Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics DPhil

University of Oxford

The sub-department’s research focuses on the study of physical processes in the atmospheres, surfaces and oceans of the Earth and other planets, using experimental, computational and theoretical techniques. Admission is highly competitive and is either directly to this course or via the physical climate system stream of the Environmental Research NERC Doctoral Training Partnership.

How does the Earth’s climate evolve? How do we connect measurements made from space and the ground to the future direction of the Earth’s climate? What can we learn from observations of other planets to tell us more about the Earth and the evolution of the Solar System? These are the types of research problems members of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (AOPP) sub-department of the Department of Physics are engaged in.

The structure of the taught course components and initial (first year) assessment for a DPhil in AOPP is determined by the method of entry onto the course:

• If you wish to enter via the Oxford Environmental Research NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, your initial training will be within the DTP, before transferring to AOPP usually at the beginning of the second term of your first year; or
• If you applying directly to AOPP, typically for projects in the area of planetary physics or a specifically-funded research project, courses will be provided either in collaboration with the DTP in Environmental Research or via lectures given as part of fourth year major option in the University's undergraduate degree in physics, Physics of atmospheres and oceans.