The University of Maryland at College Park offers a Ph.D. in Astronomy. It is common that students will get an M.S. degree in the course of their Ph.D. studies, but only applications for the Ph.D. program will be accepted. An overview of the admission and course requirements for this program is outlined below.

If you have questions about your application, contact Mary Ann Phillips.
Questions about our graduate program should be directed to the chair of the Graduate Entrance Committee: Dr. Stacy McGaugh.

Graduate Program Information

Click the above link for a complete and printable version of the Astronomy Handbook for Graduate Students. This and the section links below are PDF documents and require Acrobat Reader to view.

1. Introduction
   1. General
   2. Physics/Astronomy
   3. Degree Options
2. Admission
3. General Information
   1. Advising - Student's Role
   2. Assistantships
   3. Transfer and Duration of Credits
   4. Status in the University
      1. Full-Time/Part-Time
      2. Residency
4. PhD Program
   1. Course Requirements
      1. University Requirements
      2. Department of Astronomy Requirements
   2. Stage 1 - From Admission to Graduate School to Admission to the PhD
      1. The Qualifying Exam
      2. Second Year Research Project
      3. Admission to the PhD Program
   3. Stage 2 -- Admission to Candidacy
      1. Regulations
   4. Stage 3 -- Candidacy to the PhD
      1. Regulations
5. MS Program
   1. Thesis Option
      1. Course Requirements
      2. Thesis
      3. Regulations
   2. Non-Thesis Option
      1. Course Requirements and Regulations
6. Special Status
   1. Part-Time Students
   2. Provisionally Admitted Students
7. Appendices
   1. Appendix A
   2. Appendix B
   3. Appendix C

Apply Online (UM Graduate School)