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Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics at KU Leuven

Since 2007, a two-year's master programme in Astronomy and Astrophysics is offered at K.U.Leuven. All classes are taught in English. Annual registration costs are about 900 Euro.The structure of the programme is described below. For further inquiries, please contact the chair of the Programme Committee: Christoffel.Waelkens@ster.kuleuven.be

 

Structure of the programme

The programme consists of courses, research projects and a master thesis with a total student workload of 120 study points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The programme is an international programme. Courses followed by international students who do not master Dutch will be taught in English. Click on the course numbers in the programme overview to see the syllabi of the courses.

Compulsory course only if not taken during the Bachelor Program.

This course samples the basics on Stellar Structure and Evolution. Bachelors from elswhere should have taken the equivalent of this course. The POC chair should be contacted for approval. An equivalent "Stellar Structure and Evolution" is available for students who do not master Dutch.

  • G0P41AN The Dutch Bachelor course 'Sterrenkunde' (5 ECTS). 

Compulsary courses (total 21 ECTS)

  • G0146 Radiative processes in Astronomy (6 ECTS)

  • G0145 Observational Techniques in Astronomy (6 ECTS)

  • G0I59 Introduction to Cosmology (6 ECTS)

  • G0L96 Research Projects I (3 ECTS)

At least one additional Research Project


  • G0L97 Research Projects II (3 ECTS)

  • G0L98 Research Projects III (4 ECTS)

Elective courses (at least 30 ECTS)

Every student shall choose courses for at least 30 study points from the following general and specialised elective courses as well as from the additional research projects (see above):

General elective courses

Specialised elective courses

  • G0I56A Specialised Topics in Astronomical Techniques (6 ECTS)

  • G0I44A Asteroseismology (6 ECTS).

  • G0I40A Theoretical seismology (6 ECTS)

  • G0I52A Planetary Systems (6 ECTS)

  • G0I35A Analytische Mechanica (6 ECTS)

  • G0B28A Solar physics (6 ECTS)

  • G0I43A Capita Selecta in Astronomy and Astrophysics (6 ECTS)

  • G0I41A Dynamics of Stellar Systems (6ECTS, UGent)

  • G0I36A Relativity (6 ECTS)

  • G0I51A Stellar Atmospheres (6 ECTS).

  • G0B30A Computational Methods for Astrophysical Applications

Master thesis (30 ECTS)

Teacher Track (30 ECTS)

Research Track (30 ECTS)

Professional Track (30 ECTS)

30 study points from the faculty's teacher trainging programme ('academische lerarenopleiding').

General and specialised elective courses from this programme (see list above) or from other master programmes of the Faculty of Science. Up to 12 study points can be choosen from courses outside the faculty.

any master course of the faculty of Science
any course from the professional masters of the K.U.Leuven or elswhere

Conditions to enter the programme

The nominal preparation for a Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics is a Bachelor programme of 180 study points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Students who got their bachelor degree in Physics at the K.U.Leuven can enter the programme directly. Other Bachelor degrees from the faculty of Science also have direct access to the programme if they have sucessfully followed the following courses:

 

For students from another faculty or other universities, a similar bachelor programme with an equivalent of at least 55 study points on these or similar courses is required (physics, statistics, mathematics, statistical thermodynamics or chemical thermodynamics, introductory course to astronomy). The curriculum of these students will be evaluated on an individual basis by the programme committee. If necessary, students can be requested to add extra courses to their programme at the start of the programme.