Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (Research)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The DPhil in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (AOPP) is a research-based course examining physical processes in Earth’s and other planets’ atmospheres, oceans, and surfaces using experimental, computational, and theoretical methods.

The course is hosted by the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (AOPP) sub-department, one of six sub-departments of the Department of Physics, with most facilities and offices located in the Clarendon laboratory.

Your research work begins on day one and will be underpinned by a taught graduate course in the first year that runs in parallel. You will also have the opportunity to follow courses taught at other departments across the Maths, Physics and Life Sciences division.

The structure of the taught course components and the initial (first year) assessment will be determined by the method of entry onto the course.

Research projects will typically be in area of planetary physics or a specifically-funded research project. Courses will be provided via lectures given as part of fourth year major option in the University's undergraduate degree in physics, Physics of atmospheres and oceans.

Whilst working on your research project you will engage in a thorough skills training programme which includes a range of workshops and seminars in transferable skills, generic research skills and specific research techniques. There are also numerous seminars and lectures held in the department by local and visiting physicists, and you will be provided with opportunities to meet experts in various fields. There will also be opportunity for you to present your work at both formal and informal conferences, seminars and colloquia.