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The Department of Astrophysical Sciences provides specialized education in astrophysics at an advanced level. Faculty members and researchers within the department lead groundbreaking studies across various domains, including theoretical astrophysics, computational modeling, astronomical observations, large-scale sky surveys, and instrument development (covering both hardware and software systems). Modern astronomical breakthroughs continually test our comprehension of the most extensive physical phenomena in the universe. The astrophysics graduate program equips students for professional scientific careers by blending rigorous coursework with hands-on research experience from the outset, ultimately leading to innovative dissertation work. This five-year curriculum begins with two years of foundational astrophysics classes and the opportunity to engage in up to four semester-long research rotations with different professors. Following successful completion of the general examination after the second year, students advance to candidacy, choose their dissertation advisor, and devote the final three years to their thesis investigation.
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate School applicants must, before they are enrolled, hold a bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent from an accredited college or university. (Foreign equivalents may in some cases have a normal program length that is shorter or longer than four years. No degree that has a normal program length shorter than three years will be considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree.)
Admitted students who score below an 8.0 on the speaking subsection of the IELTS will be required to take an English placement test at Princeton.
Masters applicants who are required to take the TOEFL must score a minimum of 28 on the spoken part of the TOEFL in order to be considered for the program.
Application Deadline: December 15.