PhD application and admission
The Solar System School calls for applications for PhD positions in the field of Solar System Science depending on open project availabilities. Applications may be submitted through the online portal at any time and will be reviewed on a regular basis.
The Solar System School seeks excellent applicants with a keen interest in any area of Solar System Science and beyond: Earth and planetary sciences, space physics, Solar and stellar astrophysics, helioseismology, asteroseismology and extra-solar planetary systems. Please see the latest published call for the qualifications required to apply. Generally, PhD project opportunities are announced as they become available, and selected students are admitted to the Solar System School at the start of the following academic year.
Candidates can choose to submit their application (for open projects only) at any time. Applications will normally be stored and will be reviewed at given points in time during several recruitment rounds per year. Please see the latest published call for application submission and application review time lines. Exceptionally highly-qualified and well-motivated applications may alternatively be fast-tracked for review at any time of the year. Application submissions are encouraged even if the required Master's degree has not yet but will soon be obtained. However, please only apply after you have at least started to work on your Master’s thesis project.
The School makes offers to successful candidates after completion of the interview phase. While the starting date can be negotiated at that stage, the recommended starting date is in September, as the introductory curricular courses start in October each year.
If a candidate has accepted an offer, the School will send out an employment contract and, if needed for visa purposes, a hosting agreement that are conditional on the successful completion of a relevant Master's degree (or equivalent).
Although this is predominantly a PhD programme in physics and geochemistry, students previously admitted to the School have held Masters' degrees in subjects as diverse as astronomy and astrophysics, geosciences, meteorology, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. One good way to demonstrate interest in the field of Solar System science in an application is previous engagement in research projects relevant to the field that connects an applicant's unique background and specific skills to a topic: for example in earth or planetary science, space physics, solar or stellar astrophysics (possibly even with relevant publications). Applicants may alternatively be able to make a good case for why their previous experience in for example numerical modelling, instrument development, or lab experiments will be an asset to the project of their choice in the list of available PhD topics in Solar System Science.
Please read the FAQ for applicants and take note of the addtional resources that we provide for applicants before submitting your application.
