UCSC is a world leader in astrophysics education, providing an intellectually rich, vibrant, and challenging graduate student program. The program emphasizes forefront astrophysics research as the main training tool to prepare and support its students for a range of career options. We currently enroll approximately 50 graduate students working towards the Ph.D. degree. Students benefit from the low student-faculty ratio, extensive research opportunities, and course offerings that cover both theoretical and observational aspects of astronomy.<br><br>The most telling metrics for our success are the quality of the graduate students we attract to campus and, more importantly, the professional success they go on to achieve upon leaving UCSC. Indeed, our alumni currently hold leading positions at universities and research centers throughout the world