Astronomy

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK First class Honours Degree.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Applicants should have, or expect to receive a First Class Honours Degree (or equivalent), normally in Physics, Mathematics or Astronomy.

Months of entry

October

Course content

The assessment for the Astronomy MPhil degree is exclusively by research and a project and supervisor must have been identified prior to a formal application being made by the student. There is no taught element. The degree is not suitable for physicists and mathematicians wishing to prepare for a research PhD in Astrophysics and the number of students admitted is small.

Historically, most MPhil students have secured funding for their MPhil studies through applications to scholarship programmes such as Churchill, Gates and Marshall.

The aims of the programme are:

to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focussed research in the discipline under close supervision; and

to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Information for international students

Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score

Listening 7.0

Writing 7.0

Reading 6.5

Speaking 7.0

Total 7.0

TOEFL Internet Score

Element Score

Listening 25

Writing 25

Reading 25

Speaking 25

Total 100

CAE

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

CPE

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).