The Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is located at the historic and beautiful Royal Observatory Edinburgh on Blackford Hill and makes up approximately one third of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. PhD stipends are tax-free, and full-time students are typically exempt from council tax. Each year, the IfA admits a new cohort of about 10 PhD students from around the UK and the world. We are now accepting applications for admission in September 2026. Application deadlines from December 5th 2025 to January 5th 2026.
The IfA is committed to advancing equality and diversity, welcoming applications from everyone irrespective of gender, age, (dis)ability, race, nationality, carer status, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. We aim to ensure our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for our places.
Our PhD projects cover topics ranging from cosmology/LSS, galaxy formation/AGN, the Milky Way, exoplanets, and the solar system; with techniques including observation, instrumentation, theory, and simulations. On our project webpages, you can find descriptions of all projects on offer, as well as some videos from the PhD supervisors.
To apply, you will submit a 1-page anonymized form where you briefly share information about your research experience and academic preparation. Detailed steps on how to apply are given here:
https://ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fellowships/phd-studentships
In order for your application to be given full consideration for one of our regular funded places, it should be received by the deadline of 5th January 2026.
In addition, the following studentships have special application procedures and deadlines:
- Career Development Scholarship – for students with Black heritage, including mixed Black background, UK and international students. Deadline: 24th November 2025
- Bell Burnell Graduate Student Fellowship – for students from underrepresented groups in physics, including UK and international students. Deadline: 5th December 2025
Please find here full details.