Field Studied: Instrumentation

Yale University

Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Exoplanets, Instrumentation
URL: http://www.astro.yale.edu/
State/Province: CT
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: None noted
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 19
Planetary Researchers: 4
Students: 37
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions:
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: PhD students in the Graduate School receive stipends and tuition fellowships to support their studies
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://astronomy.yale.edu/academics/graduate-program/prospective-student-information
Notes:

Western University

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Earth Science; Physics & Astronomy; Engineering; Health Sciences; Law
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Cosmochemistry, Exoplanets, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Instrumentation, Interiors, Planetary Dynamics, Space Health, Space Policy & Law, Surfaces
URL: https://space.uwo.ca/
State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 47
Planetary Researchers: 47
Students: 32
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: The Institute for Earth and Space Exploration (Formerly CPSX)
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: All accepted students to the regular MSc and PhD are funded through TA's and RA's
Fall Application Deadline: 24 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://space.uwo.ca/training/graduate_students/index.html
Notes: Students admitted to program through host department (Physics & Astronomy, Earth Sciences) then may declare Planetary Science specialization. Engineering/geography students contact [email protected] for admission info. Contact potential supervisor(s) early to discuss projects and availability of funds.

Aberystwyth University

Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Physics
Display Category: International
Field Studied: Instrumentation, Ionospheres, Magnetospheres, Surfaces
URL: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/phys/
State/Province:
Country: United Kingdom
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: None noted
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required:
Recommendations: 2
Faculty: 18
Planetary Researchers: 9
Students: 24
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions:
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: EU/UK studentships frequently available; 3 bursaries/yr for non-EU/UK students; enquire at contact email for more information
Fall Application Deadline: Jan
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/study-with-us/pg-studies/apply/
Notes:

University of Texas, Austin

Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Astronomy Program
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids, Atmospheres, Comets, Exoplanets, Instrumentation, Kuiper Belt Objects, Planet Formation, Planetary Science
URL: https://astronomy.utexas.edu/
State/Province: TX
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: 3
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: No
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 20
Planetary Researchers: 3
Students: 50
Admission Percentage: ~10%
Nearby Research Institutions: McDonald Observatory
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: New students are usually employed as TA; RA arranged with graduate advisor
Fall Application Deadline: 1 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions
Notes:

University of Maryland, College Park

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids, Comets, Dust, Exoplanets, Infrared Astronomy, Instrumentation, Meteorites, Moon, Optical Astronomy, Planet Formation, Planetary Dynamics, Planetary Evolution, Pluto/KBOs, Radio Astronomy, Remote Sensing, Rings, Small Bodies, Space Plasma Physics, Surfaces, X-Ray Astronomy
URL: http://www.astro.umd.edu/
State/Province: MD
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: 3
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: Physics (optional)
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 19
Planetary Researchers: 3
Students: 37
Admission Percentage: ~5%
Nearby Research Institutions: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Institution, US Naval Observatory, Space Telescope Science Institute
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: The department provides full funding (with tuition waivers) for up to six years while students maintain adequate progress toward degree completion.
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.astro.umd.edu/graduate/admissions.html
Notes:

University of Hawaii

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Cosmochemistry, Geochemistry, Geology, Instrumentation, Mars, Moon, Remote Sensing
URL: http://www.higp.hawaii.edu/
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required: No
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 42
Planetary Researchers: 16
Students: 18
Admission Percentage: ~15–20%
Nearby Research Institutions: University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Most students funded on research assistantships, rest on teaching assistantships
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: 15 Aug
Admissions URL: https://www.higp.hawaii.edu/index.php/teaching/graduate-admissions-information/
Notes:

University of Hawaii

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Institute for Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids, Astrobiology, Brown Dwarfs, Comets, Exoplanets, Infrared Astronomy, Instrumentation, Optical Astronomy, Pluto/KBOs, Small Bodies
URL: https://gradprog.ifa.hawaii.edu/
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: Optional
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 40
Planetary Researchers: 14
Students: 39
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: The Mauna Kea Observatories (IRTF, CFHT, Gemini, Keck, JCMT, Subaru, SMA, UH88, and UKIRT) are located on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Guaranteed through RAs and TAs
Fall Application Deadline: 1 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://gradprog.ifa.hawaii.edu/how-to-apply/
Notes: 2 recommendations are mandatory, 3 are preferred

University of Colorado

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences; Physics; Geological Sciences; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Aerospace Engineering; Chemistry
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Dust, Exoplanets, Instrumentation, Interiors, Ionospheres, Magnetospheres, Mars, Planetary Dynamics, Rings, Surfaces
URL: https://lasp.colorado.edu/our-expertise/science/planetary-lunar/
State/Province: CO
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA:
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required: Physics required for some departments
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 20  (7 APS, 3 Phys, 3 Geo, 1 AaOS, 5 AE, 1 Chem) 
Planetary Researchers: 20
Students: ~50 across all departments
Admission Percentage: ~20%
Nearby Research Institutions: SWRI, SSI, UCAR
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Yes, varies with department
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: http://lasp.colorado.edu/planetary/departments.html
Notes: 21 Jan deadline for international admission; for further information, see also http://www.colorado.edu/aps/ and http://www.colorado.edu/aps/prospective-students

University of California Los Angeles

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Exoplanets, Instrumentation, Magnetospheres, Planetary Science, Small Bodies
URL: https://www.pa.ucla.edu/
State/Province: CA
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: Physics optional
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 60
Planetary Researchers: 4
Students: 185
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions:
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: In general, our admitted students are fully funded, through fellowships and grants, teaching assistant, or research assistant opportunities.
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.pa.ucla.edu/graduate-students.html
Notes:

University of Arkansas

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Instrumentation, Spacecraft Development, Surfaces
URL: http://spacecenter.uark.edu/
State/Province: AR
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Recommended
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 2
Faculty: 17
Planetary Researchers: 17
Students: 18
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions:
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: GA awarded by department
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: 30 Sep
Admissions URL: https://graduate-students.uark.edu/admissions/index.php
Notes: