Research degrees
Research areas
Astronomy
Stellar astrophysics

Stellar astrophysics

Qualifications Duration Start dates Application period
PhD
(MPhil also available)
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
February and October January to April
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available)
Duration
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
Start dates
February and October
Application period
January to April

Stellar astrophysics is a major facet of Astronomy research at the OU. We use a variety of methods, including theoretical investigations employing sophisticated population synthesis codes and observations made across the electromagnetic spectrum with world-leading facilities including The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescopes (VLT), the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). We use our proprietary share of time on the 10-meter Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and also deploy our own fully autonomous robotic telescopes in Tenerife, PIRATE and COAST.

We have strengths in both multi-wavelength observational programmes as well as in theoretical and computer modelling studies. A critical mass of postgraduate students currently pursues projects in this area, supported by five academic supervisors.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Potential research projects

We welcome enquiries from prospective students in the following areas:

  • Studies of massive stars, including massive binaries
  • Searches for the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources
  • Mining archival time-domain datasets: pulsating and eclipsing systems
  • Multi-wavelength observations of interacting compact binary stars
  • Evolution of compact binaries
  • Synthetic stellar and binary populations
  • Exoplanet host stars

Please also see further opportunities.

Current/recent research projects

  • The life-cycles of massive stars, including progenitors of gravitational wave sources
  • The identification and classification of variability in SuperWASP stars
  • SuperWASP variable stars with varying periods
  • Neutron star mass determinations and evolution of high mass X-ray binaries
  • Evolutionary history of post-common envelope binaries
  • Binary stars as false positives in exoplanet transit searches
  • Stellar activity and star-planet interactions in planet host stars
  • Doppler tomography of star spots and implications for exoplanet searches

Potential supervisors

Fees and funding

UK fee International fee
Full time: £4,712 per year Full time: £15,456 per year
Part time: £2,356 per year Part time: £7,584 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

Antenna of radio telescope
 

How to apply

Get in touch

If you have an enquiry specific to this research topic, please contact:

Administrative support

Email: STEM SPS PHD
Phone: +44 (0)1908 653796

Apply now

If you’re interested in applying for this research topic, please take a look at the application process.