Graduate Program
The Berkeley Department of Astronomy Graduate Program has a superb record of training astrophysicists who are now members of the academy worldwide. The PhD program is consistently ranked first in the nation because we consistently prioritize graduate students first in our research and education missions. Our graduate students are the front line of research and the future of our field.
Graduate Overview
The UC Berkeley Department of Astronomy has a long history of excellence in the field of Astronomy; with our award-winning, renown faculty and access to numerous state-of-the-art observing and research facilities, our department consistently produces graduates who are positioned to become leaders and pioneers in their chosen fields. As one of the most consistently top-ranked graduate and Ph.D. programs in the nation, we seek to maintain our reputation and continue our tradition of providing high-quality education by investing in our students and providing numerous opportunities for success.
Our graduate program offers numerous specialized courses that examine topics that include cosmology, stellar physics, galaxy evolution, fluid dynamics, and data science in astronomy, in addition to access to numerous weekly lectures hosted by our in-house research units. Graduate students work alongside faculty and researchers oversee work across a wealth of Astronomy-related topics. In addition to extensive research experience, our students take on instructor positions to obtain valuable teaching experience by working with aspiring undergraduates.
Outreach is a large part of student life; between science fairs, field trips, managing websites, summer courses, and other department-hosted events, students are able to share their love and knowledge of Astronomy with all generations of space enthusiasts. UC Berkeley also offers a number of student groups that allow for collaborations and networking opportunities.
The Department of Astronomy faculty are comprised of world-renowned researchers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields, including cosmology, high-energy astrophysics including supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, galaxy formation, extrasolar planets, theoretical astrophysics, black holes, and star formation (to name just a few). Our faculty lead numerous research groups of postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates working collaboratively. Astronomy faculty are dedicated to training the next generation of researchers and educators.
The Department is housed in Campbell Hall, a new state-of-the-art facility located on the Hearst Mining Circle that contains instrumentation labs, observational facilities, and remote observing rooms for connections to the Keck and Lick observatories. Department-based projects covering a wide range of research topics are conducted in-house everyday. In addition to being funded by the research grants of individual Principal Investigators, students can apply to the Department for travel funding.
Graduate Perspectives
Caleb Harada, Class of ’26
“I enjoy the flexibility of the astronomy graduate program because I’m able to choose a path that really suits my interests and goals. While taking courses, I’ve had opportunities to practice observing at Lick Observatory, refine my teaching style in the classroom, and contribute to improving our department by serving on the astronomy Climate Committee.”
Jacob Pilawa, Class of ’26
“I love how dynamic and active the department is. There’s almost always something happening in Campbell (colloquium, short-talk, visitor), so it becomes easy to learn from and collaborate with one another!”