MSc by Research

We have an active research masters programme for self-funded students. Masters students carry out an independent research project with support from a member of academic staff, which is assessed on the basis of the examination of a thesis after one year of research (part time study is also possible). Students are expected to attend advanced undergraduate and postgraduate lecture courses in relevant subjects, and follow courses of directed reading, but the emphasis of the programme is on research rather than the taught element.

A limited number of University MSc studentships of £5k are available for the MSc programme, but applicants must provide the remaining funding. For information on fees and funding, please visit the Postgraduate Study - Fees and Funding page, see also the Postgraduate Study pages.

To apply for an MSc, please use our online application form, and select “Physics (MSc by research)” as the programme. At the top of your personal statement, please state clearly that you are applying for an MSc by research in astrophysics, and state which of our research areas you are interested in (you may list as many as you like). Applications received by 31 March 2026 will be given full consideration (later applications may be considered if places are available). Please send us an email if you have any questions.

Listed below are MSc projects available this year. Please feel free to contact the associated academic if you have questions about the projects. If you have a specific area of interest, and it aligns with the research undertaken by a member of staff, please feel free to contact that staff member directly to express your interest.

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Project 1: Measuring the UV-optical spectrum of an exoplanet’s atmosphere (Supervisor: Dr Hannah Wakeford)

There are over 6,000 known exoplanets, most of them discovered through the transit method, viewing the planet as it passes in front of the star via the reduction in stellar light measured. Transits also enable us to measure the atmospheres of these worlds using spectroscopy, breaking down the transit time series light curve into different wavelengths to discern absorption signatures in the planet’s spectrum. Using observations from space-based observatories we will extract and analyse the spectrum of a hot gas giant exoplanet from the UV to optical, assess the potential of contamination from nearby stellar companions, and determine the properties of the planet's atmosphere. You will be working directly with the data leading the analysis as part of an international team. This project will require good coding skills (e.g. Python or IDL) and understanding of uncertainties, or enthusiasm to learn them.