Course content

This course provides an introduction to cosmological models and important eras in the history of the universe, including inflation and the generation of inhomogeneities by quantum fluctuations.

Learning outcome

After completing?this course, you will be able to:

  • define the principles and equations that are the foundation of models of the universe in the general theory of relativity.

  • explain important cosmological observations and how they are used to determine the characteristics of the Universe.

  • describe, qualitatively and quantitatively, important eras in the history of the universe: inflationary phase, radiation dominated phase with disengagement of dark matter and neutrinos, nucleosynthesis, matter dominated universe, recombination and the formation of cosmic microwave background radiation.

  • describe how quantum fluctuations during inflation are the source of density fluctuations and gravitational waves.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

The course has a max capacity of 30 students. Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.

Special admission requirements

In addition to fulfilling the?Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:

  • Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2

And in addition one of these:

  • Physics (1+2)
  • Chemistry (1+2)
  • Biology (1+2)
  • Information technology (1+2)
  • Geosciences (1+2)
  • Technology and theories of research (1+2)

The special admission requirements may also be covered by?equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies?(in Norwegian).

Five semesters of the Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor's programme)?or comparable.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Teaching extends over one semester. There are?4 hours of lectures per week, and?2 hours of?tutorial exercises.

Examination

The final grade is determined by an overall assessment of 3 assignments in the form of?home exams, with?the first two?counting 35% each,?and the third?counting 30% in the grade assessment.?

For each assignment, a random selection of students may be chosen for oral examination during the semester. The students will be notified within two weeks after the submission of the given assignment, and will receive a two days notice before the exam. The results of this examination will be used to adjust the grading of said assignment.

Examination support material

All examination support materials are allowed, with the exception of all language models that can generate text or code (such as UiOGPT, ChatGPT, Copilot, Deepseek and similar tools). These uses cannot be made for home exams, even if these are not directly for generating text or code.

Language of examination

Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Nov. 20, 2025 3:35:16 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Bachelor
Credits
10
Teaching
Spring
Examination
Spring
Teaching language
Norwegian (English on request)

Contact

Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics