MSc in Astronomy

MSc in Astronomy

International Research and Collaboration

Measurements flow in every day from satellites in space and from observatories all over the world. Students on the MSc in Astronomy Program are actively involved in research and in the discussion of new discoveries and theories. They study new planets orbiting other stars, examine the structure and development of the stars through seismological studies, and explore the earliest stages of the development of the universe, working with computer modelling or measurements from state-of-the-art telescopes and satellites.

Research and Collaboration

Teaching on the astronomy Program is greatly influenced by research, both in the courses and the thesis work, as the lecturers are active researchers. In this context, students benefit from the down-to- earth, informal relationship between the academic staff and students. Each student is associated with a group of researchers for their thesis work in year two, and there is wide scope for specialisation, both within the Department of Physics and Astronomy and (thanks to the department’s close collaborations with other centres) with researchers from the European Southern Observatory, the European Space Agency, and NASA.

Students must have a bachelor of science degree, preferably in physics. Admission may be granted based on a BSc in another field provided this includes core courses in physics and astronomy totalling a minimum of 60 ECTS, as well as basic subject components in mathematics and statistics totalling at least 30 ECTS. Other qualifications may also give admission to the Master’s Program, provided the university assesses their level, extent, and content as corresponding to the requirements stated above.

Selection Criteria

As the Master’s Program admits only a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the Program. Student places are allocated on the basis of an overall assessment. In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses applicants according to the following criteria: academic background; overall grade level of bachelor’s degree; grades achieved on relevant courses; and relevant courses (measured in credit units) included in the bachelor’s degree.

Relevant courses include core courses within the subject areas of physics, astronomy, mathematics, and statistics.

The MSc in Astronomy Program is open to students with a BSc degree in physics or another BSc degree in science with substantial physics and mathematics content. The Program is challenging and research-oriented, and reflects the interests of the private sector, research institutions, and the public sector. It is also flexible, and can accommodate the interests and profile of the individual student.

Students can specialise in (for example) helio-and asteroseismology, extra solar planet research, galactic structure, compact objects, or cosmology. The Program qualifies students for a career in research: students may apply for admission to the university’s PhD Program either during the first year of the MSc Program or on completion of their thesis.

Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: FREE
• Others: €15,300

As a graduate of the MSc Program in astronomy, a wide range of career opportunities will be open to you. Our graduates work in a variety of positions in the private sector, e.g. as data scientists, as researcher, or as software developer. Astronomy graduates also work in public research institutions such as universities, the European Southern Observatory, or the European Space Agency.