Astronomy

First year

Second year

Third year

Electives or Minor (30 EC)

In consultation with the Astronomy study advisor you choose one of the following options for the first semester of the third year:

Minor (30 EC) at Leiden University, TU Delft or Erasmus University Rotterdam (click the name of the university for an overview of the minors they offer).

Tailor made programme (30 EC) like study abroad, only after prior written approval of the Board of Examiners.

Electives (30 EC) electives from the overview below.

Course levels

• Level 100
  Introductory course, builds upon the level of the final pre-university education examination.
  Characteristics: teaching based on material in textbook or syllabus, pedagogically structured, with
  practice material and mock examinations; supervised workgroups; emphasis on study material and
  examples in lectures.

• Level 200
  Course of an introductory nature, no specific prior knowledge but experience of independent
  study expected.
  Characteristics: textbooks or other study material of a more or less introductory nature; lectures, e.g. in
  the form of capita selecta; independent study of the material is expected.

• Level 300
  Advanced course (entry requirement level 100 or 200).
  Characteristics: textbooks that have not necessarily been written for educational purposes; independent
  study of the examination material; in examinations independent application of the study material to
  new problems.

• Level 400
  Specialised course (entry requirement level 200 or 300).
  Characteristics: alongside a textbook, use of specialist literature (scientific articles); assessment in the
  form of limited research, a lecture or a written paper. Courses at this level can, to a certain extent, also
  be on the master’s curriculum.

• Level 500 Course with an academic focus (entry requirement: the student has been admitted to a
  master’s programme; preparatory course at level 300 or 400 has been followed).
  Characteristics: study of advanced specialised scientific literature intended for researchers; focus of the
  examination is solving a problem in a lecture and/or paper or own research, following independent
  critical assessment of the material.

• Level 600
  Very specialised course (entry requirement level 400 or 500)
  Characteristics: current scientific articles; latest scientific developments; independent contribution (dissertation research) dealing with an as yet unsolved problem, with verbal presentation.

The classification is based on the Framework Document Leiden Register of Study Programmes.

Career orientation

Career orientation
During the Astronomy bachelor’s education programme, we support you in making choices that are relevant to your future career. You will be stimulated to think about your ambitions and potential and to reflect on how to reach your goals. By actively exploring the possibilities, you enable yourself to make motivated study and career choices.

We organise various activities to help you think about questions like:

• What are my strong skills and what skills can I still learn?

• In which subjects do I want to specialise?

• What subject will I choose for my Bachelor Research Project?

• Which electives fit my future ambitions?

• What do I want to learn next to my studies?

• Which master's programme will I choose after my Astronomy bachelor's and why?

• Which type of job would I like to do in the future?

Events Click here for the Astronomy career event calendar. This calendar contains an up-to-date overview of all career events relevant to Astronomy bachelor’s students.

First year

• Study career sessions

• Lectures from alumni

• Company visits, dinners and lectures

• Intake with Astronomy Study Advisor

• Information sessions with student counsellor

• Mentors and tutors

• Introduction Science Career Service

• Workshop Study skills

• Workshop Timemanagement

Second year

• Study career sessions

• Lectures from alumni

• Company visits, dinners and lectures

• Bachelor Career Orientation Day via De Leidsche Flesch

• Science Career Event (Bètabanenmarkt)

• Master's information day (Leiden University)

• Minor information market (Leiden University)

• Workshop Entrepreneurship

• Workshop Leiden University Mentor Network

• Workshop Personal profile

Third year

• Study career sessions

• Lectures from alumni

• Company visits, dinners and lectures

• Bachelor Career Orientation Day via De Leidsche Flesch

• Science Career Event (Bètabanenmarkt)

• Leiden University Mentor Network

• Field-specific conferences (Physics@Veldhoven, Fysica, Nederlandse Astronomen Conferentie)

• Master's information day (Leiden University)

• Career Information Meeting Astronomy (CIMAS)

• Leiden Observatory Science Dayy

• Astronomy Taster Day

• Workshop Time & Project Management

• Workshop CV Writing

• Workshop Job interview

LU Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is a website that offers support to Leiden University students and alumni, both during their studies and career. It offers advice, information and tools, including professional tests to draft your personal profile and job aplication tips.

Soft skills
In the Astronomy course descriptions in this e-Prospectus, behaviour-oriented skills are listed for each course. Although these soft skills cannot be measured like course objectives, being aware of the skills you acquire is important. They determine how you approach your work and your life and are therefore highly relevant to shaping your study path and future career.

Contact
Questions about your study and/or career path? Make an appointment with the Astronomy Study Advisor.