Graduate Admissions

Steward Graduate Admissions Virtual Open House

Questions about Applying to the PhD Program?
Join us for a Graduate Admissions Virtual Open House.
We will go over frequently asked questions about the program and application process.
There will be plenty of time for participants to ask individual questions to both faculty and graduate students.
Date: TBD Fall 2024
Topics will include:
• How do I apply?
• What’s different for International Students?
• How do I prepare a strong application?
• Information for non-traditional students
• What are current students like?
• How are students funded?
• What’s it like to live in Tucson?
Applications for admission for Fall 2025 will open in Fall 2024.

How Can You Apply?

Instructions for Fall 2024 Applicants:

1. Read through the rest of the information linked below. You’ll find a checklist of the required application materials, a brochure with lots of information about our graduate program, and other information and advice about how to write the strongest possible application.

2. Click on the application portal link above to apply online through the University of Arizona Graduate Admissions webpage.

a. If you already have a UA NetID, sign in with this. If you don’t have one (or don’t know what this is), make a GradApp account under Method 2. After providing some basic personal information, the application will ask for your desired plan of study.

b. Please select FALL 2025 for the Astronomy and Astrophysics PHD program (identical to the astronomy program). Admission for Graduate Study in the Department of Astronomy is for the Ph.D. program only. We do not support a Master’s Degree program, and requirements are geared toward Ph.D. studies.

c. Applications received by December 4, 2023 (domestic students) will be given full consideration.

3. For more information on research opportunities at Steward Observatory, check our faculty and research group pages. Note that applications are reviewed not by the potential advisor of a student, but by an admissions committee.

4. Have any further questions? Email Dr. Andrew Youdin (youdin@arizona.edu) for scientific aspects of the graduate program, or Tiffany Deyoe (tdeyoe1@arizona.edu) for other questions.

Graduate Admissions Checklist

More Information!

Please browse through the links below for more information regarding our graduate program and the application process.
Brochure introducing our graduate program and the application process.This brochure includes a welcome from the Graduate Admissions Chair, information on our graduate program, facilities, and research areas, as well as more information about the application process and procedures.
UArizona is a partner in the Cal-Bridge STEM Program, Learn More Here! The Cal-Bridge program has the mission of creating opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups to participate and advance in physics, astronomy, computer science, and computer engineering and to increase their numbers in PhD programs in those fields.
Advice on writing a strong application from current graduate students. Current Steward graduate students have compiled some advice for writing a strong application. You’ll find information about what kind of transcripts you need to submit, how to write a statement of purpose, how to make a CV, how to get recommendation letters, general application tips, and a sample timeline of the graduate school applications process.