Astronomy

Program Category: PhD Programs
Chair: Mary Putman
Director of Graduate Studies: Lorenzo Sironi
Website: astro.columbia.edu
Degree Programs: Full-Time: MA, MPhil, PhD
GSAS PhD Dashboard

To view this program's application requirements, please click here.

Research in astronomy and astrophysics is conducted in the Department of Astronomy. Our faculty excel in theory, observations, and the development of new instrumentation, covering extragalactic, stellar, and exoplanet astronomy. Beyond the Astronomy Department faculty, students can pursue research projects with faculty in the Department of Physics and at the neighboring American Museum of Natural History. We also have close ties with other research groups in New York City, including the Simons Center for Computational Astronomy. Students complete their first and second year research projects with separate advisors in order to experience the breadth of research and advising accessible to them.

The Astronomy Department is a member of the MDM consortium, which operates 1.3m and 2.4m telescopes on Kitt Peak in Arizona, providing observational capabilities for our students and a platform for novel instrument development. The Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, a joint endeavor of the Astronomy and Physics Departments, has extensive experience in the design and construction of new astronomical instruments, and has access to Columbia’s shared research computing resources, including two computer clusters.

Graduate fellowships, which include full tuition, fees, and a stipend for the duration of the degree program, are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success. Since teaching and research experience are considered important aspects of the training of graduate students, fellowships include both teaching and research apprenticeships. Graduate students are required to take a minimum of 30 points from the Astronomy and Physics offerings, which include the 5 core courses and numerous special topics courses and seminars. Up to 6 points towards the total of 30 are awarded for written and oral reports on individual research projects carried out under the direction of faculty members during the first two years.

Special Admissions Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must upload transcripts showing courses and grades from the school(s) they attended, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement, and three letters of evaluation from academic sources. We encourage applicants to keep their statements to no more than 500 words.

All applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit English proficiency exam scores. The English proficiency requirement (https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/information-international-applicants) can be fulfilled through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

An undergraduate major in physics, astronomy, or a related field that has provided a solid background in physics and mathematics is required.

For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

*To be eligible for admission in GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders. You may include up to four letters in your application, regardless of the number required by your program of interest.