School of Physics and Astronomy  to ensure that they are interested in our research activities. For an application form, please contact Mrs Norma Simpson (via E-mail at n.a.simpson[at]bham.ac.uk or via phone at 0121 414 4564). You can also use the University's web-based application form. However, in case you are applying close to the deadline, please be aware that it can take several days for the application form to make its way from the Central Administration to the School of Physics and Astronomy.

For further queries please contact the Graduate Admissions Tutor, Dr Somak Raychaudhury.