Astrophysics (acronym: AstroMundus) is a two-year Erasmus Mundus Master Course in Astronomy
and Astrophysics. This Course is based on the expertise of the Universities of Innsbruck, Padova,
Roma, and Göttingen, and the University of Belgrade as a Third Country partner. The Master is closely
related with institutions such as: Asiago Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica -Osservatorio
Roma.
The main objectives of the Master are initiation in scientific research and applied training in Astronomy
and Astrophysics. Emphasis is put on the application of modern techniques both in the observational
and theoretical/computational domain. The various specialities of the partner institutions result in an
increased offer of pathways for the students: Theoretical Astrophysics, Models, Simulations and
Computation, as well as Observational Astrophysics based on data from the ground and from space
and on the exploitation of modern data archives.
The programme lasts for two years (120 ECTS). During the first semester the students attend courses
at the entrance university (University of Innsbruck). The second semester is spent at a second
University of choice among the 2 Italian partner universities. The third semester is spent in one of the
three partner institutions at Rome, Göttingen, or Belgrade depending on the astrophysical branches
which the students will select to specialise on. Finally the fourth semester is mainly devoted to the
Masters thesis (35 ECTS) that can be accomplished in any of the partner institutions. Students are
given the possibility to attend additional advanced courses/seminars during the fourth semester,
especially on topics related to their thesis work. The first semester is focused on basic learning in
Astronomy and Astrophysics while the subsequent ones offer to the students the possibility to
specialise in different branches.
Courses will be taught in English. Intensive tutoring of Master students will be assured during the
whole course of their Master studies. Also, English will be the language of choice for tutoring and
examinations. However, students will have access to language courses within each of the partner
Universities. About forty students will be involved in the programme. Admission criteria include a
Bachelor degree in physical sciences or an equivalent degree, and depend mainly on academic
qualifications.
Students who successfully complete the requirements of the programme will be awarded a joint
Master degree by the Consortium universities where they accomplished the various parts of their
Master studies.
