Education · 1 of 5

The path

This is one of the longest training paths on the site. Plan for about a decade after high school.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Physics, calculus and computer science. Grades matter because science programs at big universities are competitive.

2. 2

   Bachelor of Science (BSc)

   4 years

   Physics, astronomy, or astrophysics. Do summer research with a professor every year you can. That is what gets you into graduate school.

3. 3

   Master's degree

   0 to 2 years

   Some schools go straight from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate. Others do a master's first. You are paid a stipend either way.

4. 4

   Doctorate

   4 to 6 years

   Original research, a thesis, and usually a few published papers. You are supervised but you run your own project.

5. 5

   Postdoctoral jobs

   2 to 6 years

   Two or three short research contracts, often in different countries. Most astronomers do this before any permanent job exists.