UK PLANETARY FORUM
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    • Academic Research Grants
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PROMOTING PLANETARY RESEARCH IN THE UK

PhDs & Internships

For up-to-date announcements of planetary science internships and PhD projects currently available please subscribe to our mailing list here. 

The following PhD Opportunities are links to the UK institutions and their associated research groups who often offer PhDs in planetary science research. This list is not necessarily comprehensive.

Also check out spacecareers.uk and https://www.findaphd.com/ for more PhD/job listing in the planetary science field. 

If you wish to add to the PhD project list or to add information about your group in the links below do contact us.


PhD Institutions

NORTHERN IRELAND
   Queen's University Belfast
      Astrophysics

WALES
  Aberystwyth University
​      Solar System Physics   
   Cardiff University
      Physics and Astronomy​

SCOTLAND
   University of Aberdeen
      Physics and Astrophysics
      Planetary Science

   University of Edinburgh
      Physics and Astronomy
   University of Glasgow
      Astronomy and Astrophysics
      Geology and Planetary Geology
   University of St. Andrews
      Physics and Astronomy
      Planetary Science
   University of Stirling
 
     Earth and Planetary Observation Research

NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND
   University of Lancaster
      Space and Planetary Physics
   University of Manchester
      Planetary Science
      Physics and Astronomy

                           
​NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND        
   Durham University
      Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology and Instrumentation
   Newcastle University
      Geosciences
   Northumbria University
      Solar and Space Physics
   University of Leeds
      Planetary Exploration Group
      Astrophysics

EAST MIDLANDS
 ​               
​   
University of Leicester
      Physics and Astronomy
 EAST OF ENGLAND
   Cranfield University
      School of Aerospace
   University of Cambridge
      Institute of Astronomy
      Planetary Sciences

LONDON    
   Birkbeck College, University of London
      Planetary Geology

   University College London​
      Centre for Planetary Sciences
      Astrophysics
      Space and Climate Physics
   
Imperial College London
      Planetary Science
      Astrophysics

   Natural History Museum
      Planetary Science

   Queen Mary University of London 
      Cosmology, Astronomy Planetary Science, Space and Solar Physics

   Royal Holloway, University of London
      Astronomy
      Centre of Dynamic Earth and Solar System
​

SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
   The Open University
      Astrobiology
      Planetary and Space Science
   University of Kent, Canterbury

      Astrophysics and Planetary Science
University of Oxford
      Planetary and Exoplanetary Physics

      Planetary Evolution and Materials
University of Southampton
      Astronomy
University of Portsmouth

      Planetary Science

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND   
   University of Bristol
      Astrophysics
      Solar System Science

   University of Exeter
      Astrophysics

Internship Opportunities

The following is a list of Internship opportunities open to PhD, Masters and Undergraduate students:
  • International Space University Space Studies Program
  • Lunar and Planetary Institute Summer Intern Program
  • Alpbach Summer School​​

Internship Funding

Paneth Meteorite Trust Awards
Bursaries to fund summer internships for undergraduates. Set up to encourage and further research concerned with meteorites.
Applications for projects in the field of meteoritics are accepted from potential supervisors at institutions of higher education.
Projects should normally last 6 weeks
Further information:
 
https://ras.ac.uk/awards-and-grants/grants-for-studies/1933-paneth-meteorite-trust-awards ​
Nuffield Research Placements
Provide students in their 1st year of a post-16 STEM course the opportunity to work with scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians on 4-6 week placements over the summer holidays.
Students are picked and allocated by the Nuffield Foundation and are provided with travel costs and, where necessary, bursaries.
Over 1,100 student placements provided each year.
Further information: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/employers-and-organisations

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Affiliated with the Geological Society of London and the Royal Astronomical Society ​
UK Planetary Forum
  • News
    • UKPF committee nominations >
      • Committee Position Descriptions
    • Recent Communications
    • Upcoming Meetings >
      • UKPF AGM
      • The Impact of UK Planetary Geoscience
      • 19th Early Careers Meeting
      • BPSC 2026
      • 18th UKPF Early Career Meeting Summary
  • About
    • UKPF Vision
    • How to Join
    • Meet the Committee
    • Useful Links
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowships
    • PhDs & Internships
    • Planetary Science Degrees
  • Funding
    • Academic Research Grants
    • Travel Grants
    • Public Outreach Grants