MSc projects offered in 2022
| Prof Paul Groot | Fast Transients in the Local Universe |
| Prof Paul Groot | Transients and Variables in Star Clusters |
| Dr Lucia Marchetti | Multi-Wavelength Studies of Strong Gravitational Lensing |
| Adj. A/Prof Vanessa McBride | Extended radio sources in the SMC |
| Dr DJ Pisano | Tracing the evolution of Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies |
| Dr David Buckley | Transients in the Rubin Observatory LSST Era |
| Dr DJ Pisano | Why are some gas-rich galaxies not forming stars? |
| Dr Itumeleng Monageng | Long-term multi-wavelength monitoring of gamma-ray binaries |
| Dr Lee Townsend (SAAO) | Disc variability in Be X-ray binaries |
| Zara Randriamanakoto (SAAO) | Young massive star clusters in circumnuclear starbust rings |
| Dr Magaretha Pretorius (SAAO) | A new spectrograph: Characterization and early transient science |
| Dr Magaretha Pretorius (SAAO) | Exploring the properties of the known CV sample using astrometric, variability and multi-wavelength all-sky surveys |
| Dr Jordan Collier | Uncovering the faintest peaked radio sources |
PhD projects offered in 2022
| Prof Paul Groot | Fast Transients in the Local Universe |
| Prof Paul Groot | Ultracompact Binaries in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Adj. A/Prof Vanessa McBride | Accretion in Be X-ray binaries |
| Dr David Buckley | Transients in the Rubin Observatory LSST Era |
| Dr Magaretha Pretorius (SAAO) | The Galactic low mass X-ray binary population |
| Dr Magaretha Pretorius (SAAO) | Multi-wavelength studies of jets and accretion in low mass X-ray binaries |
| Dr Ros Skelton (SAAO) | The evolution of Brightest Cluster Galaxies with BEAMS |
| Dr DJ Pisano | Studying the Evolution of HI from z=0-0.5 with CHILES |
| Dr Jordan Collier | Uncovering the faintest peaked radio sources |
A number of the MSc and PhD projects offered could be based at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), as a number of our academic staff have joint affiliations at UCT Astronomy and the SAAO. For a full list of projects offered at the SAAO, please see the SAAO web site.
Application process
If you are interested in any of the projects listed above, please do the following:
- contact the academic staff member of the project you are interested in and send them a copy of your CV;
- discuss the research with them to determine if you have the required qualifications, skills and abilities to undertake the project. You may contact as many potential supervisors as you like;
- if the academic staff member agrees to supervise you, discuss details about registration and funding.
Postgraduate funding
Most of the postgraduate research projects are funded by scholarships from the National Research Foundation (NRF). For details, see the 2022 Scholarships and Fellowship application documents.
Note that the internal deadline for applications through the University of Cape Town for NRF 2022 MSc and PhD scholarships is 02 July 2021. For details see this notice. Completing the NRF application will take time, and requires various documents and letters. It is essential that you complete your discussions with your potential supervisor(s) well before the deadline.
If you require NRF funding, you must ensure that you qualify for NRF support as this is the primary mechanism we have to provide you with a bursary. Once you have applied for NRF funding, send your application number to your prospective academic supervisor.
The lists of projects offered for 2022 also include a number of SARAO-approved projects, eligible for SARAO scholarships (deadline: June 25,2021)
Applications also go through the NRF application portal, and the internal UCT deadline is also 02 July 2021.
Postgraduate registration
Details of the registration process at UCT can be found on the Faculty of Science web page.
For further information, please contact the Head of Department.