Admission requirements
Knowledge of the following courses:
Inleiding Astrofysica
Astronomy Lab and Observing project
Modern Astronomical Research or Modern Astronomical and Physics Research
Stars
Galaxies and Cosmology
Description
Get ready to engage in astrophysics research! The universe is full of enigmatic objects and fantastic astrophysical phenomena. In the scientific arena we discuss how to observe, interpret, measure and simulate the astrophysical processes that govern these objects. In this course you learn how to formulate informative and critical questions that are essential for the progress of science. We will engage with specialists in the field and discuss the results from the cutting edge of astrophysics. Next, we contemplate how to make the subsequent steps to advance our knowledge on the subject.
The course will focus on a number of astrophysical topics, covering the breadth of the field. Focus will be on engaging with the experts in the field. Zooming in on specific questions requires making the shift from text book material to the astronomical literature. To enter discussions it will be to required to make quantitative estimates of e.g. energy, timescales, resolution.
The astrophysical topics could include:
Pulsars
(mega-)masers
Fast radio bursts
Galactic magnetic fields
Globular clusters
Supermassive black holes
Radio stars
Evolved stellar populations
Gamma ray bursts
White dwarfs, planetary nebulae
Gravitational lenses
HI from the epoch of re-ionisation
Course objectives
After this course, you are able to zoom in on a specific research topic and understand where to start contributing to cutting edge research. You have gained experience on understanding the current state of advances in a specific field. You will have appreciated the importance to make quantitative estimates relevant for specific astrophysical questions. You will have learned about the astrophysical processes in a number of exotic objects.
At the end of this course, you will have been trained in the following skills:
Preparing and engaging in a scientific discussion
Compiling quantitative scientific arguments
Preparing strategic arguments for future research
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
- Lecture series, each split between student prepared introduction and guest talks
Assessment method
Preparation of a specific topic (20%)
Essay on the developments in a specific topic (50%)
Test on the breadth of topics covered in the series (30%)
The final grade will be the combined grade of the three components, provided a minimal level is obtained for each component. The retake exam consists of an additional homework assignment.
Reading list
None
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Lecturer: Prof.dr. H.J. van Langevelde
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.