Overview About the programme 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. This Stellar Astrophysics programme is offered at The Open University UK. Programme Structure Potential research projects: 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 Admission requirements Academic requirements GPA: Upper Second Class English requirements TOEFL iBT: 87 Other requirements Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English. Key information Duration Full-time: 36 months (3–4 years) Part-time: 72 months (6–8 years) Start dates & application deadlines Starting October 2027 — Apply before Apr 2027 Starting February 2028 — Apply before Apr 2027 Language English Delivered On Campus Campus Location Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Disciplines Physics, Astronomy & Space Sciences Tuition Fees Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality. International (non-residents): 31,001 AUD / year ≈ 16,420 GBP / year Domestic (citizens or residents): 9,451 AUD / year ≈ 5,006 GBP / year Living costs Milton Keynes, United Kingdom 1,601–2,539 AUD / month The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries. Funding Scholarships Information Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Stellar Astrophysics. Available scholarships include the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, ServiceScape Scholarship, ACES Scholarships, Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility, Scholarships for PhD Students, Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship, Amberscholar Scholarship, $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship, Voice Talent Online Scholarship, Dream Chaser Scholarship, Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids, Scholarship for students with disabilities, Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria, The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship, and the Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme.
