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: Tuesday, November 26th, Time TBD
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 now open!
Deadline to apply is December 2, 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 2, 2024 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. Nathan Smith (nathansmith@arizona.edu) for scientific aspects of the graduate program, or Tiffany Deyoe (tdeyoe1@arizona.edu) for other questions.

 

Application deadlines:
-- 2 December 2024 for international and domestic --

All applicants:

  • Current unofficial undergraduate transcripts
    • Include all schools where you received course credit.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Purpose
    • 2 pages - see application instructions for prompt.
  • Three letters of recommendation
    • Submit names and emails for letter writers.
  • Answer all required questions in the online application (GradApp)
    • The supplemental statement is optional but recommended.
  • Pay application fee

International applicants:

Only required for citizens of countries where English is not the official language
  • English Proficiency Exam
    • TOEFL, ILTS and some other tests accepted - please find details at this link.

 

Please note: The Astronomy program is not accepting GRE scores (general or physics) for the 2024-2025  application season.

1. Can I receive a fee waiver?

  •  The fee waiver program is intended for cases of financial hardship, such as recipients of financial aid, job losses, or participants in other reduced income programs (reduced electric bills, etc.) or similar situations. If you would like to be considered for an application fee waiver, please reach out to Tiffany Deyoe at tdeyoe1@arizona.edu

2. Do I need to submit my TOEFL through ETS?

  •  Yes, you will need to reach out to ETS to submit your official TOEFL scores to the university.

3. I have my undergraduate degree through an English-speaking institution, do I still need to 
submit/take a proficiency exam?

4. Are there any scholarships, assistantships, grants, or other financial aid options available 
to graduate students to help offset the cost of tuition and living expenses?

  •  All students admitted to our graduate program are provided a stipend. Tuition and health benefits are also covered by the department.

5. What resources are available for graduate students, such as libraries, laboratories, and 
other facilities that support academic and research needs?

  •  Graduate students have access to all University libraries, high performance computing facilities, and state of the art laboratories associated with their research projects.

6. How does the program assist students in finding internships, research opportunities, or 
other experiential learning opportunities related to their field of study?

  •  All students are engaged in a research project beginning in their first semester. Students are encouraged to reach out to potential supervisors after admission and over the summer before they matriculate.

7. Are the letters of recommendation due before the deadline?

  •  Letters of recommendation have the same deadline as the applications

8. Is a three-year degree sufficient for admission?

  •  Students must have at least a Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, BE, BsENG). 

9. I took some time off to focus on personal issues, where do I explain why?

  •  Place your reason for a leave of absence in your Statement of Purpose or question 5 of the supplemental questions.

10. If I have my undergraduate degree in a field other than Physics or Astronomy, can I still apply?

  •  Yes. We admit students with a variety of backgrounds. However, we do expect students to have completed coursework in both Math and Physics that is comparable to that required for a typical undergraduate Astronomy degree, in order to be well prepared for graduate level coursework. See [LINK TO ASTRO MAJOR] for a list of courses that comprise the UArizona undergraduate Astronomy BS.

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.