Qualification for Membership and Application Procedure

Membership in the IAU is open to countries (National Membership) and individuals (Individual or Junior Membership). The procedures for submission and approval of applications in the two categories are described in the IAU Working Rules (§ II and III). A brief summary of the procedure for seeking nomination for IAU Individual or Junior Membership is given below.

A new category of membership, the Junior Member, was approved at the IAU XXX General Assembly (August 2018). Researchers who have just completed their PhD in a branch of astronomy/astrophysics can be proposed as IAU Junior Member. The admission of new Junior Members will be evaluated annually by the Membership Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. Junior Membership is temporary and cannot be extended for more than six years.

IAU Individual or Junior Membership: Nomination of a candidate residing in a National Member country

As a rule, Individual Membership in the IAU is open to scientists with a PhD or equivalent in a branch of astrophysics or a closely related field.

Junior Membership is open to individuals who have completed the PhD studies and who are in the initial phase of the professional researcher career in some branch of astronomy.

An Individual or Junior Member may be admitted to the IAU by the Executive Committee on the basis of nominations approved by the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) in their country of employment (when no NCA exists, through the Adhering Organization in that country).

The call for new Members opens annually towards October and closes at the end of the year.

The procedure is electronic, via an online applications form made available on the IAU website. For reference, the forms include the full name, date and place of birth, and nationality of the candidate; postal and electronic addresses; the University, year, and subject of the Ph.D. or equivalent degree; the current affiliation and occupation, and the IAU Division(s) which the candidate wishes to join, a CV, a list of past publications plus any additional information required by the NCA or Adhering Organization.

IAU Individual Members and Junior Members do not pay dues to the Union.

IAU Individual Membership or Junior Membership: Nomination of a candidate residing in a non-Member country

A qualified astrophysicist residing in a country which is not a National Member of the IAU may apply for IAU Individual or Junior Membership through the National Member of a neighbouring country or region, or an IAU Division.

Table 1: Guidelines that the Membership Committee will follow to evaluate the IAU Individual and Junior Member applications.

FAQs

(1) I am an active researcher with a permanent position in my department, but I concluded my PhD in less than six years. Should I apply as a Junior Member or as an Individual Member?
You should apply first as a Junior Member. Junior Members who are active researchers and have a permanent position may be considered for Individual Members based on the recommendation by your NCA and approval by the membership committee.

(2) I am a Junior Member who just got a permanent position in my department but have not yet reached my six-year period as a Junior Member. Can I apply for Individual Membership in the next yearly round of IAU membership applications?
In the next round of IAU membership applications please apply to Individual Membership. Junior Members who are active researchers and have a permanent position may be considered for Individual Members based on the recommendation by your NCA and approval by the membership committee.

(3) How do I know I qualify as a Junior Member?
A researcher who has completed their PhD degree prior to the year of application (but not exceeding six years) and who is in the initial phase of a professional research career in Research or Education or Outreach or Engineering related to Astronomy. A Junior Member may be admitted for a period not exceeding six years.

(4) I have a question regarding the outcome of my application.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application around June of the year following the application deadline. Questions regarding the outcome of your application can be directed to the IAU Secretariat.

(updated 15 January 2026)