Location:
Innsbruck, Austria
Program Type:
Full Degree
Degree Level:
Master
Specialty:
Astronomy and Astrophysics

Program Overview

Program Description:
Astrophysics (acronym: AstroMundus) is a two-year Erasmus Mundus Master Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics. This Course is based on the expertise of the Universities of Innsbruck, Padova, Roma, and Göttingen, and the University of Belgrade as a Third Country partner. The Master is closely related with institutions such as: Asiago Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica -Osservatorio Roma. The main objectives of the Master are initiation in scientific research and applied training in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Emphasis is put on the application of modern techniques both in the observational and theoretical/computational domain. The various specialities of the partner institutions result in an increased offer of pathways for the students: Theoretical Astrophysics, Models, Simulations and Computation, as well as Observational Astrophysics based on data from the ground and from space and on the exploitation of modern data archives. The programme lasts for two years (120 ECTS). During the first semester the students attend courses at the entrance university (University of Innsbruck). The second semester is spent at a second University of choice among the 2 Italian partner universities. The third semester is spent in one of the three partner institutions at Rome, Göttingen, or Belgrade depending on the astrophysical branches which the students will select to specialise on. Finally the fourth semester is mainly devoted to the Masters thesis (35 ECTS) that can be accomplished in any of the partner institutions. Students are given the possibility to attend additional advanced courses/seminars during the fourth semester, especially on topics related to their thesis work. The first semester is focused on basic learning in Astronomy and Astrophysics while the subsequent ones offer to the students the possibility to specialise in different branches. Courses will be taught in English. Intensive tutoring of Master students will be assured during the whole course of their Master studies. Also, English will be the language of choice for tutoring and examinations. However, students will have access to language courses within each of the partner Universities. About forty students will be involved in the programme. Admission criteria include a Bachelor degree in physical sciences or an equivalent degree, and depend mainly on academic qualifications. Students who successfully complete the requirements of the programme will be awarded a joint Master degree by the Consortium universities where they accomplished the various parts of their Master studies.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:
Erasmus Mundus