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Writer's pictureabhinnasundar001

PhD positions in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Updated: Jan 21

Looking for Grad Schools and PhD positions or maybe summer internships in Astronomy/Astrophysics? This post could be useful for the same purpose, for various countries and continents!




The season has come for Grad Schools/PhD applications. I have listed a few sources on how to find these positions, contacts & apply. Firstly, check this article made by current and former PhD students https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mHZFVskJ8uEF5xdMnsq1LRMDaQtUVggPLWg5uUNSxD4/edit#heading=h.rdztm91wgqk


A few important websites and job directories !!!
  1. AAS Job Register -Covers most PhD openings across Europe, the UK & Australia. https://jobregister.aas.org

  2. EAS Job directory - By EU Astro Society, covers most of the European Union (EU). https://eas.unige.ch/jobs.jsp

  3. RASJOBS - provides email alerts for new Job (PhD/others) postings. https://ras.ac.uk/membership/RAS-job-list

  4. German Astronomical Society (AG) - Subscribe to their job announcement mailing list. https://astronomische-gesellschaft.de/en/activities/jobregister

  5. INSPIRE HEP: Search for 'astro physics/nomy' in the job filter. https://inspirehep.net

  6. ETH Zurich job listings: Only ETH Zurich positions. https://jobs.ethz.ch/jobmail/?lang=en


More sources and connections
  1. Search individual Universities webpage. Check the department, contact the interested supervisor, and email them (please attach a CV, and SoP). *Do not use Dear Sir/Ma'am/Prof. Use Dear Prof. [Surname]. You are not writing a generic email but to a specific person.

  2. Look for PhD positions on Twitter! People (actually) put the vacant positions (in their dept) here. Do not miss out on those. A simple search like 'Astrophysics PhD positions' would give you the latest job postings.

  3. Join Facebook groups. Many FB groups provide the latest PhD positions. Eg: Early Career Astronomers, Python Hacks for Astronomy, etc.


Apart from this here are few important information for applying for PhD positions in EU, UK, US, Aus+NZ, India* (I was offered PhDs from various institutions in India too).

PhD positions in India

  • NET JRF (Usually happens twice a year)

  • GATE (once/year around Feb)

  • JEST (once/year around March)

  • *IIT JAM for Int-PhD (must have BSc degree)

  • TIFR GS exam

  • INAT exam - for IUCAA

  • INSPIRE Fellowship

  • Institute/University Fellowship.

  • Check Astronomical Society of India (ASI) jobs: https://www.astron-soc.in/jobs

PhD positions in the EU

PhD positions in Australia

  • English Proficiency required (TOEFL/IELTS)

  • No application fees.

  • Good grades are required (usually >8.5/10 [Indian format])

  • Check Go8 (Group of Eight - research-intensive Uni)

PhD positions in the USA

Reg. PhD positions in the UK

  • English Proficiency required

  • No application fees (usually).

  • Scholarships are available for PhD pos. But, there are cases and scholarships that even after you clear the interview, *not* all the positions/projects advertised will receive funding!!

  • Joint-PhD programs? IITs and UK Universities.


** Summer Internships **
  1. Check AAS: https://aas.org/careers/internships-summer-jobs

  2. Apply for DAAD and try for summer/winter internships in the EU region.

  3. For Australia check this: https://astronomy.org.au/education/summer-vacation-schorlarships/

  4. Astrobites and Astrobetter websites

  5. Summer Internships in India (IAS, NCRA-TIFR, KSP...)

  6. Check Twitter and FB posts regularly

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