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Programme structure

The Master's programme Astrophysics is a two-year full time study consisting of 120 ECTS credits.

The programme has the following structure:

  • Courses, 60 ECTS credits
  • Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits

You can choose between three specializations: Solar physics, Cosmology or Extragalactic astrophysics.

Course of study

Your course of study depends on your choice of specialization, and is usually planned in cooperation with your supervisor during the first semester (see example below):

4. semester Master's thesis
3. semester Master's thesis Master's thesis
Elective course
2. semester Master's thesis Elective course Elective course
Elective course
1. semester Recommended: AST4310 – Radiative Processes in Astrophysics Recommended: AST4320 – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy Recommended: FYS4150 – Computational Physics
  10 ECTS credits 10 ECTS credits 10 ECTS credits

Supervision

During the first semester you must find a supervisor amongst the scientific staff at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics. The work with your thesis will be carried out under close supervision. In cooperation with your supervisor, you set up a study plan with all the courses which you will take, including a project description for your thesis, and hand this Master's agreement by 1st of December. Read more about the Master's agreement..

Courses

Prior to the start of the studies, you must provide a temporary study plan of courses that you will be taking in the first semester. During the programme, you must take at least 20 ECTS credits of master level courses in Astrophysics. Other courses of a total of 40 credits can be chosen from master level courses in astronomy, physics, mathematics, mechanics, statistics and informatics. At least 20 of these 40 ECTS credits must be courses in other fields than Astrophysics. Up to 20 ECTS credits of other courses can be approved by a Master's programme Board at the department. Note that the student is responsible to ensure that their recommended elective courses do not collide with each other. Only AST4310, AST4320 and FYS4150 are ensured to not collide.

Recommended elective courses: Cosmology and Extragalactic astrophysics