§ 01Join us
The group is part of the Department of Physics, so degrees are in physics. Undergraduates can add astronomy through a minor and research, graduate students through the Ph.D. with an astrophysics emphasis, and postdocs come through KITP, Las Cumbres Observatory and the faculty.
§ 02Undergraduates
Physics degrees in two colleges, and a minor for students who want astronomy alongside another major.
18 upper division units: the two required courses and at least 10 units of electives. Courses are taken for a letter grade, with a GPA of at least 2.0 in the minor. Physics B.S. students on the 2022 or later requirements may not add this minor.
PHYS 132Stellar Structure and EvolutionPHYS 133Galaxies and CosmologyNo more than 5 units may come from PHYS 198 and 199 and EARTH 198 and 199.
Research experience is encouraged for students thinking about graduate school. Email the faculty member whose research interests you. Nearly all research groups in the department take undergraduates each year, and research with a faculty sponsor can be taken for credit (PHYS 198 or 199).
PHYS 131General RelativityPHYS 132Stellar Structure and EvolutionPHYS 133Galaxies and CosmologyPHYS 134Observational Astrophysics§ 03Graduate students
The astrophysics emphasis lets students who know they want to do astrophysics start the astro course sequence in their first year and move into research quickly. Students are typically fully funded through fellowships, research funding and teaching assistantships.
Students in the emphasis pass five of the six core astrophysics courses with a B or better. They also take Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 215A) and two of Electromagnetic Theory (PHYS 210A, 210B), Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 215B) and Statistical Mechanics (PHYS 219). All Ph.D. students take the advancement exam by the end of spring quarter of their third year.
PHYS 232Stellar Structure and EvolutionPHYS 233Interstellar MediumPHYS 234High Energy AstrophysicsPHYS 235Extragalactic AstrophysicsPHYS 236CosmologyPHYS 237Galactic DynamicsAll students are supported by a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. At least five years of support is usually guaranteed for students making satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D.
Apply through the UCSB Graduate Division. The application asks for a statement of purpose, a personal history statement, a CV, three letters of recommendation and transcripts. Name the research areas that interest you in the statement of purpose. Admission is for fall quarter only.
Deadline for fall 202716 Dec 2026
GRE scores are not required and are not accepted for fall 2027 admission.
§ 04Postdocs
The KITP Postdoctoral Scholars program for theorists, the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship in planetary astronomy, Las Cumbres Observatory, and positions with individual faculty.
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics · UCSB campus
The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics on campus selects postdoctoral scholars in theory of all kinds. Many of them are astrophysicists.
UCSB is a host institution for the Heising-Simons Foundation's 51 Pegasi b Fellowship, which gives up to $450,000 over three years for independent research in planetary astronomy.
Postdocs also work at Las Cumbres Observatory, which runs a global network of robotic telescopes from Goleta, a few miles from campus.
Postdocs also work with individual faculty. The faculty pages describe each group's current research.
Open positions in the department are posted on the Physics jobs page.