MSc projects offered in 2021
| Prof Paul Groot | Fast Transients in the Local Universe |
| Prof Paul Groot | Transients and Variables in Star Clusters |
| Prof Tom Jarrett | A MeerKAT 1.28 GHz Continuum Study of Luminous Infrared Galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere (MeerLIRGs) |
| Prof Tom Jarrett | MeerHoGS: The role of environment in the baryon cycle of galaxies |
| Dr Lucia Marchetti | Multi-Wavelength Studies of Strong Gravitational Lensing |
| Adj. A/Prof Vanessa McBride | Time variability of radio sources in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SARAO project) |
| Adj. A/Prof Shazrene Mohamed | Supercomputer models of dying stars |
| Adj. A/Prof Shazrene Mohamed | Explosive transients from stellar collisions |
| Dr Itumeleng Monageng | Long-term multi-wavelength monitoring of gamma-ray binaries |
| Dr Lee Townsend (SAAO) | Population synthesis studies of high-mass X-ray binaries |
| Dr Lee Townsend (SAAO) | Disc variability in Be X-ray binaries |
PhD projects offered in 2021
| Adj. Prof Matt Bershady | SALT Slit-Mask IFU for Nearby Galaxy Studies |
| Adj. Prof Matt Bershady | Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer to Search for Missing Baryons |
| Dr Sarah Blyth | The cosmic HI density in the LADUMA field (SARAO project) |
| Prof Paul Groot | Fast Transients in the Local Universe |
| Prof Paul Groot | Ultracompact Binaries in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Prof Tom Jarrett | MeerHoGS: The role of environment in the baryon cycle of galaxies |
| Adj. A/Prof Vanessa McBride | Accretion in Be X-ray binaries |
| Adj. A/Prof Vanessa McBride | Extended radio sources in the Small Magellanic Cloud |
| Adj. A/Prof Shazrene Mohamed | Supercomputer models of dying stars |
| Adj. A/Prof Shazrene Mohamed | Explosive transients from stellar collisions |
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 2021 Scholarships and Fellowship application documents.
Note that the internal deadline for applications through the University of Cape Town for NRF 2021 MSc and PhD scholarships is 30 June 2020. 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 2021 also include a number of SARAO-approved projects, eligible for SARAO scholarships. Applications also go through the NRF application portal, and the internal UCT deadline is also 30 June 2020.
Other scholarship opportunities exist, such as the SALT/SAAO Prize Scholarship for MSc/PhD, and the annual UCT SKA PhD scholarship (deadline 30 June 2020).
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.