To obtain a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in astronomy, you must first obtain a four-year degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and then continue on to a graduate school to pursue your post-graduate degree. Depending on the school you want to attend, you may need to get a master’s degree in a related field before you start working on your astronomy PhD, or you may get a master’s degree while working on your PhD. You will most likely be required to teach undergraduate classes during your graduate studies, and you may also work with a professor to research and write a doctoral dissertation, which you will have to defend as a final examination.
Many people pursue an astronomy PhD after earning a bachelor’s degree in either astronomy or physics. Regardless of which field of science you choose to pursue, you should research graduate schools that interest you and apply during your final year of undergraduate study. You will almost certainly be required to take tests such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), for which you may wish to devote some time to studying and preparing. The physics section of the GRE can be particularly challenging, and a good score is often required for admission to a graduate program, so you should probably devote some time to studying for it.
You will most likely need to work as a teacher’s assistant and teach undergraduate students once you have been accepted into a postgraduate program to begin working on your astronomy PhD. This is in addition to your own coursework, as well as any seminars or examinations you may be required to take as part of your PhD program. Some schools allow students to earn a master’s degree before moving on to a PhD, while others require you to start with a PhD in astronomy and earn a master’s degree along the way.
The coursework portion of your astronomy PhD program may be completed in a few years, with the remainder of your time spent on research. Many PhD students work as research assistants for professors while also conducting the research required for their own doctoral dissertations. You’ll probably have to finish this type of dissertation in a certain amount of time, then present and defend your work in front of a review panel before graduating with an astronomy PhD.