Prospectus

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Astronomy

Pre-master

The Astronomy pre-master’s programme is designed especially to eliminate relatively minor deficiencies in the prior education of applicants lacking specific knowledge or experience required for successful participation in the Astronomy master’s programme.

Upon successful completion of the pre-master’s programme within the deadline imposed by the Board of Examiners, students will be admitted to the Astronomy masters’s programme.

Programme

TU Delft students

For students with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology, a specific Astronomy pre-master’s programme has been composed. See the Course overview below.

Other students

In consultation with the study advisor, an individual programme can be tailored to the applicant’s deficiencies in order to meet the entry requirements for the Astronomy master’s programme.

Admission

Admission to the Astronomy pre-master’s programme is selective and decided by the Board of Admissions. Based on the specific contents, level and obtained grades of the applicant’s prior education, the Board of Admissions decides whether and how deficiencies can be eliminated by following a pre-master’s programme.

Applicant profile

  • A university bachelor’s degree or a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) degree in a related field of science

  • Proficient in core mathematical and physics subjects

  • Proven experience in astronomy (e.g. courses, research projects, summer schools)

  • International applicants: English language proficiency through one of the following tests:

    • IELTS: minimum 6.5
    • TOEFL: internet based 90
    • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English, minimum grade C

How to apply

To enrol in the Astronomy Pre-master, you need to follow the regular application procedure for the Astronomy master’s programme through the Online Application System. After approximately 4-6 weeks you will receive the Board of Admissions’ decision stating whether you are (1) admitted to the Astronomy master’s programme directly, (2) conditionally, admitted to the master’s programme, (3) conditionally admitted after successful completion of a tailor-made pre-master’s programme or (4) not admitted.

Registration

If you have been admitted to a tailormade Astronomy pre-master’s programme, you need to register as a senior bachelor’s student in Studielink.

Costs

The costs for the Astronomy pre-master’s programme depend on the number of EC included in your individual programme. The pre-master’s programme can never exceed 60 EC.

  • Pre-master's > 45 EC: € 1.984 (statutory tuition fee)

  • Pre-master's < 45 EC: € 31 per EC

Contact

For further inquiries, please contact the Astronomy Study Advisor.

TU Delft students

For students with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (TU Delft), the Pre-master consists of the following modules from the Astronomy bachelor’s programme:

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Stars 5
Galaxies and Cosmology 5
Astronomy Lab and Observing Project 5
Astronomical Observing Techniques 5
Quantum Mechanics 1 7

Please note that the course Quantum Mechanics 1 may be substituted by the following TU Delft courses:

  • Kwantummechanica 1 (TN 2304; 3 EC) and

  • Kwantummechanica 2 (TN 2314; 3 EC)

Other applicants

A tailored pre-master’s programme can be designed for applicants holding a university bachelor’s degree or a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) degree in a related field of science.

For inquiries, please contact the Astronomy Study Advisor.