PhD in Astrophysics

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

27

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

Asia:

25%

Africa:

5%

Oceania:

5%

Europe:

20%

North America:

15%

South America:

10%

Others:

20%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,10,000 / year

Graduation Rate

89%

Job Placement

80%

Top recruiters

Illinois Institute of Technology

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

European Space Agency

SpaceX

Tetra Tech

Texas Tech University

Canadian Space Agency

Collins Aerospace

AgResearch

Headspace

FAQs

• What funding and scholarships are available?
  
  Monash offers scholarships including stipends and tuition fee waivers for domestic and international students. Additional funding may be available for conference travel and research expenses.
• What are the entry requirements?
  
  A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, astrophysics, or a related discipline with a strong academic record (typically 65% or higher). Research experience and aptitude are important. English language proficiency for international students. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors before applying.
• Who are some of the supervisors and research areas?
  
  Supervisors include experts like Prof. Csaba Balazs, Assoc. Prof. Bernhard Mueller (supernovae, stellar explosions, gravitational waves), Prof. Daniel Price (simulation of star and planet formation), and others specializing in stellar astrophysics, galaxy evolution, and high-energy phenomena. Research projects range from analytic modelling to large-scale simulations on high-performance computing clusters.
• How is the program structured and how long does it take?
  
  The PhD is a research degree typically completed in 3–4 years full-time. Students conduct original research under supervision, often involving computational modelling and observational data analysis. Coursework is generally minimal but may include advanced astrophysics topics depending on the project. Students collaborate with supervisors and research groups such as the Monash Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA).
• What is the focus of the PhD in Astrophysics at Monash?
  
  The program involves observational and computational astrophysics research to understand the Universe and celestial objects. Research areas include star and planet formation, stellar evolution, nucleosynthesis, galaxies, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, neutrinos, gravitational waves, supernovae, and gamma-ray bursts. Students work with major global computational and observational facilities and publish in top scientific journals