Astronomy and Cosmology
Structure of the Programme
The Astronomy and Cosmology specialisation is part of the De Sitter programme. It offers the student the possibility to conduct a Research Master in Astronomy with a particular focus on modern observational and theoretical cosmology. This two-year programme is offered in collaboration with the Institute-Lorentz for Theoretical Physics in the Department of Physics at Leiden University (LION).
Programme (120 EC)
EC | Level | |
---|---|---|
Mandatory Astronomy Courses | ||
Origin and Evolution of the Universe | 6 | 500 |
Large Scale Structure and Galaxy Formation | 6 | 500 |
Mandatory Physics Courses | ||
Particle Physics and Early Universe | 3 | 500 |
Origin and Structure of the Standard Model | 3 | 400 |
Theory of General Relativity | 6 | 400 |
Elective Courses | ||
Astronomy Core Courses, at least | 6 | 500 |
Astronomy Courses of any type * | 18 | 400-500 |
Related Physics Courses ** | 12 | 400-500 |
Research Projects | ||
First Research Project in General Astronomy | 30 | 500 |
Master's Research Project in Cosmology | 30 | 600 |
* Astronomy courses of any type
These include all General, Instrumentation-related and Specialist Astronomy Courses listed in the course list below. However, the following courses are of higher relevance to the Cosmology specialisation and are therefore recommended:
Computational Astrophysics
Modern Astrostatistics
Gravitational Lensing (offered at irregular intervals)
Observational Cosmology (offered at irregular intervals)
** Related Physics Courses
Effective Field Theory
Quantum Field Theory
Statistical Physics
Topics in Theoretical Physics
Black Holes and Gravitational Waves (not on offer in 2018-2019; offered every other year in alternation with Theoretical Cosmology)
Theoretical Cosmology (offered every other year in alternation with Black Holes and Gravitational Waves)
Master Study Plan
At the start of the master’s programme, students are required to draw up the Master Study Plan: a complete list of planned courses and projects for two subsequent academic years in consultation with the Study Advisor Astronomy. To select courses, consult the course list for academic year 2018-2019 (see below) and the preliminary course list for academic year 2019-2020.
Learn more
For more information on the specific requirements of this specialisation, see the appendix of the Course and Examination Regulations.