Overview

Physical Oceanography at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has important applications in global climate and coastal studies. It is also a key element in interdisciplinary studies of primary production, hydrothermal vents, and oceanic flux and storage of carbon dioxide.

Features

These complex oceanic motions occur over a wide variety of space and time scales including:

Grand persistent currents, like the Gulf Stream and the wind-driven ocean gyres

Transient eddies and waves of all sizes and speeds from surface gravity waves, to slower internal waves beneath the sea surface, to planetary-scale Rossby waves

Estuary and rivers outflows onto the continental shelf

Coupled ocean-atmosphere interactions, both local and global

Programme Structure

Courses include:

From instabilities of large-scale currents such as the Gulf Stream that generate long-lived "rings," much as atmospheric storm systems are spawned from the Jet Stream

To salt fingers, no bigger than a centimeter, which produce efficient vertical exchanges of salt and heat between different water masses

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cambridge, United States

Disciplines

Oceanography View 27 other PhDs in Oceanography in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

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IELTS

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Other requirements

General requirements

In the application, you will be asked to supply the names and email addresses of three people to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf

Transcripts

You will be required to describe the grading system(s) used at all colleges and universities you have attended. Explain the specific meaning of any numeric values, letter grades, and rankings

English Language Proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL)

Statement of Objectives

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

64310 USD / year

≈ 64310 USD / year
Out-of-State

64310 USD / year

≈ 64310 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

64310 USD / year

≈ 64310 USD / year

Living costs

Cambridge

United States

1814 - 3756 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Physical Oceanography.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Cambridge

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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