The assessment for the Astronomy M.Phil. degree is exclusively by research and a project and supervisor will normally have been identified prior to a formal application being made by the student. There is no taught element. The degree is not suitable for physicists and mathematicians wishing to prepare for a research Ph.D. in Astrophysics and the number of students admitted is small. Many, but not all, of our previous students had completed an undergraduate degree in North America and returned there to undertake a Ph.D. after completing the M.Phil. in Cambridge.

Historically, most M.Phil. students have secured funding for their M.Phil. studies through applications to scholarship programmes such as Churchill, Gates and Marshall.

The aims of the programme are:

• to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focussed research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

At least four weeks before making a formal application, prospective applicants should forward the following to  admissions@ast.cam.ac.uk: 

• A CV, which should include details of any research experience
• Transcript to date (a scanned copy will be fine at this stage)
• An outline of the subject area(s)/project(s) you would propose to form the basis of your M.Phil. study
• Names of potential supervisor(s) from amongst the Institute's academic staff

Following receipt of this information, we will determine whether an appropriate project and supervisor is available. For applicants completing an undergraduate degree with a USA-based GPA score, a GPA score of at least 3.8 (on system with a maximum of 4.0) is desirable and you should also have undertaken at least one research internship or research-project in the field of astrophysics. Most applicants offered admission will possess a GPA of 3.9 or higher.

Please note that the application deadline for admission to this course starting in October 2024 is Tuesday 5th December 2023 (noon, 12pm UK time).